So ugly, they said.
So stupid.
So unnecessary.
Unwanted. Undesired.
I asked you another question, Legion. You will answer.
Though she wanted to look anywhere but at him, she forced her gaze to meet his. Lucifer was tall, with shiny black hair and orange-gold eyes. He was muscled, like Aeron, and handsomebut not as handsome as Aerondespite the inferno always banked in his expression.
What had he asked? Oh, yeah. What was wrong with her? I What should she tell him? A lie, definitely, but something he would believe. I jussst wanted to play a game.
A game, hmm? His lips curled slowly, wickedly as he strolled around her, closing in, studying, taking her measure and clearly finding her lacking. I have a better idea.
The heat of his breath somehow reached the back of her neck, and she shuddered. At least he didnt stab her as shed feared. Yesss?
We shall bargain, you and I.
Her stomach twisted into cutting knots. His bargains were notorious, for they always ended in his favor. Thats how hed escaped hell for a year to live unfettered on Earth. Hed bargained with the goddess of Oppression, the very one responsible for ensuring the walls surrounding this underground prison were solid, impenetrable. The one who had allowed many demon High Lords to escape. The one who had then died, her bones used to construct Pandoras box.
No? she said, and though shed meant it as a statement, it emerged as a question.
In front of her once again, he tsked. Dont be so hasty. You havent even heard what I have to offer.
It wouldnt be good for her, that much she could guess. II ssshould go.
Not yet. He spun on his heel and glided to his throne, where he eased down, relaxed, utterly sure of himself. Smoke reached him, surrounded him, and flames soon followed, dancing around as if happy just to be near him.
Legion tried to shift from one foot to the otheronly to realize her feet had been glued in place. There would be no leaving. Not until he was done with her. Still. She didnt panic. Shed been beaten before and had survived. Shed been called terrible names and laughed at; shed been thrown into seemingly never-ending pits and kicked into ice fields, unable to transport herself somewhere else.
I can help you get something you want, Lucifer said. Something youll do anything to possess.
Ha! There was nothing he could offer that would
I can help you win Aerons heart.
For a moment, she forgot to breathe. Only when her lungs and throat began burning, scalding, did she force her mouth to open and suck air inside. He couldwhat?
As you like to spy on the happenings here for the Lords of the Underworld there at the end, bitterness had filled his tone I like to spy on the happenings of the surface. I know youre enamored of Aeron, keeper of my darling Wrath.
Hearing his derision, she raised her chin. He lovesss me, too. He told me ssso.
Lucifer arched a brow. Are you sure about that? He was so angry that youd hurt his precious little angel.
The word precious used to describe that pig of an angel caused red spots to wink over her vision. She was Aerons precious. Her. No one else.
Lucifer waved his hand regally, and the air in front of Legion thickened, wavered, dust motes sparkling. Colors burst to life. Then Aeron was there, bending down and gently lifting the angels wrist to his mouth. He sucked at the poison Legion had injected in her, and her lithe body stilled.
Seeing his mouth on that disgusting interloper caused the red to brighten and rage to flood her. Rage and hate and determination.
How will you help me? she found herself asking. The scene disappeared and she was once more looking at Lucifer. Perhaps bargaining with him wouldnt be so bad. Perhaps she would be the one to come out ahead. She was smart. Resourceful. Right?
Lets face it, he said, gaze raking over her scaled body. Youre as ugly as a creature can be.
Her jaw dropped as wave after wave of hurt hit her, and she tried to backpedal, wanting to hide. She wasnt ugly. Was she? She was different from Aeron, yes. She was different from the angel, as well. But that didnt mean she was ugly.
I can practically hear the thoughts in your head. Allow me to address them. Yes, you are indeed ugly. Actually, saying youre ugly is being kind. I can hardly stand to look at you. In fact, to settle my stomach Im going to have to stare just over your shoulder while we finish this conversation.
She was ugly, then. Hideous. A monster. The devil himself couldnt even bear to look at her. Tears filled her eyes. How will you help me, then? she asked again.
