What the first Eye had told himand the newest did not yet knowwas that there was a way for him to save himself. A woman with wings of midnight, who had lived among his enemy but craved a life with his allies, was to be his salvation.
That woman was Sienna. Everything about her fit the Eyes description, from her appearance to her circumstances.
Therefore, she had to do as the Eye had said she must do. Reign by Galens side, despite her desire to aid the Lords. Only she could keep Galens attention, though she didnt yet know how or why and Cronus wouldnt tell her. Only she could hold her own against Rhea, if ever his wife got free. Only she could stop the Lords from attacking Galen, for killing the keeper of Hope would not stop the prophecy from coming to pass. His demon would be given to someone else, and that someone else would then become the white-winged slayer of the Titan king.
I will escape, you know, Rhea said, and she sounded confident.
Whether that confidence stemmed from her abilities or his capitulation, he wasnt sure. Didnt care. He rubbed a thumb over one brow, another dismissive gesture. No, I do not know. Ive never seen so weak a goddess.
Only he could unlock her chains, and he planned never to do so. Among her most recent crimes, she had convinced her sister to become his mistress and spy on him. Another reason for Cronuss insistence that Sienna do the same to Galen.
One day she gritted out.
He moved to the side of the bed, away from the dead body and closer to his hated wife. You will ruin me. You will imprison me. You will What other threats have you issued, hmm?
I will peel away your skin, spit on your bones and dance in a pool of your blood.
Sounds like a truly spectacular evening. Until then, I think Ill have a bit of fun. With a single wave of his hand, he summoned one of the countless females currently residing in his harem. A redhead with deeply tanned skin and roses in her cheeks appeared beside him. Unlike some of the others he owned, she truly enjoyed attending to his needs.
Today she wore a transparent drape of silk and lace, jewels that had once belonged to Rhea and a smile brighter than any sun. Seeing the Titan queen so helpless on the bed, and knowing she herself was a favorite of his, she puffed with pride, flipped her hair over one shoulder, and waved smugly.
Rhea hissed.
And thats why I chose her, he thought with an inward grin.
Recognizing the diamonds curling around the girls neck, Rhea released a spew of curses.
Majesty, the girl said with a curtsy, talking over the queen to prove how little she mattered. The fragrance of citrus wafted from her. What can I do for you?
You can show the woman on the bed how much your man pleases you. He waved her in front of him, where he bent her over, her face right in front of Rheas.
Does she not please you? the girl asked.
The queen gave another hiss and tried to bite her.
Enough of that. His gaze on his wife, he lowered the zipper to his leather pants. He despised wearing such constrictive clothing, but Rhea found this type of garment attractive, and his need for vengeance far surpassed any desire for comfort. You know what you must say to stop this from happening, he told his wife. Rhea must only concede defeat, vowing to forever obey him.
Ill die first.
Very well.
He took the servant, and the pleasure was intenseand he would never admit it was so satisfying only because he kept his eyes on his wife. She, however, closed her eyes to block his image. No matter. She felt every sensation along with him, and that was enough. For now.
When he finished, he righted his clothing with hands trembling from the force of his releasewhich was humiliating; a king should recover swiftlyand sent the grinning servant away.
Bastard, Rhea said on a panting breath. I hate you. With all of my being, I hate you.
As I hate you.
A smile of genuine amusement suddenly curled the corners of her mouth. You know, Cronus, darling. You did not enjoy your whore half as much as I enjoyed mine.
The words were carefully calculated, a stinging blow to his masculine pride. But he was careful to keep his own expression equally amused. You know, darling, he said. You might have enjoyed your men, but you only ever had them once before I found and killed them. I, on the other hand, am already looking forward to having the redhead again tomorrow.
CHAPTER TEN
FANGS IN HIS ARMS. Claws in his legs. Horns jabbing into his stomach. At least, Paris seriously hoped that it was horns jabbing into his stomach. For a while, some of the gargoyles had ground on him like dogs in heat as their friends attempted to chain him down. Wont gag. He would have allowed the restraintsif he hadnt seen Sienna. She was here. Alive. Unfettered.
