She knew what she looked like. Hazel eyes too big for her faceordinary. Lips also too big for her faceunappealing. Freckled skinunfashionable. And wavy brown hair that was neither silky-straight nor perkily curlyordinary, unappealing and unfashionable.
Cronus remained undeterred. Youre right. You havent.
The truth cant hurt you, she told herselfwhile hurting.
But then, he went on, your looks will not matter. Galen will be attracted to your demonic power. Hell want to control you, to feed you all that false information, to use you. Yes, the more I think on this, the more I like it. You will sleep with him.
She ran her tongue over her teeth. Killing Galen will destroy the heart and soul of the Hunters far more effectively than pleasuring him.
Yes, but dying is not his fate.
Whats his fate, then? What is it, exactly, you think he can do for you?
Silence.
Deep breath inout Okay, there are two problems with your plan. Galens a douche bag, and I suck in bed. Wait. That hadnt come out right. I mean, even if he only wants me for my demonic power just saying the words grated or because he thinks he can feed me false info, or control me or whatever other reason you think up, hell never come back for seconds because well both be embarrassed by our performances, and the entire plan will be moot.
The only reason shed garnered Pariss interest was because hed been desperate to get laidby anyone!in order to survive. Galen is more likely to laugh at me than tell me his secrets.
Perfectly trimmed brows arched, fixing the kings features in a patronizing expression. You can be trained.
So can dogs, but theyll only bite you. She would do far worse.
A beat of silence as he absorbed her taunt. Woman, you frustrate me! Im not asking you to willingly submit to torture. Im merely asking you to allow a man to have you in the name of dutyas you have allowed before.
Thats too big a commitment for me. I kill him, or I do nothing to him.
Galen is an immortal warrior who has spent thousands of years on a battlefield. How do you propose you kill him, hmm?
Just leave that to me, she said, mimicking his earlier words. And, hey, heres another idea. Why cant you kill him? I thought you were all-powerful.
Enough! With a scowl as dark as a moonless night, Cronus slammed his fists on either side of her temples, creating holes in the wall and causing bricks to fall and dust to plume in the air.
Rattlerattle
Great. The entire castle was shaking again.
How dare you, a slave, question me? I am your master, your owner. The arbiter of your fate. I answer to no one.
Except to your wife. With the royal sovereigns, hurting one always hurt the other, pain slithering across the bond between them. But Sienna wasnt going to remind him of that little gem. I dont care who you are. I will not align myself with Galen.
Before she could so much as blink, Cronus fit his hands around her neck and squeezed until she could no longer breathe, until her lungs burned and her throat felt scaled by acid. Rattle, rattle, went the walls, as if the entire structure might collapse from within. I can be the executioner of your soul, and you will cease to exist in every way, or I can be your savior, granting you a measure of peace at long last. Tightertighterthen, abruptly, the pressure eased. Remember that, for you are the one who will decide your ultimate fate.
She barely curbed the urge to feed him both of her knuckles. Whatever I decide, she snapped, uncaring of the consequences, youre still an asshole.
Surprising her, he gave a grin full of teeth. Arent I, though?
At one time, Sienna had been mild mannered, afraid of hurting anyones feelings, desperate to smooth any and all ruffled feathers. Maybe the demons bad mood had bled into her. Or maybe the waspishness came courtesy of knowing just how worthless her entire life had been. Either way, she had never had more to loseor cared so little.
You should have picked someone else to host Wrath. Becausewait for itmy answer is still no.
Rather than adding fuel to the seething cauldron of his temper, her words seemed to make him back down. His features softened, the murderous rage draining from his gaze, his taut lips sliding back over his teeth. He lowered his arms.
Shocking.
No, he said, gentle, so gentle now. There was no better choice than you.
Her heart drummed fitfully in her chest. Though she was dead, her spirit self had developed a heartbeat, a need to breathe, the moment the demon had entered her soul-body. Unfortunately, this meant she could feel pain and if cut she would bleed.
Why me? she finally asked. You have to tell me something.
