Gideon. Olivia racked her brain. Keeper of Lies?
Im resting, he croaked out. Were alone.
Oh, yes. He was indeed the keeper of Lies, unable to tell a single truth without suffering severe pain. He was also very, very cute, with blue hair, electric eyes and a pierced eyebrow. But he was clearly injured. White bandages were wrapped around his wrists where his hands should have been.
Confident. Aggressive. Sorry to interrupt. I was justin the neighborhood. Truth. Im Olivia, she said, waving. Though this demon raised her hackles as Torin had done, she didnt scream at him to leave or run away herself. Before, shed been injured and lost to those terrible memories. Now, her body was strongeror as strong as a human body could be. She could handle this. Im with Aeron.
Which wasnt a lie. He was one of the reasons shed come here. Shed just kissed him while lying in a bed and oh, her heart had yet to settle over that. Shed never seen him do that with another female.
Just like that, her mind immersed itself in what had happened. Wow. Justwow. While his body was hard as a rock, his mouth was soft as a rose petal. His hands had moved all over her, shed rubbed herself on his massive erection, and those big fingers had pushed inside her. The pleasurethe heatthe surprising abandonshed never experienced anything like it.
Now she knew. You really could die from pleasure.
Hed tasted of mint, sweet and spicy; together, theyd been the perfect aphrodisiac, overwhelming her senses. Completion had become her sole source of survival.
Youre the angel, the woman said with a welcoming grin, tugging her from her thoughts.
Yes. Fallen, but yes.
Gideon relaxed against his pillows. Wonderful.
Pay no attention to him. Hes grumpy from boredom. Im Ashlyn, by the way. Ashlyn had golden hair, golden eyes, and looked as delicate as an iris. Maddoxs wife.
Maddox, keeper of Violence, Olivia said. A giant of a man with black hair, violet eyes identical to Aerons and a seemingly untamable temper. Youve married?
In our own private ceremony, Ashlyn replied with a blush. She stood. Hes not so bad, though, I promise. Her hands smoothed over her rounded belly. Hes a sweetie once you get to know him.
Olivia couldnt help herself. She strode forward and placed her own hands on that belly. Pregnant females had always drawn her, for shed always known she would never bear children herselfanother secret wish of hers. Angels were created, not born, so even if shed experienced physical desire with another of her kind, she wouldnt have conceived.
Now that she was humanperhaps there was a possibility.
With Aeron? A girl could hope. For a moment, she pictured what children of theirs would look like. They wouldnt be born with all those tattoos, of course, and that was a shame, but they might have his beautiful violet eyes, and even his wings. Everyone should experience the joys of flight, if only once. Perhaps their children would even have Aerons grit and determination, driving her mad while at the same time enchanting her.
She sighed, returning her attention to the task at hand.
They are strong, your twins, she said, knowing mothers welcomed such news. Fire and ice. Youll have your hands full, keeping them out of trouble, but youll be happier for it.
Ashlyns jaw dropped and for a long while, she simply blinked up at the taller Olivia. T-twins? How do you know Im having twins?
Oh, no. Shed ruined the surprise, hadnt she? Sensing who grows in a womans womb is a gift all angels possess.
Thatthat just cant be. Her skin was paling by the second, even becoming tinted with green. Theres only one being inside me. I mean, Im progressing normally. Right?
How much to tell her? Only enough to calm her, perhaps. No. Youre progressing slowly. Your children are immortal and require a much longer gestation. But dont worry. As you promised me, I now promise you. Both your son and your daughter are healthy.
A son? A daughter?
Great. Shed ruined another surprise.
With a shaky hand, Ashlyn brushed a lock of honey-colored hair from her face and hooked it behind her ear. I need to lie down. I need to call Maddox. II Her wild gaze swung to Gideon. Would you mind terribly if
Yes, he said, grinning. I would mind.
She exhaled heavily. Thank you. As if she were lost in a trance, the pretty Ashlyn padded from the room, not sparing Olivia another glance.
Im sorry, Olivia called. For more than one reason. Now she was alone with Lies. A situation in which she had never thought to find herself. Injured as he was, however, she couldnt leave him. Would you, uh, like me to continue the story? she asked. Not waiting for a reply, she lifted the book Ashlyn had left behindohhh, a romance novel, how decadent!and claimed the womans seat.