Shed looked at him, had met his gaze, and sadness had wafted from her. Sadness and regret, and even horror. The horn-rimmed glasses shed once worn were gone, her eyesight probably perfect in the afterlife, but her features were the same. Big hazel eyes, plump red lips. A flow of mahogany waves, now to her waist.
His woman. His mine. One by one his friends had fallen in love, and hed been so jealous. Now, here was the woman whod fascinated him as no other. Hed thought, Must reach hermust wipe away the horror
Sex had thought, Must have her.
Now his demon retreated into the back of his mind, the coward, as Paris fought his way free of the gargoyles to run after her. In an instant, his captors swarmed him, their fervor intensified. He tossed one, then another, then another still, slamming the rigid stone bodies into walls. They recovered instantly and returned to him. More clawing, more jabbing.
They slowed him, but they didnt stop him. He was weak and growing weaker, because he hadnt had sex all day. Didnt think hed had sex yesterday, either. Hed already forgotten. Whatever. Sienna was here, and with one glance, hed gotten hard for her.
He could have her again. No question about that now.
He just had to reach her.
As the darkness rose up inside him, clouding his mind with thoughts of destruction and death, he offered no more resistance, allowing it to drive him deeper and deeper into the place where only demolishing the obstacles in his path mattered. These gargoyles wanted to keep him from his woman. They did not deserve to live.
One step, two, three, the things clawing at his thighs, his calves, hanging on to his ankles, he eked his way into the ballroom. All the while he punched at heads, kicked and stabbed at middles. Stone cracked. Pieces scattered on the floor.
Sienna! Where
She flew around the far corner, her dark hair tangled behind her, her hazel eyes wild and bright. In a blink, the world slowed down and he noticed details hed missed before. Her lips were more swollen than usual, with droplets of blood dried at the corners. A bruise colored her cheek, a blue-black testament of the pain she had been forced to endure. One of her obsidian wings was bent at an odd angle, clearly broken.
Shed been hurt. Someone had hurt her.
Red mixed with the black, both swimming so thickly in his brain they compromised his line of vision. Shimmers of rage sparked a thousand must-kill-must-protect fires, each one warring with the others. In his veins, his blood was molten, turning jerky movements into fluid, lethal arcs.
With a roar, he tossed away two other gargoyles. He grabbed another by the neck and punched, punched, punched, creating a hole in the creatures cheek, the rest of the stone chipping away bit by bit. Still the creature fought Pariss hold, teeth chomping at his fist.
Let them chain you, Sienna shouted. Please, just let them chain you.
She wanted him bound? Hated him as much as hed feared? No matter. Her command and plea were discarded, his determination unwavering. Must kill Punch, punch. Enemy must die. Punch, punch, punch. Stab. Obstacles must be eliminated. Punch, stab. Debris flew in every direction. The gargoyles forgot about their desire for pleasure, or whatever theyd felt while writhing on him, and went on full attack, no longer going easy on him.
Sienna reached him, smelling of wildflowers andambrosia? He inhaled deeply. Oh, yeah. Ambrosias sweet, sweet perfume permeated his skin, overshadowed everything else, including the need to kill, but oh, he now wanted to imbibe. Had to imbibe. His mouth watered, even as he wondered why she would smell of the immortal drug he had forced himself to stop using not too long ago, when he was hurt during a fight he would have won if hed been clearheaded. His injuries had almost caused him to miss his appointment with a goddess to purchase his crystal blades, and hed decided then and there to stop using. Thankfully, he had gone through the worst of the withdrawal already; he couldnt afford to go through it again. He would stop caring about anything but his next fix.
Want her. As close as she now was, Sex perked up, pouring strength straight into Pariss system and changing the direction of his own thoughts. Must touch hermust have her
For once, they were in agreement.
You have to let them chain you. When she attempted to jerk two of the gargoyles away from him, they turned on her, some biting, some clawing, some head-butting her. Her knees collapsed under their weight.