Do I? He turned, offering his profile and ignoring her question. In this realm hidden from the rest of the heavens, where no one will ever find you, I dont have to do anything.
A muscle drummed rapidly in his jaw, and before she could reply he added, Do you enjoy living here, Sienna?
No. Not because she was magically compelled to remain inside this castle, but because hed done what he could to make her time here a misery. Including digging deep inside her mind and yanking out the worst of her memories. Those memories played out like movies in every room, a never-ending stream of persecution, guilt and shame.
Every day she relived Skyes abduction. How shed failed to save her sister from the man dragging her away. Every day she witnessed the loss of the baby shed been unable to bring to term, something she hated remembering, would never willingly dwell on. Every day she saw her foolish betrayal of the beautiful Paris. How shed hurt the first man to ever make her crave more. How shed condemned him simply because of his race.
Thats too bad. Because you will remain here until you agree to return to your flock and become my spy.
Back in the air went her nose. If those are my choices, Ill stay here forever.
Cronus tossed her another grin, a cruel twist of his lips that lacked any hint of amusement. Is that so? What if I told you that I picked you because of your sister?
I would demand to know why. Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits, the king of Titans in their crosshairs. He was tricky, without morals and utterly devious. She had to be careful. I would also point out that you could have played that particular card sooner.
Not if I feared you would obsess over her and forget my purpose. Now, however, you have left me no choice.
She feigned nonchalance and buffed her nails.
He hissed at her. What if your precious Skye once lived with Galen? What if she bore him a child?
Take me swimming, Enna. Please, please, please. Ill never ask for anything ever again.
I dont believe you. The denial gasped from her, a croak of dismay. Hes lying. He has to be lying. Show her to me. She forced herself to add, Please, though the word was gritted.
He wasnt done. What if Galen is the only one who knows where they are? What if he tortures them? What if becoming his whore is the only way for you to learn the truth? The only way to save them?
II Had no answer. Hes lying! The scream of desperation echoed through her mindher own, not her demons. She had to stay strong. Had to insist he present at least a modicum of proof before she reacted.
Think about all I have told you, my darling Sienna. I will return soon and we will discuss any new duties you might wish to take on. With that, he disappeared, there one moment, gone the next.
Sienna sank to her knees, her strength leaving with the king. Her eyes burned, her chin trembled. Her wings pulled and folded in ways they shouldnt, and a sharp cry escaped her. Every damned day was a new lesson in horror for her.
Tears trickled down her cheeks, scalding her skin. How much more could she take? How much longer until she broke?
For Skye, shed do just about anything, and Cronus knew that. Skye was all she had left, having somehow become both sister and daughter in her mind. Made sense, though. Shed only known her sister as a little girl, and the baby shed lost, a girl as well, had never gotten the chance to grow out of infancy. And the possibility of a niece or nephew? Yeah, shed do anything.
Cronus knew that. No wonder hed reined in his temper. He didnt have to hurt her physically to get what he wanted. No wonder hed chosen Sienna for his games. She was still a puppet, the strings she thought shed cut anchored to another masters hand.
Worse, there was no way to fight this one.
CHAPTER SIX
PARIS SPRAWLED IN an unfamiliar bed, one hand at his side and gripping a crystal blade, the other draped over his forehead, shielding his eyes. After a few days of traveling, closer than ever to his goal, he was in another motel in Titania, with Zacharelsomewhere, and William snoozing peacefully on the bed beside his.
In quiet moments like this, Pariss mind always hopped the Memory Train, taking him back to when hed first met Sienna, and tonight was no different. He remembered walking the streets of Rome, in desperate need of a lover, every woman he encountered shooing him away as if he were repugnant. Then someone had rammed into him from behind, and weak as hed been from the lack of sex, hed nearly fallen flat on his face before hed managed to right himself.
Im so sorry, hed heard her say, the sensual rasp of her voice thrilling him on every level.
He turned slowly, afraid that if he moved too quickly he would frighten her and she would run away like the others. Papers were scattered around her feet, and she crouched, trying to gather them. First thing to register was dark hair curtaining a face hidden by shadows.