He gazed down at his yellowed, curling nails, as if he hadnt a care. I, powerful being that I am, can make you pretty.
How? she insisted.
To start, Id give you silky, flowing hair. Any color you desired and far better than the angels. Id give you smooth, creamy skin. Again, any color you desired. Id give you bedroom eyes no man can resist. A tall, slender body with big breasts. Men go crazy for those, you know. And while a forked tongue has its uses in bed, Id probably get rid of that. Your lisp is annoying.
He could make her pretty? Pretty enough to win Aeron? Hope bloomed in her chest; the mere thought of finally being with the man of her dreamsliving as husband and wifehad her shedding one reservation after another. What do you desire in return?
Oh. That, he said, shrugging as if it were of no importance. All Id want is to possess your new body.
She frowned. I dont underssstand. How could I win Aeron if Im notme? How could I win Aeron if you are me?
He pinched the bridge of his nose. I see youre stupid, too, which means well have to fix that, as well. I didnt mean Id possess your new body right away, my single-minded friend. I would be allowed to do so only if you failed to win him.
Her frown intensified. Being beautiful didnt mean shed automatically win?
The silence earned her a shake of his head. Clearly breaking my meaning down as if I were talking to a child didnt work. What else can I do?
Her cheeks heated, and it had nothing to do with the fire around them. She wasnt stupid or a child, damn him! Youre trying to confussse me on purpossse.
Actually, Im not. I dont want you crying foul later. So listen closely. I will give you nine days to seduce Aeron. I would say all you have to do is gain his declaration of love, but you already have that. What you dont have is his sexual attraction, and thats what you really want. So get him in your bed, of his own free will, and you win our bargain. You may keep your new body and live happily ever after. Without my interference.
Everything sounded fair and wonderful and perfect. Everything but the timing. Why only nine days?
Does the reason matter? It wont change anything about the bargain.
Resistance. Of course the reason mattered. Tell me, she insisted.
Fine. Nine is my favorite number.
A lie, definitely. She could push, but Was learning the truth more important than gaining a chance at that which she desired most?
No.
And if I fail? she asked. Hed told her what he wanted, yes, but she needed every detail.
Well. His fingertips traced circles on the arms of his throne. If you fail to seduce him into your bed, for fucking, not sleeping, within the allotted time, you must allow me to possess your new body, as I said. For however long I wish.
There it was. The final detail. He would be able to control her for however long he wished. In other words, forever.
But why would he want The answer slammed into her and she gasped. Lucifer viewed her as his ticket to escaping hell. Because Legion wasnt bound to hell, but to Aeron, she was allowed to leave this place. Lucifer was not. He was trapped here.
If she gave him permission to overtake her, he would then be free to leave. What he wanted, they would do. She would be aware, yes, but her wants would cease to matter.
If it were as simple as taking control of her body and using it to escape, Lucifer wouldnt waste time bargaining with her. But demons couldnt possess bodies, human or otherwise, without permission. Even the demons in Pandoras box had needed the gods blessing to possess the Lords.
It all comes down to whether or not you think you can succeed, Lucifer said. Do you? I certainly do, which makes me feel silly for even offering this bargain. Perhaps I shouldnt have. In one fluid movement, he pushed to his feet. I mean, there are other, weaker demons I can
Hold on, she rushed out. Jussst hold on.
Slowly he eased back down.
She couldnt let this chance slip away. The angel, who was incapable of speaking a lie, had told her that Aeron saw her as a child. That Aeron considered himself a father figure to her. That would never changeunless she did something drastic.
Termsss must be ssspelled out.
Havent they already?
Not from my end.
He clutched a hand over his chest. You dont trust me?
She shook her head. A bargain was binding, even for creatures such as them. Once they both agreed, she would be trapped, the bargain a living entity inside her. There could be no changing her mind. If she failed, she would concede what shed promised, unable to stop herself.
Im wounded. But very well, he said. State exactly what you expect from me.
If she didnt, she would receive no more than that, but most assuredly less. I have to be prettier than the angel, with pale hair, golden skin, brown eyes and big breasts. All the opposite of the little bitch. I want the entire nine days, with no time warpsss. As she spoke, her excitement grew. She was really going to do this. She was really going to try and win Aerons heart. And I want to be awake when Im with him.
