The Darkest Passion(The sixth book in the Lords of the Underworld series)Gena Showalter
Dear Reader,
Im thrilled to present The Darkest Passion, the fifth installment in my paranormal series LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD. In a remote fortress in Budapest, twelve immortal warriorseach more dangerously seductive than the lastare bound by an ancient curse none has been able to break. When a powerful enemy returns, they will travel the world in search of a sacred relic of the godsone that threatens to destroy them all.
In this story Aeron, the keeper of Wrath, at last meets Olivia, the angel who has been stalkinguh, keeping tabs on him. Bad timing, too. Hes finally happy with his life, content to pamper his adoptive daughter (cough devils spawn cough), yet Olivia has him spiraling out of control, battling a fierce need to protect her. Even from himself.
Join me on a journey through this darkly sensual world, where the line between good and evil blurs and true love is put to the ultimate test. And dont miss Into the Dark (out now!), featuring two extended LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD eBooks in print for the first time, plus fun bonus material. Also, stay tuned for The Darkest LieGideons storyin July 2010, as the stakes get higher, the quest more dangerous and the romance hotter!
Wishing you all the best,
Gena Showalter
Acknowledgments:
I want to thank all the wonderful people at Harlequin Books for the continued support and encouragement. I am very blessed to work with you!
CHAPTER ONE
THEY DONT SEEM TO CARE that theyre dying.
Aeron, an immortal warrior possessed by the demon of Wrath, was perched atop the roof of the Bübájos Apartments in central Budapest, peering down at the humans so blithely going about their evening. Some were shopping, some talking and laughing, and some snacking while they walked. But none of them were dropping to their knees and begging the gods for more time in those feeble bodies. Nor were they sobbing because they wouldnt get it.
He shifted his focus from the people to their surroundings. Muted moonlight spilled from the sky, blending with the amber glow of the street lamps and casting shadows on the paved pathways. Buildings stretched on every side, some of the higher points wrapped in light green awnings, the perfect contrast to the emerald trees rising from their bases.
Pretty, as far as coffins went.
Humans knew they were fading. Hell, they grew up knowing theyd have to abandon everything and everyone they loved, and yet, as hed already observed, they didnt demand or even request more time. And thatfascinated him. Were Aeron to learn hed soon be separated from his friends, the other demon-possessed warriors hed spent the last few thousand years protecting, he would have done anythingyes, even begto change his fate.
So why didnt the mortals? What did they know that he did not?
They arent dying, his friend Paris said from beside him. Theyre living while they have the chance.
Aeron snorted. That wasnt the answer he sought. For how could they live while they had the chance when their chance was a mere blink of time? Theyre frail. Easily destroyed. As you well know. Cruel of him to say because Parissgirlfriend? Lover? Chosen female? Whatever she was, shed recently been shot to death in front of Paris. Still, Aeron couldnt regret his words.
Paris was the keeper of Promiscuity, forced to bed a different human every day or he would weaken and die himself. He couldnt afford to mourn the loss of one specific lover. Especially an enemy lover, which was what his little Sienna had been.
Aeron hated to admit it, but on some level, he was glad the woman was dead. She would have used Pariss needs against him and ultimately ruined him.
I, however, will ensure his safety always. It was a vow. The king of the gods had given Paris a choice: the return of his females soul or Aerons freedom from a horrific blood-craze that constantly danced thoughts of maiming and killing through his mind. Thoughts, he was ashamed to admit, he had acted upon. Over and over again.
Because of that curse, Reyes, the keeper of the demon of Pain, had almost lost his beloved Danika. In fact, Aeron had been poised to strike that final blow, blade sharpened, raisedfalling toward her pretty neck. But just before contact, Paris had chosen Aeron and the craze had instantly left him, sparing Danikas life.
Part of Aeron still felt guilty about what had almost happenedand about the consequences of Pariss choice. A guilt that was like acid in his bones, eating away at him. Paris now suffered while he reveled in his freedom. That didnt mean he would show Paris mercy in this matter, however. He loved his friend too much for that. More than that, Aeron owed him. And Aeron always repaid his debts.
