Lords of the Underworld Bundle (86 page)

He stiffened, his back going ramrod straight. “The men who attacked you, they were Hunters.”

“Hunters,” she repeated. Reyes had just ignored her question as she sometimes ignored his. Perhaps it was better that he didn't answer. Right now, she could almost pretend this was just another dream, her family was safe and the only thing concerning her was whether or not she would finish her next painting on time for her client. She could almost pretend Reyes was a normal man, here to romance her. Almost. “Ashlyn once mentioned them, but at the time we didn't know what they were.”

“They are a league of men who want us dead. They think the world would be a better place without us.”

“Would it?” she couldn't help but ask.

His eyes darkened. “As long as humans have free will, the world will never be perfect. We do not force them to do bad things. They do them of their own volition.” Bitterness dripped from every growled word. “Hunters are disinclined to consider that truth, however. It is far easier simply to blame all their problems on that which they do not understand.”

What he said made sense, but she didn't let it sway her. Too much was at stake. “Well, you
willingly
hunted my family. Why? Tell me this time. I deserve to know. Why did you hunt us? What does my family have to do with any of this? With you?”

“Danika—”

“I'm begging you. Tell me!”

He rubbed the spot just above his heart. “The gods ordered Aeron—you remember Aeron?”

She shuddered, even as her heart drummed excitedly at how close she was to getting answers. No way would she ever forget that man. Soon after her—first—kidnapping, Aeron had been chosen to take her into the city to gather medicine for Maddox's girlfriend—how any woman could be insane enough to get involved with one of these warriors, she didn't know, even though she'd later come to enjoy Ashlyn's company. He'd removed his shirt, revealing a body covered in violent tattoos, and she'd panicked, thinking he meant to rape her. Of course, she had resisted him every time he'd reached for her and he had nearly beaten her for it.

Reyes had calmed her—how, she still didn't know—and finally she'd allowed Aeron to gather her in his arms. Wings had sprung from his back and he'd flown her through Budapest.
Flown her.
Just to find her purse and bring Tylenol to the sick Ashlyn.

Danika recalled thinking how odd the men were, a strange combination of ancient and modern. They hadn't known anything about human medicines, yet they had a plasma-screen TV and an Xbox. They dressed like warriors of old, weapons strapped all over their bodies, yet one of them constantly partied at the local nightclub. They pampered Ashlyn but sought to destroy Danika. The contradictions had confused her. Still did.

“Yes, I remember Aeron,” she finally said.

“The gods ordered him to slay you and your family.”

Her eyes widened, disbelief storming through her. “You're lying. One, there are no
gods.
Two—”

“There are no demons, either, I'm sure.”

Her mouth opened and closed as she tried to form a coherent answer. Stefano had used the same logic on her. She was sure the two wouldn't be pleased to know how closely their thoughts had aligned.

“There
are
gods, and they
do
want you dead. The sooner you start believing that, the sooner you can protect yourself.”

“Fine. But why? I've done nothing wrong. My family has done nothing wrong.”

“We do not know why. I had hoped you could solve this mystery for me.”

“Sorry, but no.” She laughed again, and this time the sound was like broken glass being scraped on a chalkboard. “I used to go to church every Sunday. I always tried to be nice to the people in my life and I never purposely hurt anyone.” A pause as the dying man's visage filled her head again. “I can't say that now, can I? Until I met you and your friends, I liked to think that I was a pretty decent human being.”

“You are.”

Her gaze narrowed on him. “You don't know anything about me, and I don't want you to. I want you to take me the fuck to see the man—” Realization slapped at her and her anger faded to shock. “It's Aeron, isn't it?”

Reyes nodded reluctantly.

She nearly vomited at the thought of facing the winged warrior again, but she repeated, “I want you to take me to see him.”

Still, Reyes's features remained calm, collected. “I have a tray of food in my room. You know what you must first do.”

Grrr! There would be no talking him around. Determination radiated from him. “Fine,” she said, wasting no more time. “I'll eat.” She gripped the banister and pulled herself up. Her knees quickly gave out.

Reyes's arm wound around her waist and held her in place. That arm was hot, like a brand.

She hissed at him. Hissing was safer than purring. “I said no touching.”

He didn't move away from her, but swept her up, cradling her against the hardness of his chest. His heart pounded against her shoulder, strong and sure.

“Let me go.” Her cheeks heated as the breathlessness of her tone registered. “Just let me go. Please.”

“I am afraid I will never be able to let you go.”

 

R
EYES CARRIED
D
ANIKA
back to his room and eased her onto the edge of the mattress, careful not to disturb the plates resting nearby. She refused to look at him as she scooted away. She concentrated on the food, reaching out and grabbing one of the sandwiches. The turkey on wheat. She nibbled on it for a while, then popped several of the grapes into her mouth.

Her eyelids closed, ecstasy coating her expression.

He stepped away, palming a dagger then hiding his arms behind his back to sink the tip into his wrist.
Good, so damned good.
All the while, he watched her. She had not reacted to his demon confession as he'd feared. He'd expected terror, screams, even disbelief. Instead, she'd accepted everything, remained calm and hadn't demanded proof.

That meant she'd already known.

What else had the Hunters told her?

Much as she hated Reyes and his friends, Reyes had a sudden fear that the Hunters had convinced Danika to work with them as Bait. And if she
was
acting as Bait, that meant she'd allowed herself to be drugged. Probably so he wouldn't suspect what she was. It saddened him, that she might be pushed to such extremes.