Another roar ripped from his throat. She had tried to save him? The very idea was foreign to him. Ignoring the beasts still attempting to subdue him, he concentrated on the ones climbing on top of her. He grabbed one and threw. Grabbed another, threw.
Run! he commanded her.
The beasts returned to him in a snap. He tried to knock them away, clearing a path for her, but she didnt run. She lay panting, her limbs unmoving, not even trying to shield herself.
Her watery gaze pleaded with him. Please, Paris. Be still. Dont fight.
Heated breath caught in his throat, and though every instinct he possessed screamed to continue fighting, continue hurting anything and everything in his way, he planted his heels on the floor, sheathed his blades and lowered his arms. She had tried to save him; he would trust her.
He would surrender.
For a moment, the beasts took full advantage, converging on him like flies to honey. Steady. Like Sienna, he remained unmoving. Shockingly, the fighting frenzy soon eased. The gargoyles latched on to his arms and once again began dragging him to the prison where theyd already locked William.
Sienna lumbered to her feet and followed, never allowing eye contact to break. A good thing. If she had, he would have erupted all over again. Cant lose even that much.
Theyll leave you alone after they chain you. Her voice trembled, pain in the undercurrents. They simply have to complete their task, and then youll be free to do whatever you want.
Want her
Despite his injuries, he hardened a second time, his demons scent wafting from him, a rich chocolate mingled with the most expensive champagne. If hed needed more proof that he could have this woman again, here it was. He could have her as many times as he wanted her, however many times she would allow him. He was awed. He was vindicated.
He was undone.
Finally, he was with the woman he craved above all others.
The beasts not holding his limbs leapt back on top of him, grinding, rubbing against him in that disgusting way. Harder this time, and much more determined. Even their need to complete their duty and chain him couldnt override his demons allure, he supposed. He tuned them out, kept his focus on Sienna.
She was herehe would never tire of the thoughtand she was breathtakingly lovely, the essence of all that was feminine. Even dirt-smudged and blood-caked as she was, hed never seen a more exquisite female. His mind had not built her up during their separation. On the contrary, his mind had not done her justice. Those hazel eyes glittered with swirls of emerald and copper, hints of summer and winter combined, framed by spiky jet lashes. Her lips were bee-stung and utterly wicked. The kind women paid to have and men paid to use.
Her hair wasnt too dark or too light, but the perfect shade of russet streaked with shimmers of the purest gold. The locks were longer than before, with waves as mesmerizing as those in an ocean.
Her freckles had lightened, but they were as decadent as ever, a treasure map for his tongue. The rest of her skin, cream and rose petals, glowed as if she had swallowed the sun. Her body, so slender, so elegant, was as graceful as a ballerinas. Her breasts were small, but they would fit amazingly well in his big hands as he tongued her nipples. Her legs were long and would wrap around his waist, holding him tight.
Mine, he thought. Mine.
Take her. Sex had abandoned the I wants and I needs, and was now all about the commands. As if Paris would argue. One question plagued him, though. Would being with her a second time actually strengthen him?
Around the corner, William waitedand he was grinning, his electric-blues calling Paris all kinds of stupid. He had broken free of his chains, as Paris should have done to avoid the beating, and waved as Paris passed him. The beasts paid him no heed, still clinging to Paris and proving Siennas claim. He relaxed. So close to holding her, to touching her as hed dreamed.
Oh, the things he wanted to do to her
She might push him away; she might not. Either way, at long last he would find out.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
PARIS WATCHED AS WILLIAM flowed into motion beside Sienna. Still she didnt look away from him and he wondered what thoughts she entertained. Was her body reacting to him, as his was reacting to her?
Blood-spattered walls framed her, and Paris cursed. He would have given anything to see her surrounded by silks and velvets. Would make it so, before he let her go. A vow, even as the thought of letting her go made him want to howl.
Nice to see you again, Sienna, William said, as pleasantly as he was able. The frost in his eyes belied his endearing facade.
Paris tensed. If the warrior hurt her
Weve met? she asked.