Id love for you to read to me, he said. Your voice is notcreepy.
Meaning he wouldnt and it was. Rejected.
She fanned the books pages, doing her best to hide her disappointment. What youre hearing is a layer of truth. Theres nothing I can do about it. Well, except lie, but thats not something I want to do. They taste horrible. Plus, theyre too complicated. Feelings get hurt, fights erupt.
Yeah, Id know nothing about that. Lies are awesome, he said, but she knew he was agreeing with her. There was envy in his tone. I wishnothing. I wish nothing.
Poor guy. He must wish for a lot of things. So. Do you still want me to leave?
Yes.
Excellent. Progress. Can I read now?
Yes, he said again. Id rather not talk.
Oh. Still no romance novel for her, then. About what?
About you. I have no desire to know why youre here.
So you can help me? she asked hopefully. From fear to need? And so quickly. Perhaps that proved the depths of her desperation to succeed.
Sure. Why not?
Choosing to ignore the lieperhaps he merely thought he couldnt help her, but would surprise himselfOlivia told him about her decision to fall, what she hoped to gain and the progress shed made with Aeron. It was nice, having an unbiased bystander to share with. Someone who wouldnt judge her.
So you hate him, then? the warrior asked, and she knew that he meant love.
Love. Did she love Aeron? No. Yes. Maybe. She still didnt know. I think about him all the time. I want to be with him, give myself to him fully. You know, sexually, she added with a blush, in case he didnt understand. Confident. He said he wouldnt have sex with me, though.
Smart little shit, our Aeron. Gideons grin was slow to form, but wicked and sultry because of it. Listen, heres a little unhelpful advice. Dont consider sneaking into his bedroom tonightand dont make lots of noise so he doesnt kill you, thinking youre the enemy. Oh, and dont be naked.
Excellent suggestions, thank you, she said, brightening. She kicked her feet onto the bed. She still wore her boots, and the black leather glinted in the light. Men do like their nakedness, Ive noticed. Aeron didnt want anyone else to see mybreasts.
The new and improved her could still be embarrassed, she realized.
How wrong you are. Oh, and, Olive? In that position, I cant see your panties, he said, clearly amused.
Confident, you are confident. Do you like them?
He blinked in surprise, clearly having expected her to change positions. I hate them.
Really? That wasnt embarrassing, she decided; that was empowering. Would you like them as a souvenir? Since I plan to take your advice and crawl into Aerons bed naked, Im not going to need them anymore.
Gideon laughed outright. Nope. I wouldnt. I would hate to have them as a souvenir. And not just because Im sure Aeron will be thrilled to know I have his girlfriends panties.
Aerons girlfriend. A lie, from Gideons point of view, but she could have melted into a puddle. Then theyre yours. Ill give them to you before I take off.
That earned her another laugh. I dont like you at all, boy. Not at all.
She beamed. Ditto. So now that Ive told you about me, tell me about him. Aeron. I mean, I know who he is, but I know nothing about his past. I want to understand him. Reach him. Help him stop worrying about my eventual death. And accept his own.
No way. Meaning sure thing.
Gideon shifted on the bed. A lock of blue hair had lodged into the headboard, and it pulled with his movement. He grimaced, reached up, but was unable to clasp a single strand with his bandaged wrists. His frustrated growl propelled her into action.
She dropped her legs, leaned forward and gently smoothed the hair free. Better?
No, he muttered gruffly.
Good. I like the blue, by the way. Maybe Ill dye mine. She pushed the thought to the back of her mind, to be considered later. Along with that navel piercing. Right now, she wanted to learn about Aeron. Who hed been, what had shaped him.
Forgetting Aeronwhere do you not want me to start?
I know you warriors were kicked from the heavens into ancient Greece. Ive heard the stories about the torment you caused, slaying innocent humans, torturing, raiding, pillaging, destroying everything you encountered, and so on and so forth.
He shrugged. You heard wrong. We had total control of our demons and werent lost to bloodlust. And when we did finally lose control, the guilt of what wed done, well, it was minimal.