Damn, Lucifer said, an amused twinkle in those fiery eyes. You caught me on that one. I planned to put you into a coma until your time was up.
And she had stopped him from doing so. She was feeling very proud of herself at the moment. See? She wasnt stupid, after all. You cant kill him, either. If he diesss before time runsss out, the bargain diesss, too.
Agreed. Now, are those your only demands? he asked, ever the indulgent lord.
I dont want to ssspeak with a lisssp, asss you sssaid. I want to firssst appear before Aeron, not halfway acrossss the world, jussst asss I am, and then I want to change bodiesss in front of him. That way, he wouldnt think she was Bait or a Hunter and try to get rid of her before she could seduce him.
Very doable. Is that all?
She gulped, considered, then nodded.
Once more, he stood. He splayed his arms, fire leaping from his fingertips. Then its agreed. You shall have everything you named. But if you fail to lure Aeron, Lord of the Underworld and keeper of the demon of Wrath, to your bed and inside your body within those nine days, you will return to this throne room, where you will willingly consent to my possession of your body.
Another nod.
Say it, he demanded, no longer the kind and benevolent man hed pretended to be.
I agree.
The moment the words left her mouth, a sharp pain tore through her. Grunting, she doubled over. She couldnt breathe, was fading, every muscle she possessed spasming. But just as quickly as the pain had sprouted, the bargain birthing to life inside her, it left her and she straightened.
And so it is done, Lucifer said. Then he gave her the same smile hed bestowed on her when hed first brought her here. Wicked, satisfied. Did I forget to mention that, when you fail, my first order of business will be to murder each of the Lords of the Underworld and set their demons free?
CHAPTER TWELVE
AS THE NIGHT GAVE WAY to dawn, the citizens just now awakening and emerging to begin their days, Aeron stalked the streets, Paris at his side, both remaining in the shadows, silent. Perhaps Paris, who hadnt hesitated in his choice of companion this timedid that mean he was finally getting over Sienna?was as lost in thought as Aeron was as they headed back to the fortress.
Olivia had cried herself to sleep, and hed held her through those tears. When shed finally fallen into unconsciousness, hed flown her to Gillys apartment, thinking that things would be easier that way. If she couldnt talk to him, she couldnt tempt him to forget his purpose. But he hadnt left right away. Paris had needed time with his chosen, so Aeron had snuggled in next to the angel.
Once again, hed found that he liked holding her. Which was all the more reason to finally get rid of her. But as hed walked away from her, meaning to do so permanently, hed no longer been sure he wanted to get rid of her. Not that hed ever been sure, but damn, his resolve had been shaken.
Seeing her in Gideons arms had given life to a possessive streak he hadnt known he possessed, the earlier incidents with William and Paris paltry in comparison. The thought of Olivia roaming these roads, determined to have fun, alone, so easy for the plucking His teeth ground together, a common occurrence whenever he thought of her.
A man passed, claiming his attention. A human. Mid-twenties. Large. Instantly Wrath began growling, chomping for freedom, conveying images of meaty hands swinging atand connecting witha sobbing female face.
Wifebeater, Aeron realized as Wrath flashed more of those images through his mind.
Youre worthless, the man liked to yell, spittle spraying from his mouth. Im not sure why I married you. You were a fat cow then and youre a fatter cow now.
For once, Aeron didnt try to stop himself. What if Olivia had been the target of that rage? What if Legion had been? Allowing Wrath to pull his strings without any resistance, loving his demon more than he should, without the taint of guilt, he turned on his heel, raced forward and closed the distance between himself and the man. A man who gasped when Aeron grabbed him and spun him around.
What the hell?
Aeron, Paris called, weary.
Aeron ignored him. You disgust me, you insignificant little shit. Why dont you try beating me?
The man paled, trembled. I dont know who you are or what you think youre doing, but you better get out of my face, asshole.
Tourist, he thought, or he would have been recognized. Or what? Aeron smiled slowly, cruelly. Youll call me another bad name?