For a moment, William radiated absolute bafflement. Then his expression cleared, and he offered a sugar-sweet smile. It distresses me that you dont remember, but I dont mind reminding you. Allow me to paint the scene. We were in Texas, and you were crouched on the concrete like a dog, holding on to Paris like a leech. His cruel, sneering pitch was meant to intimidate her, to put her in her place for everything shed done to Paris.
Tone, Paris snapped. She might have done him wrong, but he would not allow her to be disrespected.
Sienna shrugged, apparently unconcerned by what the warrior had said. Youll have to forgive me for not noticing you back then. Next to him, youre kind of homely.
William choked on his own tongue.
For the first time in forever, Paris grinned with true amusement. The only other time hed witnessed such spunk from her was when she had drugged him. He hadnt liked it then, but he liked it now, especially since it was directed at someone else.
William caught his breath and added, Just so you know, Ill kill you if you harm him in any way. And I dont care how much it will upset him. So calmly stated, there was no arguing the warriors intent. Paris has proven to be stupid where youre concerned, and that means his friends have to pick up the mental slack.
There went his amusement. An animalistic growl left him, his lips peeling back from his teeth. Darkness rising againrage returning Paris struggled to free his arms, intending to wrap his fingers around Williams neck and squeeze. No one threatened Sienna. No one. Ever.
You dont really want to injure him. Stop. A plea from deep inside himself, where remnants of the old Paris must still reside. Williams loyalty was a nice surprise, and something he appreciated on a visceral level.
Where Sienna was concerned, however, Paris was not exactly rational, and his struggling intensified. Must defend her
The gargoyles stopped dragging him, stopped humping him and returned to fighting him, shoving him to the floor and into a pile of bones. They raked at him with their claws and teeth.
See? William splayed his arms, his point proven. Stupid.
Biting the inside of his cheek, Paris forced himself to chill a secondthird?time. He huffed and he puffed like the big, bad wolf he was, knowing he would be given a chance to make his point about Sienna later, when he could get to his knives. His friends could do and say anything they wanted to him, but not to her.
Once again the creatures lost interest in the battle and resumed the trek to the prison.
Sienna and William continued to follow, and soon Pariss wrists and ankles were shackled to a crumbling stone wall in a four-by-four chamber devoid of any luxuries. Claws scraped the floor as the creatures filed out, each squawking happily about what they clearly considered a job well done.
Sienna severed visual contact and collapsed at his side, her trembling fingers working at one of the metal bands. He could have freed himself. Or hell, William could have freed him, but Paris liked having those soft, elegant hands on him. They were his favorite part of her body, every movement an exotic dance.
On a raspy catch of breath, she said, Theyre tasked with chaining anyone who survives the walk from drawbridge to castle, and once thats accomplished, they lose interest. Youll be free to move about the place as much or as little as you want.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting her voice drift through his mind. Husky, low, a caress hed missed more than hed realized. He could listen to her forever.
Did part of him still hate her? Yeah. Definitely. Hated what shed done to him, hated what hed done for her. Hated how strongly she affected him. And beneath all the hate, he resented that she hadnt seen beyond her own hatred to choose him all those months ago, the way hed chosen her.
He would have taken her home. He would have pampered her. At least, thats what he told himself now. He wouldnt contemplate what he would have done to her before the pampering commenced. Wouldnt think about the interrogation hed planned or the chains hed imagined buying for her.
Im having trouble I cant The fall must have hurt worse than I realized. Her voice had thinned to a mere wisp of sound, barely audible. Sosorry Her hands fell away from him, and she slumped forward, her slight weight resting on his chest.
Sienna? he demanded, but there was no response. Anyone who could see and touch her could injure her spirit form; he knew that. And the gargoyles had certainly been able to see and touch her. But without a heartbeat or need to breathe, she should rebound quickly. Right? Except, the bloodstains around her mouthhow had she bled? he wondered now.
Must have fainted from the sight of my beauty, William remarked with a sigh. There goes the tickle fight I had planned.
