Page 172 of Knight’s Retribution

The thud of Rocco’s boots reached Zen, and his brother looked up, turning toward them before he realized who was coming—his yellow eyes, Diemos’s eyes, sliced to Roc, then to Kyler, and he froze.

Kyler stopped and stumbled back in alarm.

Zenon flinched.

Rocco was right behind Ky, and her back slammed into his chest. She spun around and damn near climbed his body, her eyes filled with fear.

Mia rushed forward, her hands up. “Kyler. It’s okay. It’s just Zenon. He won’t hurt you. He would never hurt you.”

“Ky,” Rocco said as she fisted his shirt and moved behind him, twisting the fabric around his body. He wanted to grab her and hold her to him, to comfort and reassure her, dammit. “It’s Zenon, Ky, it’s not Diemos.”

“His eyes,” she rasped.

“Kyler?” Mia tried again.

Kyler didn’t move, and he could feel her fucking trembling. Zen’s mate looked at him. “I’ll leave you to explain.” Mia backed away, took Zenon’s hand, and they started down the hall.

“No,” Kyler called suddenly. “Don’t go.”

Mia and Zenon stopped and turned back around.

Still shaking, Kyler moved out from behind Rocco and he watched as she forced herself to straighten, to not retreat. “I’m so sorry, Zenon. I didn’t mean to react that way. It’s just your eyes, they’re…they’re so like…”

“My father’s,” Zenon said, voice hoarse. “And my grandfather…Lucifer.”

Ky was breathing faster.

“I don’t know if Mia told you, but I was born in Hell,” he said.

Kyler nodded.

“I found out about Diemos after I met Mia. Lucifer didn’t even know I existed. I have no allegiance to Diemos. I hate that piece of shit. He stood by while I was abused and tortured, and said nothing. The fucker even partook in it from time to time. Yes, he gave me these eyes, but that’s where the similarities end.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m sorry that when you see me, you’ll be reminded of him, Kyler. I can’t tell you how much. But you have nothing to fear from me.”

“I know,” Kyler said, her gaze moving between Mia and Zen. “I do. And I’m okay. Talking to Mia…she’s helped me a lot. How the two of you…overcame things.” She shook her head. “Please, you don’t need to avoid me.”

Zenon dipped his chin and gave Kyler a gentle smile, something Roc had never seen aimed at anyone but Mia, doing his best to make Roc’s female feel at ease, something that did not come easily to his emotionally stunted brother.

Then he took Mia’s hand and led his mate away.

Kyler turned to Roc.

“Okay?” he asked.

She nodded and drew in a shaky breath. “I am. I’m not going to let Diemos win, Roc. That bastard has had enough of me. I’m not going to let him control my actions, my reactions, when he’s not here, when he’s only in my head.”

All right. Shit. Not touching her had never been as hard as it was in that moment. “Fucking proud of you, pumpkin.”

She smiled, and Rocco’s heart expanded in his chest.

“Let’s go eat.”

* * *

Rocco lay on his stomach, his arms up under the pillow, head to the side, and Kyler let her gaze roam his body. It was still early; the sun had barely risen. God, he was so big now. Back to his impressive former self, and then some. He trained nonstop, and she knew why. Diemos would eventually come through that portal, and he was determined to be ready.

She didn’t know what would happen, if they could beat that monster when he did leave Hell, but Rocco and his brothers would fight until they couldn’t anymore to stop him.

A lump formed in her throat as she looked at the strong male sleeping beside her. When he got back last night, after fighting demons in the city, his body had been covered in bruises and cuts. This morning they were all but gone.