The Underworld (Rhyn Eternal) (30 page)

“I do, but Hell is no place for a human child.”

“They’ll be half-demons.”

“And half-humans,” she said firmly. “That’s the favor I ask from you in exchange for raising you. That you let me take them to the human world and give them the chance to make their own fates rather than be roped into Hell.”

“I cannot deny it,” he replied.

She started to smile. “You’re not upset?”

He raised an eyebrow. “As long as you know there will be many, many heirs.” He bit her again. “As many as there are stars, because I plan to fuck you every time I see you.”

She gasped, arching against him. His arms went around her, and he began to suck blood from her neck. “So you … did miss me!”

He was purring low in his chest, a sign of contentedness. He withdrew from her neck. “I’m only surprised you asked for this and not for me to dismantle my Army of Souls.”

“About that.” She cleared her throat. “I may have made a deal to return the souls to Gabe.”

“I saw in your mind.” He met her gaze again. “Take them. I’ll just collect more.”

“That’s not how –”

Darkyn kissed her, the taste of her blood incensing her. She bit his lip, sighing into his mouth when the first drop of his blood reached her tongue. She sucked his lip until it stopped then began kissing his face again.

“I missed you,” she said. “I missed you. I missed you. I missed you!” The tears began then, and she choked back a sob, intoxicated by the sensations of his hot skin and the scent of blood in the air.

“Wanna try something that would kill fifteen demons and an ogre?” he taunted, biting her rapidly along her shoulder. Pain melted into intense pleasure that made her the coral tips of her breasts hard and her legs too weak to hold her.

“God, yes!” she gasped.

He lifted her into his arms and took her to their bed. “Demons do not love,” he whispered against her neck. “But there is no one else in the universe I’d entrust with Hell.”

“I know. You trust me now, don’t you?”

“To the extent I am capable of.”

More tears filled her eyes. “What if I decide not to give it back?”

“You’ll be begging me to take it back by dawn, love. Of that, I can assure you.” The dark, husky promise in his tone made her shiver in anticipation.

She touched the planes of his face, smiling. “Let’s see what you got, demon.”

He set her down. “Run.”

“I love you.” Deidre’s heart caught in her throat.

“Run,” he repeated with an evil smile.

She laughed, happier than she’d ever felt. Her instincts and emotions clamoring, Deidre turned and ran.

Chapter Twenty One

A humid, warm breeze swept into the small room where Fate stood before the Oracle, who was busy scribbling new events into her book.

Fate scrolled through the latest deals the Oracle had recorded. Midday sunlight spilled through the windows, ruffling his brown hair and tickling the back of his neck. He scratched it absently, eyes on the page before him.

There was nothing interesting, at least, not since he’d seen the deal between Gabriel and Deidre. Satisfied things had gone mostly the way he planned, he leaned back. He hadn’t gotten exactly what he wanted in the arena of the Dark One, but it was a start.

Gabriel had come into his power and understood his place. His relationship with his mate was getting a fresh start, and he’d be busy for a while repairing the damage to his domain and raising a new army. Past-Death stopped being a bitch, which was really all Fate ever wanted.

Oh, and for her to admit I was right,
Fate thought with a smile.

As for Deidre … the woman realized she wasn’t a victim, that she could hold her own in the Immortal society. Her role in Fate’s game was not yet played out, and he was happy to know he had an ally of sorts.

Because when a certain, inevitable chain of events emerged, he’d need all the help he could get.

“A thousand years in Death’s dungeon teach you anything, little sister?” he asked, aware of the woman peering over his shoulder. A deity with no need to see the Past, Present or Future, Karma was clearly unhappy about the book appearing blank for her.

“Yes. Don’t fuck with deities,” she muttered.

“The dungeon is better than what most of them would’ve done to you. Keep that in mind,” he warned her firmly. “You’re young. Don’t make the mistakes I and others did when we started out.”

“She knows.” Her tone softened.

“Stop that shit. I know you’re doing it on purpose.”

“I know.” Karma sighed. “It’s hard to control the urge to tackle people and balance them. So much imbalance …”

“Start in the human world,” he suggested, facing her. “As long as you kill no one, you’ll learn. Humans are delicate. They get second chances, remember?”

She nodded. Her hair was in tight red ringlets, her features glowing and eyes pale green. One of the youngest goddesses, she was learning her responsibilities and domain gradually. With the predatory nature of a souleater and the soft heart of one capable of great compassion and kindness, it was going to take her some time to find her own internal balance.

“It’s time for my vacation,” he said. “I’m happy to say, things are going well.”

She gazed at him skeptically. “What if I get in trouble again?”

“Don’t,” he advised. “I’m not rescuing you, if you fuck with the wrong god or get caught killing humans. Got it?”

She nodded. “Can I ask you something, brother?”

“Ask. I reserve the right to answer.”

“You gave Deidre something. A soul.”

“I did.”

“Why?”

He considered his answer for a moment. “Because there’s no safer place in the universe for it.”

Karma rolled her eyes.

He flashed her a smile and walked out of the room where the sacred Oracle lived. As he climbed to the top of the walls overlooking the teal waters of the Caribbean, he debated dropping in on Deidre one more time, perhaps with a reminder to protect the soul he’d given her before her kidnapping. He’d offered no real explanation, partially because there was little time to, and partially because he wasn’t ready to admit what was coming.

On second thought, it might raise suspicions,
he realized. No, it was better to leave the emerald with someone he knew he could trust. Someone who didn’t need to know the inevitable outcome of a chain of events that had not yet begun.

“Some things are better left unknown as long as possible,” he murmured, watching the tide ebb and flow on the white sands of the island’s beaches. “Another win for Mr. Checkmate.”

With a smile, he turned away and summoned a portal, ready at last for his vacation.