Guilt. A terrible burden to carry. And from what shed seen of these Lords, they carried far more than any one person should ever have to bear. They deserved peace, she decided. Once and for all.
Aeron wasnt a warrior, Gideon continued, and yet his actions, even when unwarranted, didnt torment himthough I was always sure he hated what he did a little too much and loved himself for it. Even still, he did the least amount of work, making the rest of us do all the killing to protect the god king.
Olivia quickly translated Gideons meaning. Aeron had sometimes loved his job a little too much and had hated himself for it, but hed also loved his friends, so hed done their work, too, sparing them some of the burden, which had probably been torturous for him.
Guilt, she thought again. Even then, he had carried massive amounts of it. He had enjoyed hurting those whod hurt others, and had most likely considered himself just as evil as they were.
Before he died, before she died, she would teach him otherwise. He wasnt evil. He was a protector. No wonder the thought of her death troubled him. In his eyes, he would have failed to protect her. The sweet, darling man.
Please, go on, she beseeched.
Gideon nodded. All those deaths never affected him, making him see fatality around every corner. And then, when our hated enemy, Baden, was not decapitated, Aeron saw that immortals could live forever. That didnt freak him out.
Okay, so. The deaths hed brought about in the line of duty had given him a healthy appreciation for mortality, especially when his dear friend was decapitated. Now, he expected everyone around him to die, knowing there was nothing he could do to stop itnothing he could do to protect them, as shed just figured out.
To a man who valued strength and power, that helplessness had to bother him greatly. That must be why he kept himself so distanced from everyone but Legion. The fewer people he cared about, the fewer people he had to worry about saving.
So how had Legion snuck her way past his defenses?
More than that, how had Legion escaped his demons need to reprimand? The little fiend had hardly lived a blameless life. Look what the creature had done to innocent Olivia.
As for Legion, Gideon said, seeming to read her thoughts. I think Aeron has never secretly craved a family of his own, and Legion doesnt give him that.
So. Aeron had secretly wanted a familyjust as she hadand Legion provided that for him. Somewhat. I could become his family, as well, Olivia thought. Not that she wanted to be Legions stepmother, but for the pleasure of staying with Aeron, she could endure even so heinous a title.
I dont see the eagerness in your eyes, angel, and Im very glad for it. You should know that, even in the heavens, he preferred wild women, and I can sense that, at heart, youre as wild as can beno matter that you clearly havent convinced yourself otherwise. Though Aeron thinks thats what he wants, I assure you, its not what he needs.
Ohno, she thought, suddenly dejected. Aeron preferred tame women, but Gideon thought he needed someone wild. Gideon also thought that, no matter what Olivia did or said, she wasnt wild at heart and would never be.
Why are you warning me away? Only a few minutes ago, you told me how to seduce him.
My girl Aeron doesnt deserve a little torment now and then.
Oh. A little entertainment. Thats what Gideon considered her.
He was wrong. Maybe shed been gentle beforeor had pretended to bebut the more time she spent in this fortress, the more she was learning about herself.
Gentleness was what shed had her entire life. Lysander had been gentle with her. The other angels had been gentle with her. Shed been gentle with them.
In Aerons arms, shed come alive with sensation. Shed wanted more, wanted harder and chaotic, control unattainable. Shed wanted wild. A few times, hed tried to slow things down. Hed tried to soften his touch, proving Gideons claim that he preferred gentle. Or thought he did.
He did beg you to fondle his wings, she reminded herself, and that fondling had been anything but tender.
Still. He hadnt wanted her to pierce her navel. What would he think when she actually did it? When she got a tattoo, as she also planned to do? Maybe of a butterfly. Would he no longer even want to kiss her?
This conversation has officially depressed me, she said. Not that I didnt enjoy talking with you. You gave me the details I begged for, and Im grateful, but I think Ill read to you now, if thats okay. I need a distraction before I head to the kitchen and try out every bottle in the liquor cabinet. Thats what many humans did when they were given news they didnt like.
Not like we can do both, he said, and motioned to an array of bottles atop his dresser.