Was her job to distract him and lead his enemy inside the fortress? Or was she simply to learn everything she could about him? Because of her earlier questions, he suspected the latter. She'd wanted to know about Lucien's abilities. She'd wanted to know about Reyes's demon. Would she relay everything he'd told her to the Hunters?

If something had happened to her family, she
would
betray him, no doubt about it.
Can you blame her?
No, he couldn't blame her, but neither could he suppress the hurt that came with the thought that she would turn—had turned—against him.

Maddox had nearly killed Ashlyn over these types of suspicions. And if the others thought, even for a moment, that Danika might be Bait, they would demand Reyes slay her immediately—or they would do it themselves.

Except for these past few months, he hadn't battled Hunters in thousands of years. Still, he remembered the beginning of their blood feud very well. The fights and the deaths, the screams and the destruction. Theirs, his. Every shadow had been suspect, every stranger a possible assassin.

Reyes hadn't lived in fear, for he'd been a warrior to the core even then. He'd been cocky and arrogant and sure of his success, in battle and with women. He'd killed without remorse, taken every woman who desired him, showing them the pleasure found in pain, totally unconcerned about the aftermath.

Some had beaten their next partner to powder, some had sought beatings for themselves. All had become shells of their former selves, as desperate for pain as he was.

He would not do that to Danika nor would he let his friends hurt her. No matter what her purpose was. He had worked too diligently to save her, needed her with him too badly, and did not think he could function any longer without her. He would either win her affections so that she would not betray him or stop her from contacting the Hunters.

Decided, he nodded. He just, he couldn't let her go. She…eased his torment, he realized. Every time he neared her, his need for pain slackened considerably. Not once had he felt compelled to jump from the fortress. Not once had he craved broken bones and shredded organs. A few cuts here and there seemed to be sustaining him. Amazing.

“Thank you. For the food,” Danika offered grudgingly. She popped another grape into her mouth, chewed.

“My pleasure.” Already her color was brighter, her limbs less shaky. Dirt still smudged her cheeks, but the blue veins he'd been able to see before were no longer visible. “When you are done, you will shower.”

She tensed but didn't face him. “That will just waste time.”

“Does not matter.”

“Does Aeron refuse to speak with unclean women?” she snapped. “I didn't realize demons had such strict standards of personal hygiene.”

“I want you comfortable,” he said on a sigh. “I want you at your best, your mind clear. You will need every ounce of your strength. A shower will help.”

That mollified her. “Fine, but I'm not showering with you in the room.”

“A pity,” he muttered.

Finally her bright green gaze sharpened on him. “What was that?”

When she looked at him, no matter her expression, desire always pounded through him. Even now, his shaft swelled and his hands itched to touch her.
You can't. You know better.
“There are clothes in the dresser. Take anything you need.”

Still watching him, she bit into a grape.

He hardened all the more, lengthened another inch. He could very easily imagine those sharp, white teeth sinking into him again. The pain…the pleasure…a mingling of rapture. His angel would transport him to heaven.

His
angel? Such a dangerous thing to want, yet he couldn't help himself. Everything inside him screamed that she was his. That they were meant to be together.

He doubted she would agree, and that was for the best.

If she wanted him as he wanted her, how would he be able to deny her? How would he be able to stop himself from taking her? And if he took her, how could he live with himself, knowing he'd ruined her? The demon of Pain
would
corrupt her; she would live only to hurt.

Sadly, the dark musings failed to dampen his arousal.

“I shall return soon.”

Danika's gaze landed between his legs, and she hastily looked away, cheeks burning bright. She choked on the grape. “Sure. Okay. Take all the time you want.”

If she ever learned the extent of his need for agony and the fact that he lost all hold on sanity without it…if she ever passed that knowledge on to the Hunters…Bad news, all the way around.

He would have to be careful around her. Much as he desired her, much as he wanted to ease the pain that had become her life, he had to be careful. It was strange, this desire to ease pain rather than cause it.

Sighing, he turned to go.

“Reyes,” she called.

He stopped, faced her. “Yes.”

“I know you,” she said, suddenly sounding shy, “but I don't really know anything about you.”

“And you wish to know more?”

Reluctantly, she nodded.

Was she truly curious or did she wish to know for the Hunters? He'd thought he had not cared about her purpose, but right then, he wanted
her
to be curious. He wanted her to
want
to learn about him. Because she cared.

“What would you like to know about me?”

She shrugged, traced a finger over the black comforter. Her cheeks heated to a pretty pink. “How long have you lived here? What are your hobbies? Do you have any children? What are your hopes and dreams?”

Innocent enough, he supposed. “I have lived here longer than you have been alive. I have one hobby. Weapons—making them, cleaning them, collecting them. I have no children.” He'd always been afraid of hurting them. Worse, of outliving them because of their mortal half. He pitied Maddox, who might one day know that sorrow. “I dream of—”
You.
“I dream of peace, a life without pain.”

“What—”

“I have answered enough questions to make you now feel more comfortable staying in my room. It is time for your shower. I'll return in half an hour. Be ready. We will learn what we can about your family.”

“Twenty minutes.” Their gazes met, locked. Hers was filled with determination and…hatred? Of him? Or Aeron? “Return in twenty.”