Hence the reason they were on this roof.
Taking care of Paris, though, was not an easy task. For the past six nights Aeron had carted his friend here amid ceaseless protests. Paris had only to pick a woman, then Aeron would procure her and ensure the two were safe while they had sex. But each night the choice was made later. And later.
Aeron had a feeling he and Paris would sit here and talk until sunrise this time.
Had the now-depressed warrior eschewed these weak mortals as Aeron did, he would not currently be wishing for something he couldnt have. He would not be desperate for itand denied it for all eternity.
Aeron sighed. Paris, he began. Then stopped. How should he proceed? Your mourning must end. Good. To the point, just as he preferred. Its weakening you.
Paris ran his tongue over his teeth. As if youre one to talk about weakness. How many times have you been Wraths bitch? Countless. And in how many of those countless instances can you blame the gods? Only once. When that demon overtakes you, you lose all control of your actions. So dont add hypocrisy to your list of sins, okay?
He didnt take offense. Sadly, Pariss claim was irrefutable. Sometimes Wrath would seize control of Aerons body and fly him through town, striking at everyone within reach, hurting them and gorging on their terror. During those instances, Aeron was aware of what was happening, but unable to halt the carnage.
Not that he always wanted the carnage to halt. Some people deserved what they got.
But he did loathe losing control of his body, as if he were merely a puppet with strings. Or a monkey who danced on command. When he was reduced to such a state, he despised his demonbut not as much as he despised himself. Because with the hatred, he also experienced pride. In Wrath. Wresting the reins of control from him required power, and power of any kind was to be prized.
Still. The love-hate tug-of-war disturbed him.
You might not have meant to, but youve just proven my point, he said, jumping back into conversation. Weakness births destruction. No exceptions. In Pariss case, mourning was simply another word for distracted. And such distraction could prove fatal.
What does that have to do with me? What does that have to do with the humans down there? Paris pointed.
Big picture time. Those people. They age and deteriorate in a heartbeat of time.
And?
And let me finish. If you fall in love with one of them, you might have her for the better part of a century. Maybe, if disease or an accident do not befall her. But it will be a century spent watching her wither and die. And during it all, youll know an eternity without her awaits you.
Such pessimism. Paris tskedhardly the reaction Aeron had expected. You see it as a century spent losing that which you are unable to protect. I see it as a century spent enjoying a great blessing. A blessing that will aid you the rest of eternity.
Aid? Absurd. When you lost something precious, the memories of it became a tormenting reminder of what you could never have again. Those memories added to your troubles, distracting youunlike Paris, he wouldnt wrap the word in a pretty bowrather than strengthening you.
Proof: thats how he felt about Baden, keeper of Distrust and once his best friend. Long ago, hed lost the man hed loved more than he would have loved even a blood brother, and now, every time he was alone, he pictured Baden and wondered about what could have been.
He didnt want that for Paris.
Forget big picture. Time for a little more mercilessness. If youre so capable of accepting loss, why do you still mourn Sienna?
A beam of moonlight hit Pariss face, and Aeron saw that his eyes were slightly glazed. Obviously, hed been drinking. Again. I didnt have my century with her. I had but a few days. Flat tone.
Dont stop now. And if you had been given a hundred years with her before she died, you would now be at peace with her death?
There was a pause.
He hadnt thought so.
Enough! Paris slammed a fist into the roof and the entire building shook. I dont want to talk about this anymore.
Too bad. Loss is loss. Weakness is weakness. If we dont allow ourselves to grow attached to the humans, we wont care when they leave us. If we harden our hearts, we wont desire that which we cannot have. Our demons taught us that very well.
Each of their demons had once lived in hell and desired freedom, and so together they fought their way out. Only, they ended up exchanging one prison for another, and the second had been far worse than the first.
Rather than enduring sulfur and flames as they had before, they spent a thousand years trapped inside Pandoras box. A thousand years of darkness and desolation and pain. Theyd had no independence, no hope for something better.
Had those demons been stronger, had they not craved that which was forbidden to them, they would not have been captured.