Really? Eager, Olivia pushed to her feet, crossed the room and swiped up as many of the fuller bottles as she could hold. The liquid swished inside, different scents drifting to her nose. Apples, pears, lemons. Dark spice. Giggle juice is what Ive always called it, she said, and Ive always wanted to try it.
Nows not your chance. Dont you dare pour any down my throat.
That would be my pleasure. After tipping one bottle over Gideons lips while he gulped back mouthful after mouthful, then draining the rest of the contents herself and nearly chokingit didnt taste as wonderful as shed hopedshe reclaimed her seat and flipped open the book, unmindful of the page.
The words blurred slightly.
She gripped her breasts and squeezed, she read. Interesting. Just as he had done earlier. Her nipples throbbed all the more, wanting his hands. A whimper escaped her. Normally she would have hated herself for making such a sound, but now, this moment, she was owned by her passion.
I know the feeling, Olivia thought. Sadly, she might not know it again.
She started on another bottle.
AERON PUSHED HIS WAY INSIDE the fortress, his hands drawn into tight fists. He didnt look around or head to the kitchen even though he was starved. He started pounding up the steps.
Wherere you going? Cameo asked, keeping pace beside him.
To find Olivia. To question her. He wouldnt kiss her as hed been craving these past few hours, thinking about her rather than searching for Nightmares. Worrying that he was becoming obsessed with her in the same way hed once been obsessed with killing Danika.
Only, he didnt want to kill Olivia.
He wanted to finally finish what theyd started in his bed. Yes, theyd both come, but he hadnt sunk inside her. He hadnt taken her all the way.
Still. Hed already soiled her, hed decided, by spilling his seed on her belly. Hed already earned Lysanders wrath. Not that he cared anymore. Not that the angel had come gunning for him yet. So what other harm could making love to her cause?
Just like that, his focus switched. Rather than question her when he found her, hed strip her. There you go again. Thinking about her rather than taking care of business.
Didnt help that his demon had yet to shut up. If he heard the word more one more time, he was going to erupt in a blood-craze all his own.
Concentrate. Question her. Yes. Thats what hed do. No stripping her. Unless her clothes were too tight, then he would be doing her a favor, removing them and helping her breathe.
Concentrate, damn you. Question. Her. Shed predicted that he would be unable to find Shadow Girl. Nightmares. Scarlet. Whatever. And shed been right. How had she known the girl would seemingly vanish without a trace?
Looked like he needed her, after all, he thought with a scowl. That didnt mean hed keep her, though. Definitely not. Strip her, however
He punched the wall.
Wow. You like her that much? Cameo said, incredulous. I mean, I know youre fooling around with her, but Ive never seen you this keyed up over a woman.
I dont want to talk about her.
Fine. Dont.
But if you insistI dont understand her and its driving me insane. He rarely shared his problems with his friends. They had enough to deal with. But just then, he didnt know what else to do. He needed help. Before he lost himself completely.
At the landing, he stopped and Cameo did the same. He scrubbed a hand down his face. Shes making me feel things Ive never felt before and want things Ive never wanted before. Cronus has to be teaching me a lesson. Thats the only explanation for her effect on me. No other woman had ever come close to tying him up like this. I never should have dared the god king to send me a female I would chase. Except Ive hardly had to chase her, so she cant be the one Cronus sent to me. Gods, this makes no sense. Something has to be wrong with me.
Cameo patted his shoulder, her expression understanding even through the misery etched there. She opened her mouth to respond, but an echoing feminine sob stopped her.
They shared a confused look before Aeron kicked back into motion. He recognized that rich, sexy timbre, even in its sadness, but the sound hadnt come from his room, or the one next to it.
Masculine laughter abounded next, and he scowled. Gideon. Laughing. That should thrill him, with as much pain as Gideon had recently endured. Thrilled was not what he felt, however.
Aeron rushed around the corner and into his friends bedroom. There was Olivia, lying directly beside Gideon, her head buried in his shoulder as her body shook. Gideon, the insensitive prick, was still laughing.
Whats going on? he demanded, rushing forward. And no, it wasnt jealousy pouring through his veins like fire. It was rage. Rage that Olivia was bothering his injured friend. Yes. Rage. At Olivia. He didnt want to stab Gideon in the heart with one of his daggers. Someone better explain before I do something well all regret.