Ignoring him, Paris yanked one of his arms, ripping the chain from the wall. He wrapped that arm around Siennas waist, holding her against him, keeping her steady.
She fit him perfectly.
After he ripped the other arm free, he eased her to her back and peered down at her, his heart causing a riot of sensation in his chest.
Her head lolled to the side, and she was pale, paler than before. Another rip, followed by another, and his ankles were free. Then he jerked at the cuffs themselves until they fell away. Then he did what hed wanted to do since the first moment hed seen her. He touched her, smoothing the hair from her brow. Her skin was as soft as it appeared, and warm, so wonderfully warm. Hed craved a moment like this so desperately, had dreamed of it over and over again, and had nearly killed himself a hundred times over to have it. To his delight, reality was so much better than the dream. More than feeling her heat, he smelled her scent all around him, enveloping him. The wildflowers, the coconut sweetness of ambrosia, both creating a heady musk of arousal.
Why ambrosia? He couldnt get past that. Was she a user? If so, hed bet someone, like, say, Cronus, had forced her to become one. She wasnt the type to willingly fall into drugs. From what little he knew about her, she liked order and craved control.
Ill protect her from further abuse, he thought next. She was his. For just a little while, she was his.
Sex jumped up and down. Take her, take her, take her.
Instinct demanded he obey. Still he resisted. Not like this. Not while shes out.
A sigh of frustration, maybe even a muttered youre no fun as Paris looked her over, shielding her from Williams gaze as he moved her clothing out of the way to check for injuries. Every newly revealed inch of skin acted as a lick of flame to Sex, causing the demon to hiss and shake. Or maybe you are fun.
Though Paris admired the body beneath him just as fervently as his dark companion, he hissed and shook for a different reason. Another rise of darkness, another increase of boiling rage. Beneath fading bruises, his woman was as fang-and-claw-mark-ridden as he was, blood oozing from her in tiny rivers of pain.
His next mission crystallized. Finding out how to hurt the gargoyles and then making them pay for every mark.
Really making them pay, he decided when he spied a deep, angry gouge in her side. He sucked in a breath to try and calm himself down, but he inhaled so sharply his lungs felt like mini-vacuums, drawing the air in with commando force. His muscles tensed, his head fogged all over again and his mouth watered. He could actually taste the ambrosia in the air. Frowning, he bent down and sniffed along the line of her neck. The closer he was to her, the stronger the scent became.
Kinky, William said.
Can you be serious?
I was being serious. I always figured you for the in and out type. Kinda stealthy, leaving the girl wondering whether youd even been there or not. But I didnt know you were quite this stealthy.
Nice to know youve considered my sex life, he grumbled.
Hasnt everyone?
Screw you.
Again, hasnt everyone?
This is pointless. Another sniff. The fog thickened, Pariss brain practically swimming through it. Could the fragrance originate in Siennas blood? Yet another sniff, another infusion of that ever-thickening fog. Yeah, it was definitely in her bloodand a lot of it. More than even an addict could handle. Her scent was as strong as if she were actually growing in an ambrosia field.
Which should be impossible. Right? Ambrosia was harvested in special meadows elsewhere in the heavens, as far from this dark realm as the moon was from the earth. Lavender petals were plucked from the foliage, the clear, intoxicating liquid squeezed out before those petals were dried and turned into powder. No one could handle the liquid, not even immortals, and humans certainly couldnt handle even the powder.
But Sienna wasnt human anymore, was she.
He was ashamed to admit he was tempted to bite her, to drink her down and savor every drop. Hed walked the path of addiction, sprinted it, really, but he had somehow managed to skirt the edge of need during his journey here, knowing his wits were required to succeed. If only that would lessen the sweet, tantalizing lure of her right nowbut no.
As interesting as this is, and honestly, I dont mean to interrupt your seductive process, William said, air-quoting the last two words, but are you gonna get to the good stuff or what?
I thought I told you to shut it.
No, you told me to screw you, and that was five minutes ago. A lots changed since then. Like, Im currently bored.