Had Aeron been stronger of will, he would not later have helped open that box. Would not then have been cursed to house the very evil he had released inside his own body. Would not have been kicked from the heavens, the only home hed ever known, to spend the rest of eternity in this chaotic land where nothing stayed the same.
He would not have lost Baden while warring with Huntersdespicable mortals who abhorred the Lords, blaming them for the worlds evil. A friend just died of cancer? Of course the Lords were responsible. A teenage girl just discovered she was pregnant? The Lords had clearly struck again.
Had he been stronger, he would not be caught up in that war once again, fighting, killing. Always killing.
Have you ever yearned for a mortal? Paris asked, drawing him from his dark thoughts. Sexually?
A quiet laugh escaped him. Welcome a female into my life one day, only to lose her the next? No. He was smarter than that.
Who says you have to lose her? Paris withdrew a flask from the inside of his leather jacket and took a long swig.
More alcohol already? Clearly his little pep talk hadnt done his friend a bit of good.
After swallowing, Paris added, Maddox has Ashlyn, Lucien has Anya, Reyes has Danika and now Sabin has Gwen. Even Gwens sister, Bianka the Terrible, has a lover. An angel I had to oil-wrestle, but whatever. We wont talk about that part.
Oil-wrestling? Yes. Best to avoid. Those couples have each other, but each of those women has an ability that sets her apart from the others of her kind. Theyre more than human. That didnt mean they would live forever, though. Even immortals could be slain. Hed been the one to pick up Badens headwithout the warriors body. Hed been the one to first glimpse that eternally frozen expression of shock.
Well, hello, solution. Find a female with an ability that sets her apart, Paris said dryly.
As if it were that easy. Besides I have Legion, and shes all I can handle at the moment. He pictured the little demon so like a daughter to him and grinned. When standing, she only reached his waist. She had green scales, two tiny horns that had just sprouted atop her head and sharp teeth that produced poisonous saliva. Tiaras were her favorite accessory and living flesh her favorite meal.
The first he enjoyed indulging, the second they were working on.
Aeron had met her in hell. Well, as close to the blistering pit as a man could get without actually melting inside its flames. Hed been chained next door, so to speak, drunk with that cursed bloodlust, determined to slay even his friends, when Legion had dug her way to him, her presence somehow clearing his mind, giving him the strength he so prized. Shed helped him escape, and theyd been together ever since.
Except for now. His precious baby girl had returned to hell, a place she despised, all because an honest-to-the-gods angel had been watching Aeron, skulking in the shadows, invisible, waiting forsomething. What, he didnt know. He only knew that intense gaze wasnt on him right now, but it would return. It always did. And Legion couldnt stand it.
He leaned back and peered up at the night sky. The stars were vivid tonight, like diamonds scattered across black satin. Sometimes, when he craved even the illusion of solitude, he would soar as high as his wings would take him and then fall, fast and sure, only slowing seconds before impact.
As Paris downed another mouthful of his liquor, the scent of ambrosia wafted on the breeze, as gentle and sweet as babys breath. Aeron shook his head. Ambrosia was his friends drug of choice, the only thing capable of numbing mind and body for men such as them, but its use was getting out of hand, making the once fierce soldier sloppy.
With Galen, leader of the Hunters and a demon-possessed warrior like them, roaming the streets, he needed his friend lucid at the very least. Factor in the angel, and well, he needed his friend in top fighting form. Angels, as hed recently learned, were demon-assassins.
Did this angel want to kill him? He wasnt sure, and Biankas consort, Lysander, wouldnt tell him. But then, the answer really didnt matter. He planned to gut the coward, male or female, the moment it grew some balls and appeared in front of him.
No one separated him from Legion. Not without suffering for it. Legion could even now be hurting, mentally and physically. At the thought, Aerons hands clenched so tightly the bones nearly fractured. The little darlings brethren enjoyed taunting her for her kindness and compassion. They also enjoyed chasing her, and gods knew what theyd do to her if they actually caught her.