Mine, his demon growled.
Better than more, he supposed.
Aeron? Olivia met his gaze briefly before turning her watery eyes away from him. She even reached up and wound her arms around Gideons neck, holding on for dear life. Her tears soaked his shirt, her body again shaking violently. Oh, great. Now hes angry.
If you hurt her Aeron snarled. Okay, fine. He wanted to stab Gideon.
Hed never purposely hurt one of his friends. Had he fought them? Yes. Bashing each others heads into walls was merely a healthy way of blowing off steam. But Sabin had once stabbed him in the backliterallynot to blow off steam but in real anger, and hed vowed never to make his friends feel that kind of betrayal.
Now, though, he didnt think hed be able to help himself. And he wouldnt be able to blame his demon, either. There were no vile images flashing through his mind, no desire to punish a sinner. There was just more of that blinding rage.
You dont care about this woman. Youre getting rid of her at the first opportunity, he reminded himself, even as he scooped her up. Her sobs intensified, and she tried to hold on to Gideon.
Aeron shook her loose. Gideon! Answer me. What happened? What did you do to her?
Everything. Shes just a very happy drunk. Gideon gave him an unapologetic grin.
Pure, sweet Olivia drunk? Worse, someone other than Aeron had corrupted her?
Rage, yes. The dark emotion spread. Surprise, as well. And a jealousy he could no longer deny.
Oh, Aeron, Olivia said between gasping hiccups, finally deciding to seek comfort from him rather than his friend. Its so terrible. I have no wings and youre determined to kick me into the streets, alone and desperate. Legion was so mean, and for a few minutes, I was angry. Ive never been angry before. Not really. I didnt like it. And I know so much and could help you more than you realize, but you dont want my help. Maybe Lysander was right. Maybe I need to go home.
He recalled how bloody shed been when hed found her, those wings freshly removed. He recalled how much pain shed been in when Legion had bitten her. Guilt replaced every other emotion inside him. He shouldWait. Go home?
You can go back? he asked her, astonished.
Mmm-hmm. Sniff, sniff. In fourteenno, ten days. Im losing count. You told me I was sick for three, right? But if I do return, Ill be forced to kill you. Thats the only way theyll welcome me back into their fold.
So if she returned home, shed still have to kill him. Or try to. He could live with that. Hopefully literally. She would be out of reach, away from his dark influence and hurtful urges, safe from harm.
I can take care of myself, Olivia, he said, and she burst into a fresh round of sobs.
You shouldnt always have to, Aeron. Someone needs to protect you the way you always protect others.
This was how she would kill him, he mused. Through tears and kindness. Already there was a sharp pang in his chest. Hed always been the protector, the one to keep others safe. That someone else wanted to care for him was nearly irresistible. Get some rest, he told the still-grinning Gideon before striding out of the room.
Thats when he heard Wrath moaning in his head, as upset as Olivia was. Mine. Hurt. Better.
Im doing my best. I may not be able to fix anything you listed, but if you finally tell me what the demons did to you, I can make that better. Remember how?
Olivia rubbed her forehead against his slightly stubbled jaw. With a kiss.
Yes. His grip tightened. Gods, he was a giver. Tell me.
Sniff, sniff. No. I dont want to.
Did you tell Gideon?
No.
So. Even drunk, there was no chance shed spill. He could have pushed, but didnt. No more tears. Please, gods, no more tears.
Inside his bedroom, he eased her onto the mattress. She peered up at him, her eyeballs practically spinning. Do you wanna have sex now? she asked, then hiccupped. I think I gave my panties to Gideon, so Im good to go.
You gave your panties to Gideon? And he accepted them? Incredulous, Aeron fought the urge to check under her skirt, then fought the even stronger urge to return to Gideons room and finally attack.
I did, and he did. So are we going to do this or not?
Sadly, he was tempted. Even with her swollen eyes and splotchy skin, she looked enchantingand beddable. His body still craved her, and no one had ever needed comforting more. Not that he knew how to comfort anyone. But she deserved better than a drunken first time.