There was a snarl low in the mans throat. He had a knife in his pocket, Aeron suddenly knew. He wanted to stab Aeron in the stomach, in the neck, and watch him bleed to death.
Without any warning, Aeron struck. His right fist connected with the mans nose. There was a grunt, a howl of pain. Blood sprayed. He didnt pause, but swung his other hand. His left fist connected with the mans mouth, splitting tissue. The howl became a scream.
Aeron wasnt done.
Cant fight fair. Have to hurt. Wrath was in total control.
Still, Aeron didnt mind.
As the man tried to orient himself, tried to struggle free, Aeron kneed him in the groin. His opponent doubled over, air shooting out of his crimson-soaked lips. No mercy. This bastard had never shown any. Aeron kicked him in the shoulder, and he flew backward. After that, he was in too much pain to stand or even defend himself.
He gazed up at Aeron through tear-filled eyes. Dont hurt me. Please, dont hurt me.
How many times has your wife said something similar to you? Aeron dropped to his knees, straddling the mans waist.
Drawing on a reservoir of strength he probably hadnt known he possessed, the white-faced man tried to scoot backward. Aeron merely tightened the grip of his legs, holding the bastard in place.
Please. The mans voice was shaky, desperate.
Aeron struck again and again, raining one blow after another. The mans head whipped left and right with each new impact. More blood sprayed. Teeth even flew out like pieces of candy. Skin split and bones broke.
Soon, there were no grunts, no gasps.
A hand patted his shoulder. Youve punished him. You can stop now, Paris said from behind him.
Aeron stilled. He was panting, his knuckles throbbing. Too easy. That had been too easy. The man hadnt paid enough for the damage hed inflicted. But maybe he learned a lesson, a voice of reason said inside Aerons head. For reason to have returned, control must be his once again.
Lets go home, Paris suggested.
Home, no. He wasnt ready to return to his roomto see the bed where hed kissed and touched Olivia. Still, Aeron stood. He gave the man a final kick in the stomach before facing his friend. I need some time. Alone.
A while passed in silence, Paris studying his hard expression. Finally he nodded. All right. Maybe use it to decompress, cause damn.
Plan to. Even after Paris walked away, Aeron remained in place, trying to pull himself back together. Im in control, he reminded himself, even though he still didnt want to be. Im in control.
Wrath continued to prowl through his mind, worked into a frenzy and ready for the next victim.
He needed Legion.
Or Olivia, he thought then.
His heart began pounding for a different reason, and it took him a minute to realize why. Arousal mixed with regret was beating through him exactly as his fists had beat at the human. Olivia hadnt woken when hed left her in Gillys guest room. She hadnt woken when hed given Gilly instructions to call him the moment she did. No, shed lain on the bed, splayed adorably, hair tangled around her, snoring delicately. Fighting the urge to curl beside her again had proved nearly impossible. But hed done it. Hed headed out to round up Paris.
Perhaps he should return to her, he thought, heading in the direction of Gillys apartment before he could stop himself. He glanced up at the heavens, hoping for guidance. His gaze never made it to the stars. Instead, he caught sight of white, feathered wings and ground to a halt.
Galen. Leader of the Hunters. False angel. Bastard.
Automatically Aeron palmed two blades and slipped deeper in the shadows. He shouldnt have come into town without a gun, but hed been so preoccupied with Olivia that he hadnt thought to grab anything extra. Galen was perched on top of a building, those wings outstretched as he scanned the streets.
If he knew Aeron was below, watching him, he gave no notice.
All the while Wrath howled inside Aerons head. The warrior had committed too many sins for the demon to process, the need to kill simply flooding Aeron. Control. Absolute control. He couldnt lose it this time.
Galen straightened unexpectedly. Aeron pressed against the wall of the building behind him, sure hed been spotted but unwilling to walk away. Perhaps tonight they would end this. Finally.
Galen jumped, fallingfalling His wings stretched farther, flapped once, and he landed softly, several yards away from Aeron.