Much as you love Legion, Paris began, once again dragging Aeron from the sharply tangled mire of his thoughts. He tossed a stone at the building across from them before draining the rest of the flask. She cant meet all your needs.
Meaning sex. Could they not abandon this topic once and for all? Aeron sighed. He hadnt bedded a woman in years, perhaps centuries. They simply werent worth the effort. Because of Wrath, his desire to hurt them soon outweighed his desire to please them. More, as tattooed and battle-hardened as Aeron was, he had to work for every scrap of affection he received. Females were scared of himand rightly so. Softening them required time and patience he didnt have. After all, there were a thousand other, more important things he could be doing. Things like training, guarding his home, guarding his friends. Indulging Legions every whim.
I have no such needs. And for the most part, that was true. Disciplined as he was, he rarely indulged in pleasures of the flesh. Only time he did so was while alone. I have everything I desire. Now, did we come here to share our feelings or find you a lover?
With a growl, Paris tossed the empty flask as hed tossed the stone. It slammed into the buildings wall, plumes of dust and rock filling the air. One day, someones going to fascinate you, draw and ensnare you, and youll crave her with every cell in your body. I hope she drives you insane. I hope, for a little while at least, she denies you, leading you on a merry chase. Perhaps then youll understand a glimmer of my pain.
If thats whats necessary to repay the favor you did me, then Ill gladly endure such a fate. Ill even beseech the gods for it. Aeron couldnt imagine ever wanting a female, immortal or human, so much that it disrupted his life. He wasnt like the other warriors, who constantly sought companionship. He truly was happiest when he was alone. Or rather, alone with Legion. Besides, he was too proud to chase after someone who didnt return his ardor.
But hed meant what he said. For Paris, hed endure anything. Did you hear that, Cronus? he shouted to the heavens. Send me a female. One who will torment me. One who will deny me.
Cocky bastard. Paris chuckled. What if he actually sends you this unattainable female?
Gods, that amusement pleased him. It was so like the old Paris. Doubtful. Cronus wanted the warriors focused on defeating Galen. Which had been his obsession ever since Danika had predicted the god king would die by Galens hand.
As the All-Seeing Eye, Danikas predictions were always accurate. Even the bad ones. But there was a silver lining: those visions could be used to elicit change. At least in theory.
But what if? Paris prompted when his silence dragged on too long.
If Cronus answers my plea, Ill enjoy the ride, Aeron lied with a grin. Now, enough about me. Lets do what we came here to do. He sat up and peered down at the street, scanning the thinning crowd.
To preserve the roads, cars werent allowed in this part of town, so everyone had to hoof it. Thats why hed picked this location. Pulling a female out of a moving vehicle wasnt something he enjoyed. This way, Paris had only to make his selection and Aeron would spread his wings and fly the warrior down. One glance at the gorgeous blue-eyed devil, and the chosen female would stop and gasp. Sometimes a smile was all that was needed to convince her to strip, right there in public, where anyone lurking in the alleyways could watch.
You wont find anyone, Paris said. Ive already looked.
What abouther? He pointed to a plump, scantily dressed blonde.
No. No hesitation. Tooobvious.
Here we go again, he thought with dread, but gestured to another woman. And her? This one was tall and perfectly curved with a short cap of red hair. And she was dressed conservatively.
No. Too mannish.
What the hell does that mean?
That I dont want her. Next.
For the ensuing hour, Aeron pointed out potential bedmates and Paris shot them down for variousridiculousreasons. Too pristine, too rumpled, too tan, too pale. The only rejection that mattered was Ive had her before and as many as Paris had had, Aeron heard that one a lot.
Youre going to have to settle on one eventually. Why not save us both the hassle, close your eyes and point. Whoever youre pointing at will be our winner.
Ive played that game once before. Ended up Paris shuddered. Never mind. Its not good to wander down that particular memory trail. So no. Just no.
What about His words halted abruptly as the woman hed been eyeballing disappeared in the shadows. She hadnt faded from view, as was natural. Normal. She had simply ceased to exist, there one moment, gone the next, the shadows somehow tugged to her as if theyd been jerked on a leash.
