Guardian Demon (GUARDIAN SERIES) by Meljean Brook Page B

response would be run through a voice analysis, though that was also less helpful than the thermal imaging. Any shape-shifted demon could impersonate a voice.
    Except for Michael’s voice.
    She pushed the thought of him away, forced herself to actually think like an investigator instead of just standing there. “Why are you here at night, Maggie?”
    The butler owned a house a few blocks away, where she lived with Colin’s great-great-great-something-nephew Geoffrey Blake. Usually Maggie spent the nights at home and watched over Savi and Colin during the day. Demons couldn’t hurt or force a human to do anything, so even though their strength couldn’t compare, humans like Maggie served as the best defense against them.
    “Geoff and I have moved in for the time being. I’m opening the gate now.”
    Taylor could have just jumped over it, but she liked how normal waiting for the gates to open was—and she liked taking the extra time to mull over Maggie’s response while she walked up the drive.
    Did Colin and Savi need the extra protection at night? Or was it Maggie and Geoff who needed it? If so, Savi and Colin would be able to provide it. Colin Ames-Beaumont was the most powerful vampire in the world—not as strong or as quick as a demon, but he could hold his own. He was one of two vampires who could remain awake during the day, and the only vampire who didn’t immediately burn in the sun. Savi had her own bag of surprises, starting with a houseful of technological defenses and ending with her fangs and claws and hellhound venom.
    But they were both linked by blood to Chaos, which had already made them a target when Michael’s sister, Anaria, attempted to gain access to that realm. Lucifer’s demons might try the same. Lucifer himself couldn’t—after losing a wager with Michael, he’d been forced to close all of the portals between Hell and Earth, effectively trapping him there. But before Lucifer had closed the Gates, he’d sent demons out to perform various tasks on his behalf. Some of those demons had immediately tried to create new portals; others were probably lying in wait.
    Perhaps Colin and Savi expected another attack. Or perhaps, in the past two and a half years, there had already been one.
    The front door opened. Savi came out onto the columned porch with Colin at her side. Taylor didn’t look at him straight-on. Though he wasn’t projecting the Terrifying Beauty stare that could make her knees shake with wonder and fear, his face still gave her a jolt that she felt down to her toes. Taylor focused on Savi instead. Short black hair stood in spikes over a fairy’s face, delicate with a pointed chin. She was biting her bottom lip and bouncing up and down on her bare feet a little—as if she wanted to run to Taylor, but held back.
    Of course she did. Neither Savi nor Colin was stupid.
    Colin’s powerful mind pressed against Taylor’s psychic shields. Thermal scans and cameras were all well and good, but there was nothing like touching someone’s brain to ascertain their identity. Taylor obliged by opening her shields a crack.
    Michael teleported in front of her.
    Terror dug into Taylor’s chest. His massive body towered over her, obstructing everything else in sight. She stumbled back, called in her gun. Whipping it up, she aimed between his amber eyes, both shining like the sun. Her hands shook. The barrel veered over his head, then down past his chin.
Fuck, fuck!
She tried to steady, but could only remember the scales, the sharp teeth. They weren’t there now but she could see them . . . and feel the familiar darkness of his mind probing hers.
    “Bastard!” She slammed her shields closed. “Stay out of my head!”
    “Andy!” Savi’s shout came from the porch. Colin was holding her back. Her confusion and fear tasted like acid on Taylor’s tongue.
    She blocked them out. On a deep breath, she steadied her hands. Michael watched her, his big body absolutely still. Despite her