Biting his tongue until he tasted copper, Paris finished his search for injuries. And shit, there was another shot of desirehis own rather than his demons. He shouldnt notice those lovely pink nipples, shouldnt notice the soft dip of her belly or the trim length of her legs. Shouldnt be counting her freckles, already planning his tongues attack. (He would start with the darker ones on her stomach, and work his way to the lighter ones on her thighs.) He was a bastard. He was sick, disgusting. He should be whipped.
When she woke up, shed take care of that for him, he would bet.
Hate myself. Shes already dead, he gritted out. He noticed her right wrist no longer bore the tattoo of infinity, a symbol the Hunters used. Why is she bleeding? Shouldnt she heal as quickly as we do?
Oh, now you want to talk to me? the warrior quipped.
Just answer the question before I cut out your tongue and nail it to the wall.
Youve really lost your sense of humor, you know that? But okay. Fine. Ill play along. Shes dead, yes, but shes also possessed by a demon that is very much alive. His heart beats for her. His blood fills her veins. I shouldnt have to explain demon physiology to you. And what the hell is that smell? Its mouthwatering. A real party for my
Stop breathing! Paris didnt want anyone else breathing her in.
O-kay. Possessive much?
Lets get back to the subject that wont get you maimed. Shes possessed by a demon, yes, but shes also a dead human spirit. So
So, youre still able to touch her.
To borrow the bastards phrasing: Obvious much? What Im asking is, will she heal?
Yeah, because her demon will heal. And heres a little tip for the next person held captive by your stunning conversation. You should have started with that and saved us time and trouble.
Okay. Okay, then. Good. She would heal. Paris scooped her up in his armspissed all over again with the gargoyles. What theyd left on himwas now on his woman.
Sex adored the contact and purred his approval.
Im taking her upstairs, looking for a bedroom. Paris would clean and bandage her. If she didnt wake up and demand he leave her the hell alone first. Youre not invited.
As much as he wanted her awake, looking at him, talking to him, he hoped she slept through the cleaning. He was desperate to get his hands on her, really on her. Yeah, he was a sick, sick bastard. But that wasnt the main reason, he told himself. He didnt want her to feel any pain while he doctored her.
He studied the chains for a split second, thinking it might be a good idea to tie Sienna to a bed while he had the chance. That way, she couldnt run until after theyd discussed a few things. But he hadnt come all this way, done all those things, only to enslave her himself. His goal was, and had always been, her freedom.
And shit. She might not run from him. Earlier she had ignored him, had watched as hed passed her, but a few minutes later, she had rushed to his rescue. Whatever the reason for the change, she hadnt sought to get rid of him.
He rubbed his cheek against the top of her head, luxuriating in the feel of her silky hair before carrying her out of the cell. The gargoyles hadnt bothered shutting the iron bars that would have kept him and William inside. At least until theyd picked the lock, that is.
Youre such a wuss, William said, pacing beside him. I hope you know that.
Really? Im not the one carrying conditioner around.
Maybe thats why your hair has so many split ends.
Tell me about your hair one more time. Youll wake up bald.
Thats a ridiculous thing to say. We both know Id have your guts spilled before you ever got the razor near me. William raised his chin. By the way, only a real man can accept his feminine side.
I dont know who fed you that line of garbage, but I can promise shes laughing at you right now.
Surprise! It was your momafter I boned her.
A mom joke. How original.
The gargoyles were no longer in the ballroom. Paris hadnt noticed the interior before; hed been a little too busy getting his ass kicked. Now he had a look around. It was dark, crumbling like the rest of the place, with blood dried on the walls and bones tossed about haphazardly.
Up the stairs they climbed, the carpet threadbare in multiple places. On the new rise were statues, a lot of damn statues. Male, female, old, young. Only thing they had in common were their expressions of horror.
I take it youre gonna be busy for a few hours, since I suspect thats how long shell be out and you can do your thing. William brushed his fingers over a large pair of alabaster breasts. I mean, thats the reason Im not invited to join you, right?