Thatll teach me to read and walk at the same time, she muttered.
Im glad you were reading, he said, bending down to help her. Im glad we ran into each other. More than she would ever know.
Her heavily lashed lids lifted, and her gaze met his. She gasped. He reeled. She was on the plain side, with eyes and lips too big for her face and skin dotted with uncountable freckles, but she possessed a grace and presence so few mortals could ever hope to attain.
Your name doesnt start with an A, does it? he asked her, suddenly suspicious of fate and master plans. Maddox had recently become a sap for a woman named Ashlyn. Lucien had abandoned his manhood for Anya. Paris refused to do the same for anyone.
Her brow puckered in confusion, and she shook her head, that fall of dark hair waving around her delicate shoulders. No. My name is Sienna. Not that you care and not that you really asked. Sorry. I didnt mean to just blurt it out.
I care, he replied huskily, thinking he would have the best time stripping her. One, her clothes bagged on her, hiding the secrets of her femininity. Two, she was skittish, her babbling charming, and he expected a similar reaction in bed. YoureAmerican?
Yes. Vacationing here to work on my manuscript. Again, not that you asked. I cant place your accent, though.
Hungarian, he said, giving her the simplest answer. The Lords had been living in Budapest for a while, and there was no way to explainwithout sounding crazy that he spoke languages shed never even heard of. So you are a writer?
Yes. Well, I hope to be. Wait, thats not right, either. I am a writer, but Im not published yet.
Now, of course, he knew the truth. She wasnt a writer. The pages of her romance novel had merely served as a launch pad for their sensual conversation, nothing more.
When shed next asked him to grab a coffee with her, hed said yes, already throbbing with need for her. Theyd talked and laughed the entire time, and hed enjoyed every moment of it. Hed relaxed with her, something he hadnt been able to do with very many others. But she had a contagious smile, a keen wit, and that grace of motion that matched her demeanor.
Meanwhile, his demon shot out wafts of his pheromones, so thered been no great difficulty in convincing her to rent a hotel room with him. Or so hed thought at the time. Along the way, she had pretended to change her mind. Or hell, maybe she had changed her mind. Maybe shed fallen in like with him, too, and had decided not to hand him over to her Hunter brethren. But sex fiend that Paris was, hed pressed her for more, dragging her into an abandoned alley and kissing the breath out of her.
Thats when she drugged him, using a needle hidden in one of her rings. Hed woken up strapped to a gurney, naked and groggy. She had crouched in front of him, and hed assumed the Hunters had taken her prisoner, too. Until shed said four little words that changed the nature of their relationship.
I locked you up.
His brilliant reply? Why would you do something like that? He still hadnt wanted to believe this woman he so craved had something to do with his current circumstances.
Cant you guess? she asked. She angled his head to the side, and, studying his neck, traced a fingertip over a sore spot. Puncture wound, hed realized, the answer to her question slipping into place, taking root.
Youre my enemy.
Yes. Then shed added with a frown, The wound isnt healing. I didnt mean to jab you with the needle quite so forcefully. For that, Im sorry.
His eyes narrowed on her, feelings of betrayal and disbelief whisking through him. You tricked me. Played me like a piano.
Again, Yes.
Why? And dont tell me youre Bait. Youre not pretty enough. Hed said it to be cruel, but now, remembering, he cringed. No wonder she had later done what shed done, said what shed said.
A blush stained her cheeks. No, Im not Bait. Or rather, I wouldnt have been to any warrior but you. But then, you dont care who you screw, do you, Promiscuity? Every word had dripped with disgust, his charming, babbling romance writer long gone. But the graceoh, that she couldnt banish.
Obviously not. When her blush deepened, he added silkily, just to taunt her further, Arent you afraid Ill hurt you?
No. You havent the strength. I made sure of that.
Her newfound resistance to him, no matter how poorly he acted, irked. Females adored him, always. Well, almost always. You enjoyed yourself while you were in my arms. Admit it. I know women, and I know passion. You were on fire for me.
Shut up, she snapped.
Good. He was getting to her. Want to give me a go before your friends show up?