Aeron jumped to his feet, wings automatically pushing from the slits in his bare back and expanding. We have a problem.
Whats wrong? Paris, too, sprang to his feet. Even though he wavered slightly from the ambrosia, he was still a soldier and palmed a dagger.
The dark-haired female. Did you see her?
Which one?
That answered Aerons question. No, Paris hadnt seen her. If he had, the warrior wouldnt have needed to ask of whom Aeron spoke.
Come on. Aeron snaked his arms around his friends waist and leapt from the building. Wind blasted through Pariss multicolored locks, whipping several strands against his face as the ground loomed closercloser still Be on the lookout for a woman with shoulder-length black hair, straight as a pin, roughly five-ten, early twenties, black clothing. Most likely shes more than human.
Kill?
Capture. I have questions for her. Like how shed disappeared like that. Like why she was here. Like who she worked for.
Immortals always had an agenda.
Just before they hit concrete and stone, Aeron flapped his wings. He slowed just enough to land upright with only a mild jarring. He released his charge, and they instantly branched in separate directions. After thousands of years of fighting together, they knew how to proceed without first outlining every move.
As Aeron sprinted down the alleyway to his left, the direction the woman had been heading, he folded his wings back under their slits. He spotted several peoplea couple holding hands, a homeless male draining a bottle of whiskey, a man walking his dogbut no dark-haired female. He reached a brick wall and spun. Damn this. Was she like Lucien? Able to whisk herself to any location with only a thought?
Scowling, he kicked back into motion. Hed search every alley in the area if need be. Only, halfway down, the shadows around him thickened, consuming him, choking out the golden glow of the street lamps. Thousands of muted screams seemed to seep from the gloom. Tortured screams. Agonized screams.
He stopped, lest he slam into somethingor someoneand palmed two blades. What the hell was
A womanthe womanstepped from the shadows, only a few feet away from him. She was the only light in that sudden, vast expanse of dark. Her eyes were as black as the gloom around her, her lips as red and moist as blood. She was pretty, in a feral kind of way.
Wrath hissed inside his head.
For a moment, Aeron feared Cronus had actually listened to him after all and sent a female to torment him. But as he stared over at her, there was no heat in his veins, no flutter in his heartbeat, as hed heard the other Lords expound on whenever one found a female he just had to have. She was like any other to him: easily forgettable.
Well, well, well. Arent I a lucky girl. Youre one of them, a Lord of the Underworld, and you came to me, she said, her voice as raspy as smoke. I didnt even have to ask.
I am a Lord, yes. There was no reason to deny it. The townspeople recognized him and the others on sight. Some even thought they were angels. Hunters recognized them on sight, as well, but were all too quick to renounce them as demons. Either way, the information could hardly be used against him. And I did come looking for you.
At his easy confirmation, her features revealed a hint of surprise. A great honor, to be sure. Why were you looking?
I want to know who are you. Better questionwhat was she?
Maybe Im not as lucky as I thought. Those lush red lips dipped into a pout and she pretended to wipe away a tear. If my own brother doesnt recognize me.
Well, he now had part of his answer: she was a liar. I dont have a sister.
She arched a black brow. You sure about that?
Yes. He hadnt been born to a mother and father; Zeus, King of the Greek gods, had simply spoken him into existence. Same with all the Lords.
Stubborn. She tsked, reminding him of Paris. I shouldve known wed be just alike. Anyway, its so nice to finally catch one of you alone. Whod I get? Fury? Narcissism? Im right, arent I? Admit it, youre Narcissism. Thats why you plastered your body with tattoos of your own face. Nice. Can I call you Narci?
Fury? Narcissism? None of his brothers carried those demons. Doubt, Disease, Misery and many others, yes, but not those. He shook his headonly to remember that other demon-possessed immortals were out there. Immortals hed never met. Immortals he was supposed to find.
As he and his friends had been the ones to open Pandoras box, theyd always assumed they were the only ones cursed to house its evil. But Cronus had recently corrected that false assumption, gifting the Lords with scrolls bearing the names of others like them. Apparently, there had been more demons than warriors, and with the box nowhere to be found, the Greeksthe gods in power at the timehad placed the remaining demons inside the immortal prisoners of Tartarus.