Aeron tensed. He couldnt kill Galen without severe consequences, but he could torture the bastard before locking him away. And then torture him again afterward.
A moment ticked by, then another, Galen simply tucking his wings into his back and waiting. He never approached.
Every fiber of Aerons being wanted to leap forward and attack. Surprise attacks were his forte, after all, but he held himself steady. Sometimes battle wasnt the best course of action in a war. Sometimes merely watching and learning reaped far greater rewards. What was going on here? What was Galen doing in Budapest?
Hed come here before, of course, but hed recently left to fight a contingent of Lords who had raided a facility in Chicago where hed been raisingand educatinghalfling children. Half human, half immortal. All of whom had been taught to hate the Lords.
Now that school was in ruins, the Lords having liberated the kids and found them loving homes. Homes the Hunters would hopefully never be able to track down.
Was Galen here for vengeance, then?
Punish, Wrath said.
Not yet.
Finally, Galen said, his rich voice filling the silence.
Aeron scanned the area, but saw no one approaching. So, to whom was Galen speaking? To himself? Or
A pair of legs appeared a few feet in front of Galen. Only, those legs werent attached to a torso. What the hell? The question had barely formed before a waist appeared, then shoulders, armsand there, on the inside of theapparitions right wrist, was a symbol of Infinity, the mark of a true, dedicated Hunterand lastly, a face. Then a male was standing there, fully formed, holding a piece of dark, flowing cloth.
Not a ghost, then, for there was no shimmering outline around him. Just a man, as real as Aeron was. But how had he Cloth. The word echoed through Aerons mind, followed by another. Invisible.
His eyes widened in dread and astonishment. Cloth. Cloak. TheCloak of Invisibility?
Ill take that. Galen confiscated the cloak and folded it once, twice. Rather than cause the material to shrink yet thicken, each fold diminished both size and width, and soon it appeared the warrior held a simple square of paper.
Oh, yes. This could be nothing else but the Cloak of Invisibility.
Galen tucked the artifact into his robe, even as Aeron reached out automatically. Stay. Wait. His arm fell to his side. Information first, artifact second.
There are cameras here, the human said. I havent found them, but I know the demons keep the city under surveillance.
Dont worry. Galen laughed, smug. Theyve been taken care of.
Oh, really. How? The cameras hadnt been disabled. Torin would have texted him. Had someone hacked into the system perhaps, and was even now replaying feed? That had happened in one of the movies Paris had forced him to watch. Or could more powerful forces be at work?
Cronus sometimes helped the Lords, so it stood to reason that another god could be helping the Hunters.
You confirmed that they have an angel in their midst? Galen asked.
Yes, though she doesnt seem to be as powerful as you.
Few angels are. And half their troops are missing?
Yes.
Another laugh from Galen. Very good. Now join the others and stay hidden until I return. Some of our troops disappeared yesterday, and even our lovely queen has lost sight of them. Once I find them, we can attack. And this time, well show no mercy.
Punish! Wrath chimed in again.
No mercy? But I thought
Galen shook his head. Tell the others our experiment was a success.
The mans grin was slow but no less satisfied. No mercy, then.
Those white wings shot out, flapped, then stilled. Galen frowned. My daughter. I want her left alone and alive. With that, he leapt into the air.
His surprising concern for Gwen would not save him, Aeron mused darkly, darting into the air himself. His wings were completely healed and he would have no problem following
Galen disappeared, there one moment, gone the next.
PUNISH!
Damn it, Aeron inwardly fumed. I cant. The Cloak was gone, out of his reach, and Galen with it. Only thing left to do was dig up more information. Not that getting it would redeem him from this failure.
His gaze narrowed on the human below him. The male wound around buildings and parked cars, always scanning his surroundings. Aeron followed. Finally his prey entered the newly remodeled Club Destinynow under new management and renamed The Asylumand didnt emerge.
Was that where the Hunters had set up camp?
Impossible. Some of the Lords were fond of partying there, so Torin had installed security cameras inside. They would have picked up their enemys presence. But
Maybe not impossible. Perhaps the camera feed was being distorted, as it had been in the streets?