After that particular jab, she had stomped away from him, but she hadnt left the room. Remaining a safe distance away, she admitted her statusHunterand detailed exactly what her friends planned to do to him.
Were going to experiment on you. Observe you. Use you as Bait to capture more demons. And then, when we find Pandoras box, were going to draw out your demon, killing you and trapping the monster inside.
Warrior that he was, and as many battles as hed fought, hed known to show her only indifference. That it?
For now.
You might as well kill me then, sweetheart. My friends wont surrender themselves to save little old me.
Well see about that, wont we?
When he realized antagonizing her wasnt helping his cause, he switched to seduction, his default setting. He projected sexual images into her head, something he hated to do. Didnt do anymore. He couldnt live with himself afterward. And as she had pictured what he wanted her to picturethe two of them together, naked and straining toward climaxher breathing became choppy, her nipples hard underneath her shirt. A white shirt that did nothing to hide the lace of her bra, proving she had a secret sensual side.
Hed almost had her, but in the end, shed wised up. Hed made the mistake of continuing to call her sweetheart, an endearment hed used on countless others, and shed known it. After that, it hadnt taken her long to figure out he used the term because he couldnt remember her nameor anyone elses.
Finally shed left him for real, only returning a few days later when he was a few breaths away from death. Thats when she at last stripped for him, at last pleasured him.
Thats when he killed her.
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE NEXT MORNING, Paris stood at the highest edge of a cliff overlooking the Realm of Blood and Shadows, his body poised for war. Finally, hed found his destination, hidden in a far corner of Titania, its portal invisible to everyone but William. What do you know? The guy had his uses.
Now Paris would find Sienna.
His blood boiled with the fury hed suppressed for far too long. His muscles burned with startling ferocity, and his bones vibrated with the need to act, to hurt someone. Multiple someones.
Soon.
Sharp gusts of wind blustered, doing nothing to scatter the shroud of thick, black mist surrounding him, seeping inside of him. The scent of aged copper filled the air, leaving a moist film in his nose. Muted shrieks echoed from every direction, so many shrieks of pain. Above, the moon formed a sallow hook, its ends frayed, hemorrhaging into an endless expanse of unforgiving night. Below, an ocean of crimson tears frothed and hissed, creating a second symphony of anguish.
And there, in the center of it all, perched a nightmare of a castle. Dark stone crumbled. Withered ivy with dagger-sharp tips climbed the walls, every leaf reminding him of a spider. The roof knifed into several points, a body staked through the heart and hanging from each, dripping blood onto the glass panes of every window. There were several balconies guarded by multiple gargoyles of every size.
Gargoyles that would, apparently, come to life.
Writhing shadows, slick and oily in appearance, hovered around the entire structure, but they didnt touch a single stone. They maintained a generous distance, as if a rod of iron held them in place. The moment they heard the starting bell, whatever that was, Paris suspected they would burst free and attack whoever happened to be nearby.
Shes inside, he told his companions. I know it. He wanted to go in, guns blazing. Was desperate to go in, guns blazing and knives slashing, but he couldnt. Not yet, not yet. Information had to come first.
Death was in the details.
Thats great, wonderful, but why am I here again? William asked, scratching his head. He consumed the space at Pariss left, dressed for the runway rather than the front lines. Silk suit, no weapons. A bottle of conditioner in his pocket. Yeah. Conditioner. Again. For split ends. A little jaunt into hell had damaged some of the precious strands, so he now carried his necessary daily treatment everywhere.
Annnd hearing his voice caused Sex to purr like a kitten. It was disgusting.
Im still recovering from agonizing physical and mental trauma, William added. The warrior had barely escaped from his encounter in hell, true, but being crushed by boulders and clawed by flesh-hungry fiends was hardly agonizing.
Just, I dont know, consider this your punishment for abandoning Kane, Paris said. How many gargoyles would he have to battle? He did a quick head count. Fifty-nine from the front. Probably a similar number waited in back. Half of them were as big as dragons, but some were as small as rats.
As William could probably tell him, size didnt always matter. Which of the creatures would cause the most damage?
