Never Let You Fall (The Prophecy of Tyalbrook) by Michele G Miller

then, since there are still Semvon coming after me, that this McClintock guy was able to find someone else to come through and make a return portal. And that is what you were asking the Semvon about yesterday.” I looked at Xander this time for some clarification.
    “Well we don’t really know what he’s doing anymore but yes, we can assume that they took a break in hunting you for some reason; possibly because they had to find someone who could create a portal. As we said, that kind of magic needs a lot of strength.”
    Xander continued, “So once he was able to create a return portal, it’s safe to say that he started sending hunters here to search for you. Unfortunately, the ones who did find you started to run into trouble.” He smiled and popped a stray piece of bacon into his mouth.
    “Trouble? What kind of trouble?”
    “Why us, of course.” He shrugged as if I should have already picked up on this.
    “Skye - between Rioden and myself, we have killed upwards of fifty Semvon, just in the last year and a half.”
    My face went pale at the thought of how close I had probably come to being captured by these demons, and the thought of Xander and Rioden putting themselves in harm’s way to protect me from them.
    Seeing the look on my face, Xander hurried to say, “Don’t get all worked up about it though! The closest they’ve ever been to you, that I know of, was the other night at that party when I took you to the hotel, and then yesterday in the park. They obviously know where you are now, which tells us that there’s a base of them here. My guess is that they’re going to keep on attacking, so if one fails to bring you back, the next one can try.”
    Pushing my half-eaten sandwich away, I tucked my hands under the table to hide their shaking, as the thought of a Semvon army ran through my mind.
    Rioden stared across the table at me, raised his hand, and called for April to come over. When she arrived she pointedly ignored me and Xander and turned on the charm for Rioden who, while obviously at least ten years her senior, was still very handsome in his own right.
    “Can we get the check and a to-go box right away please?” he requested.
    April pulled a ticket out of her little apron and told him to pay at the front, then walked away and returned with a box a moment later.
    “I’m going to go pay. Box her lunch up and let’s get going, Xander.”
    Xander dumped the potato chips from both of our plates on top of my sandwich quietly, and then turned to look at me as I sat there like a statue, frozen in fear.
    “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I have the hardest time trying to explain things to you without sticking my foot in my mouth. Nothing is going to happen to you Skye - I don’t know how many times I have to tell you this, but I will protect you, always.”
    He slid out of the booth and offered me his hand, which I hesitantly reached for, letting him half pull/half help me to my feet.
    “Xander - you just told me that there is most likely an endless army of creepy-black-smoky-demons out there, whose main goal is to capture me and hand me over to some evil guy. You think I should just be calm?! How are you supposed to protect me for the rest of my life? And how am I supposed to live, knowing that they’re after me, huh?!” I fumed.
    Trying not to call attention to us, I pulled my hand out of his and stalked to the front door, standing next to Rioden as he paid the bill.
    I watched from across the room as Xander stood there for a moment looking crestfallen, and then guilt stabbed at me for not believing in him and his ability to protect me. But how could I not be frightened of what was to come?
    As he turned and picked up my to-go box, our friendly little waitress walked up to him and spoke. I watched as she practically turned herself inside out as she smiled and jiggled her parts at him. He replied to whatever she was saying in one word answers, and didn’t even seem to be