Other questions began playing through his mind. What experiment had been a success? Where had Galens troops gone? Who was their queen?
With Wrath still screaming in his head, demanding he act, he withdrew his cell phone and texted Torin. Call a meeting. Two hours. He had a few things to take care of first. Namely, Olivia. If she had answers, he would get them out of her. Meanwhile, she could calm him as hed originally planned. I found something. Even saw Galen with the godsdamn Cloak of Invisibility.
Torin, who never seemed to sleep, replied instantly. Make it one. If what you know is more important than our enemy having an artifact, I gotta hear it ASAP.
Done. Aeron pocketed the phone and pivoted on his heel to head back to Gillys apartment, wake Olivia if he had to and demand those answers. But halfway there, a tall, menacing figure stopped him in his tracks.
Cronus, king of the gods, was frowning. As always, he wore a long, white robe and his feet were wrapped in sandals. His toes were visible, his toenails yellowed and curled.
Still, Aeron couldnt help but notice he looked younger than he ever had before. His hair no longer sported strands of gray, but was thick and sandy-colored. His face was almost unlined, his eyes a brighter brown than Aeron was accustomed to. What had caused the change?
My Lord, he said, careful to keep his irritation to himself. The god rarely appeared when summoned, but never minded visiting at the most inopportune moments.
Wrath, still primed and ready, didnt flash images inside Aerons mind, but then, it never did with this god. As had occurred when he spotted Galen, with too many sins to process, he merely experienced an overwhelming rush. Not to kill this time, but, curiously, to steal everything the god possessed. An urge he didnt understand, and hadnt been able to decipher.
You have disappointed me, demon.
Dont I always? This isnt the place for such a discussion. Hunters
No one can see or hear us. Ive made sure of it.
Just like another god had made sure the Hunters were unobservable? he wondered again. Then please. Tell me why I have disappointed you. I cannot live another moment without knowing.
Those brown eyes narrowed. Your sarcasm displeases me.
And as he knew all too well, bad things happened when the god king was displeased. Like Aerons mind and demon becoming crazed with bloodlust and his friends lives placed in jeopardy. My apologies. He bowed his head to hide the hate surely shimmering from behind his lashes.
Need I remind you that Galens death is as important to you as it is to me? Yet you have allowed the angel to distract you.
Isnt that what you wanted? he couldnt help but ask.
Cronus waved a hand through the air. Think you I paid any heed to your ridiculous begging? I do not want you distracted, so why would I send a woman to ensure that you are?
Hed wondered the same thing.
Get rid of her.
Im trying, he said, hands fisting.
Keep, Wrath snapped.
Try harder, Cronus ordered.
Shell only be here another tenno, nine days. With morning approaching, hed lost a little more time with her. Which was a good thing. Yes, good. And then shell be back in the heavens. Where she belonged. He would make sure of it.
A pang of sadness hit him, but he ignored it. Just as he ignored Wraths whimper.
Cronus looked only marginally appeased at the words. If she isnt, I will
You will what? Another male suddenly appeared without warning. This one was tall and muscled, with pale hair and dark eyes. Like Galen, he had wings. Only, his were solid gold.
Lysander.
Aeron had only seen the warrior angel a few times, and as with Olivia, there were no flashes of vile deeds inside his head, no urge to punish in any way. That didnt mean Aeron liked the bastard, though.
Shes too good for you, Lysander had said. Do not soil her or Ill bury you and all those you love.
Aeron hadnt sensed the angel on any level, then or now, and loathed how helpless that suddenly made him feel. Lysander could have sliced his throat and he wouldnt have been able to fight back.
Olivia had been right.
Cronus paled to an unflattering shade of white. Lysander.
Hurt her, Lysander said, gaze darting between them, touch a single hair on her head, and I will ruin you.
How dare you threaten me! Cronus bared his teeth in a scowl, color swiftly returning with his fury. I, who am almighty. I, who am
A god, yes, but you can be killed. Lysander laughed without humor. You know I never make idle threats. You hear the truth in my voice. Harm her, and your ruin will be ensured by my hand.