I didnt abandon him. Per se. William brushed a piece of lint from his shoulder. I was pummeled by falling rock and woke up in a motel in Budapest. In my compromised mental state, I thought some demon damsel in heat had taken one look at my amazing body and rescued us, but then Kane thought to remove her from my rugged animal appeal, and so he dragged her out to get coffee, not yet realizing he was simply energizing her for the mattress marathon to come. A marathon with me, in case I wasnt clear on that point.
Paris didnt bother rolling his eyes. Clearly William was Violas male counterpart. Wasnt that a nice little bouquet of roses?
Actually, youre here because you owe Paris a favor. Zacharel flanked Pariss other side, the snowstorm now brewing above him. The change had happened the moment hed stepped into this realm. He still wore his robe, but blades were now strapped all over his muscled body. He was definitely warrior-appropriate. More than that, you are avoiding your girlfriend.
William gasped with outrage. First, I dont owe anyone a favor. Second, I dont have a girlfriend, you pansy-ass winged piece of shit.
Dont you? A blink, all innocence. Zacharel didnt seem to care about the name-calling. What is young Gilly to you, then?
Gilly. A human with a crush on William. The warrior claimed they were just friends and nothing more, but if anyone could see secret longing in someones gaze, it was Paris. And William definitely had a lot of secret longing going on for that girl. Shockingly, though, he hadnt done anything about it. Had only coddled and babied her, which was why Paris hadnt gutted him. Gilly had been through enough in her short life without William turning his lethal charm on her.
Dangerous as a lightning strike, as lethal as a pair of crisscrossing short swords, William whispered, Youre about to find out how your liver tastes, my friend.
I have tasted it already, Zacharel said, his voice its usual monotone. The snowflakes began to fall in earnest, tiny at first, but growing in diameter. An arctic wind blustered around him. It was a bit salty.
How the hell was a guy supposed to respond to that?
Apparently William didnt know, either, because he gaped at the angel. Then, Maybe if you added a little pepper?
O-kay. It was official. William had an answer for everything.
Enough, Paris said. Just then, he had his inner darkness on a leash. That could change at any moment. This was the closest hed ever come to saving Sienna. To seeing her again, to touching her, and urgency had him in a vise grip. Which was stupid. He knew it was stupid.
He didnt know her, not really, had only interacted with her those two times, and yet, looking back, he was certain hed never felt so connected to anyone in his life. He could still remember the delicate rasp of her voice. Soft and lyrical, washing over him, entrancing him. Could still smell her sweet wildflower scent. Could still feel her soft body pressed against his harder one.
Now he wondered if he would even like her on any level but a sexual one. Would he find her annoying? And what about herwould she still view him as evil, even though she herself now carried a demon?
Lets focus, ladies. That includes you, he added for his own benefit. If he could bypass the outside line of the fortresss defense completely, hed be in perfect condition when he got inside. Zacharel, you will flash me inside the castle.
No, I will not.
He scowled but didnt bother asking why. As always, his ears picked up the web of truth woven through the angels tone. Zacharel couldnt or wouldnt flash him; the reason didnt matter. William?
Ive only recently begun to flash myself, and yeah, Im damn good for a beginnernot that I need to tell you that since anyone with eyes would have noticedbut Im still honing my amazing skills. Theres no way I can cart your carcass anywhere.
Paris stifled a sigh. No flashing with William, either. Is the water swimmable?
Nope. Not only is the water poisonous, but the fiends inside it have a hankering for flesh. William motioned to the dilapidated bridge leading to the front entrance, thick, arched double doors covered in spikes with a clear liquid dripping from their tips. You have to use the drawbridge, and you have to let the guards carry you. Theres no other way.
I have never battled a gargoyle before. Zacharel shook his head, a dark lock of hair tumbling into one emerald eye. Damp from the melting snow, the hair stuck to his skin. He didnt seem to notice. But I am certain these will murder Paris before willingly carrying him inside.