A discovery that did not bode well for the Lords. As Zeuss former elite sentries, theyd locked many of those prisoners awayand criminals often lived only for vengeance. Something Wrath had taught him well.
Hello, the woman prompted. Anyone home?
He blinked down at her, cursing himself. Hed allowed himself to be distracted in the presence of a possible enemy. Fool. Who I am is none of your concern. That was information that could be used against him. Especially since lately, Wrath was so easily provoked the most innocent of statements could send itand therefore Aeroninto that murderous craze, placing this town and all of its citizens in danger.
He blamed the angel stalking him.
Except he couldnt blame the angel when Wrath began snarling inside his mind, clawing at his skull, desperate to act. To hurt. The demons keenest ability was, and had always been, sensing the sins of anyone nearby. And this womans, he suddenly realized, were vast.
Ill take your sudden black expression as a no. Youre not Narci, and no ones home.
Stoptalking He gripped his temples, cool blades pressed against his skin, trying to stop the mental bombardment he knew was coming, another distraction he could ill afford. Useless. Her multitude of sins played through his head at once, like movies on split screens. She had recently tortured a man, had chained him to a chair and set him on fire. Before that, she had gutted a female. She had tricked, and she had stolen. Had abducted a child from his home. Had lured a male to her bed and sliced his throat. Violenceso much violenceso much terror and pain and darkness. He could hear the screams of her victims, could smell burnt flesh and taste blood.
Perhaps shed had good reason for doing those things. Perhaps not. Either way, Wrath wanted to punish her, using her own crimes against her. First it would chain her, then gut her, then slice her throat and set her on fire.
That was the way of Aerons demon. It beat beaters, murdered murderers, as well as everything in between. So yes, at Wraths urging, Aeron had done those things. Many times. Now, he clenched every muscle in his body, locking his bones in place. Steady. Cant lose control. Have to stay sane. But gods, the need to castigateso stronga need he liked more than he should have. As usual.
Why are you here in Budapest, woman? Good. That was good. Slowly he lowered his arms.
Wow, she said, ignoring his question. That was quite a display of restraint.
Shed known his demon wanted to hurt her?
So let me guess. She tapped a nail against her chin. Youre not Narci, so you have to beChauvinist. Right again, arent I? You think a pretty little thing like me cant handle the truth. Mistake. But no matter. Keep your secrets. Youll learn, though. Oh, yes, youll learn.
Are you threatening me, female?
Again she ignored him. Word on the street is Cronus gave you the scrolls and you plan to use them to hunt us down. To use us. Perhaps even slay us.
Aerons stomach bottomed out. One, she knew about the scrolls when he and his friends had only just learned of them. Two, she knew she was on that list. Which meant this woman was indeed an immortaland a criminaland if she was to be believed, she was also demon-possessed.
Aeron didnt recognize her, which meant he and his friends hadnt been the ones to imprison her. That meant shed come before their time in the heavens. And that meant she was a Titan and a greater threat, for the Titans were far more savage than their Greek counterparts.
Worse, the now-freed Titans were currently in charge. She might have godly help.
Which demon do you carry? he demanded, not above using its weaknesses against her.
She offered a wicked grin, his hard tone clearly amusing her. You didnt share that information with me. Why should I share anything with you?
Infuriating woman. You said us. He looked over her shoulder, half expecting someone to leap forward and attack him. All he saw was darknessand all he heard were more of those muted screams. Where are these others?
Hell if I know. She splayed her arms, her hands out and empty, as if she didnt think he warranted the use of a weapon. Im on my own, just like always, and thats the way I like it.
Probably another lie. What woman would approach a fearsome Lord of the Underworld without backup? He didnt relax his guard as he met her gaze. If youre here to war with us, know that
War? She laughed. When I could kill you all while you sleep? No, Im just here to deliver a warning. Call off the dogs or Ill wipe your presence from this world. And if anyone can do so, its me.