Go to sleep, Olivia. In the morning at which point sheand he?only had nine days before he ensured she returned home we have a lot to discuss.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
LEGION BATTLED TEARS as she raced through the fires and screams of hell. Once her home, now her hated refuge. She was on all fours, galloping like a lowly animal, a position she knew well. It kept her close to the ground, beneath notice, and increased her speed. Plus, it was the only position allowed for someone like her. Were she to stand and walk, every High Lord within reach would feel compelled to punish her for such impudence.
And speaking of High Lords, they were all around her, torturing the human souls that had been sent here to forever rot. They were laughing, loving every bit of the blood and the pain and the vomit.
Aeron didnt care that she was here, a place he knew she despised, either. Not anymore. How could he? He had protected the angel. Her enemy. He had then saved and, worse, comforted that angel.
Why? Why hadnt he tried to protect Legion? Why hadnt he saved and comforted her? The tears began to fall, and laced with poison as they were, they stung her scales.
When she reached a hidden alcove of shadow and stone, she stopped, stood and pressed her back against a jagged, blood-splattered wall. She was having trouble catching her breath, and her heartwhich was now broken in half, damn that Aeronpounded sharply.
The long length of her forked tongue emerged, and she wiped away a few of the tears. While the tart poison would have sent anyone else to their knees, sobbing and begging for mercy, it merely stung anew. So badly shed wanted the angel to die from that poison, but it hadnt happened. Aeron had been too determined to save her, and what Aeron wanted, Aeron found a way to get. Always.
What was she going to do? The first time shed seen Aeron, chained and hungry for blood, shed loved him. Hed been fighting that hunger, had even hated himself for it, and never before had she encountered anyone who preferred to save rather than destroy. Shed thought, He can save me.
In a mere heartbeat of time, shed decided to live with Aeron. To marry him. To sleep in his bed every night and wake up next to him every morning. Instead, hed had his friend Maddox build her a bed of her own. Still, shed wanted to be everything to him. Had known all she needed was time.
Yet time was not a luxury she had anymore. She couldnt return to their home because hed invited the angel to stay. That stupid, ugly angel, with her long curly hair and cloud-pale skin. Legionand every demon, reallycouldnt remain in the presence of such goodness for long. It hurt. Truly hurt. Somehow eroding everything they were, destroying them little by little.
Aeron didnt hurt, though, she thought darkly. How could he? Hed welcomed the bitch. Maybe Wrath had lived among humans for too long to react to the angel as a normal demon should. Maybe Wrath was buried too deeply inside Aeron.
Either way, Aeron should have cared about Legions pain. But he hadnt. Just like he no longer cared about her. Hed sent her away.
Whats wrong, sweet child?
Legion gasped at the sudden intrusion, peering wide-eyed at the newcomer. She hadnt heard him approach, yet he was now in front of her, as if hed simply materialized. Or had been waiting, invisible, all along.
A tremor rolled down her spine. She would have scrambled away, but the rock behind her stopped her. Bad, bad, bad. This was so bad. A visit she couldnt hope to survive.
Leave me alone! she managed to work past the sudden lump in her throat. A lump that held a thousand whimpers.
Do you know me? he asked smoothly, completely unoffended. Or seemingly so.
Oh, yes. She knew him. Hence the whimpers. He was Lucifer, brother to Hades and the prince of most demons. He was evil. True, undiluted evil.
Sweet child, hed called her. Ha! He would stab her in the back the moment she turned away from him and laugh while doing so. Just for funsies, as Anya would say. She swallowed.
Well? He snapped his fingers and in the next instant, they both stood in the center of his throne room. Rather than stone and mortar, the walls of Lucifers palace were composed of crackling flames. Its a simple question. Do. You. Know. Me?
II do. Yesss. Legion had been here only twice before, but the first time, during her birth into this realm, had been enough to convince her that she never wanted to return. The second time, she was brought here for punishment. Punishment shed earned for refusing to torture a human soul.
Concentrate, Lucifer snapped.
She blinked and forced herself to focus. Plumes of black smoke wafted from the floor, the walls, even the throne atop the dais, curling around her like fingers of the damned. There were screams trapped inside those plumes, and those screams taunted her.