As if he were the only intelligent life form left in existence, William splayed his arms. And the problem with that? Hell still be inside, exactly where he wants to be. And by the way, he added, blinking at Paris with lashes so long they should have belonged to a girl. Your new permanent eyeliner is very pretty. Youll make a good-looking corpse.
Do not react. He did, and the teasing about his ash/ambrosia tattoos would never end. Thanks.
I prefer the lip liner, though. A nice little feminine touch that really makes your eyes pop.
Again, thanks, he gritted.
He wants us!
Stupid demon.
William grinned. Maybe we can make out later. I know you want me.
Tell him yes!
Not another word out of you, or
Paris? Warrior? Zacharel said. Are you listening to me?
No.
Zach nodded, apparently not the least offended. I enjoy your honesty, though I believe you suffer from what the humans call ADD.
Oh, yeah. I definitely have attention deficient demon.
Now, changing subjects, since Im not listening to the angel, either, William said. Since were going with my diabolically genius plan, youre gonna have to scale down the cliff and step onto the drawbridge. He tented his hands and drummed his fingers, contemplating the bridge from every angle. The moment you do, the gargoyles will come to life. Theyll attack you. Oh, and the more you fight them, the harder theyll bite and claw you. So, if you remain relaxed, theyll only hurt you a wee bit before they cart you inside to chain to a wall. In theory.
Wonderful. But this was what his woman had to deal with every day. He could do no less. And if the gargoyles had broken her
Broken In, out, in, out, he breathed, oxygen scalding his throat, blistering his lungs. He twisted his head left then right to pop the bones in his neck. His fury bubbled to the surface, riding the waves in his veins. He would save Sienna and torch the castle to the groundalong with every living creature inside it.
Zacharel folded his arms over his massive chest, the snow so thick now that none of the flakes had a chance to melt. His hair now boasted strands of glistening white. How do you know so much about this place and its protectors, William of the Dark?
William of the Dark? That was new, yet fitting. Yeah. How do you? Paris studied the gargoyles in question. They were hideous. The big ones were winged, with ramlike horns, fangs as long as sabers and probably just as sharp, and daggers for nailson both their hands and their feet. The small ones just looked hungry. Oh, and infected with rabies.
Another piece of invisible lint was brushed from Williams shoulder. Maybe I was once co-ruler of the underworld and sought out all the hideaways of Cronus and his followers, intending to blackmail them, and discovered this little love shack. Or maybe I see the future and knew wed come here one day. Or maybe the gargoyles once served me, calling me Master Hotness.
Paris read between the lines. Maybe you once nailed a gargoyle, and she had a big mouth. If there was a bigger he-slut than Paris, it was William.
William gave another shrug. Or that.
White wings threaded in gold lifted, shook and returned to their place of rest against Zacharels back. And what makes you so sure your Sienna is in there, demon?
Do not react. I just am. Arca, the goddess he had seduced in Cronuss harem, the one hed vowed to rescue after ensuring Siennas safety, had told him there were only two possible locations for her. If Sienna had been taken to the other, her soul would have withered within days. Therefore, she was here. End of story.
Ill provoke the guards, he said, thinking out loud, but I wont enrage them. Theyll cart me inside, planning to lock me up. Ill free myself before they can, search for Sienna, find her and escape with her. Simple, easy.
Yeah. Right.
Ill stay here and act as lookout. William nodded, clearly satisfied with the idea. If you dont return in, say, the amount of time it takes my conditioner to penetrate my scalp, Ill go for help. He snickered. I said penetrate.
For freakin real. Knowing you, youll forget all about me and head to a salon for a mani-pedi. More than that, Paris wasnt sure Zach would have his backor stab it. So, guess what? Youre going in with me. Zach will act as lookout.
Perhaps youve been living in Hungary for so long youve forgotten English and didnt understand what I was saying. First in French, then in Spanish, then in Russian, he said, Im staying here, and thats final. William tangled a hand through his indigo mane, frowned when he encountered a snag. Scowling, he whipped out his conditioner, squeezed a few drops onto his fingers and combed the creamy mixture through until he achieved the desired smoothness. Im a lover, not a fighter.