The Darkest Lie (Lords of the Underworld #6)(51)
Author: Gena Showalter

And yet, power hummed from each of her words, and Gideon almost believed he’d used Scarlet to reach this point. That he’d wanted to kill Scarlet and her aunt all along. Because if he couldn’t have NeeMah, no one could.

Lies laughed, a giddy sound, and an image popped into Gideon’s head. Small, fuzzy, but there. An image of Gideon pacing back and forth, planning. And the more he studied the image, the more the details filled in. He’d been in his bedroom in Budapest, and he’d—

Again, Lies laughed. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

This time, he was jarred from his thoughts. If Lies “hated” the images so much, that meant they were fabricated. And if they were fabricated, that meant NeeMah had planted them. And if NeeMah had planted them…

“You used me,” Scarlet gasped out. Absolute betrayal filled her eyes as she stared at him.

Had the same false images floated through her mind? Of course they had, he thought. NeeMah was more powerful than he ever could have realized. “Devil, you don’t have to believe me. I wouldn’t kill your aunt if you were in front of her.” Come on, darling. Move away from her and I’ll end her.

“How could you do that to me?” Scarlet croaked. “How could you use me to win back my aunt after everything you already did to me?”

“I never—” Shit. He couldn’t say it. Couldn’t speak the truth. “Your aunt is beautiful to me.” Understand what I’m saying, please understand. “You’re not the only one I want.”

Grinning now, fear gone, NeeMah backed away from Scarlet. “I’ll go get help, my sweet.” Despite her expression, her tone was still sad. “You keep him here. Whatever it takes.”

“Yes.” Scarlet widened her legs, balled her fists. An attack position. And this time, her warrior-stance was directed at him.

What the hell? “Scar, this isn’t—” he began, but before he could utter another word, Scarlet had launched herself at him, her intent to kill more than obvious as she slashed at his throat.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BETRAYED AGAIN, Scarlet thought darkly. By the same man. And she couldn’t fully blame him. She kept letting it happen because she was attracted to him. Well, no more. She wouldn’t kill him, she decided just before contact, though part of her knew that was the only way to truly end the madness inside her. But she would beat him senseless and hold him here until her beloved aunt returned.

Whatever happened to him after that, she wouldn’t care.She didn’t care.

As they hit the ground, Gideon arched back to avoid her nails in his jugular. He also took the brunt of the fall. The back of his skull slammed into the floor, and he winced. Must have cracked him good, because blood splattered. To her surprise, he didn’t try to fight her off as she straddled his chest and glared down at him.

“I should never have trusted you,” she snarled. “Trusting you always destroys another piece of my life.”

His hands—hot and hard and callused—flattened on her thighs, as though he was holding her to him rather than pushing her away. “That woman was telling the truth. I did this to you. She didn’t. She wasn’t lying. She wasn’t manipulating your memories and weaving fake stories inside your head.” The words escaped him in a rush.

Mnemosyne lie to her? Ha! “You’re the only liar here.” She drove her fist into his nose, and more of his blood spurted. “That’s for forgetting me,” she spat. She’d wanted to do this for a long time. Nothing would stop her now. She punched his face again. More blood. “That’s for abandoning your son.”

Stop, Nightmares cried inside her head. Don’t hurt him.

Decided to wake up, did you? Well, you can just shut the hell up!

Don’t hurt him. Please. He’s telling you the truth.

Defending the bastard? You’re my demon. Not his. Now do what you were created to do and frighten him. Cover him with spiders. No.

Fine. She would destroy him on her own. Except, when she raised her fist for a third punch, Gideon didn’t turn away. He waited, his expression resigned, even expectant, and she paused. He was letting her hurt him, damn him. Scarlet tried to catch her breath. There was no satisfaction in his acceptance. Only shame.

“Don’t think about this, devil.”

Devil. His version of angel or sweetheart. This wasn’t the first time he’d used the endearment, and just as before, her heart squeezed in her chest. “You don’t get to call me that. You don’t have the right.” Not anymore. “Besides that, there’s nothing to think about. You were using me to punish my aunt.”

“Godsdamn it, you aren’t the most exasperating creature I’ve ever met.”

“You think so?” Scarlet popped to a stand and kicked him in the stomach. No mercy. She couldn’t show him any mercy. “That’s for sleeping with her. Actually, that’s for sleeping with all your bimbos while you were married to me.”

Stop. Nightmares again. Despondent. You must stop.

No mercy. Not until he’s dead. But her own mind rebelled at that. I thought you’d decided not to kill him.

Demon red flickered in the depths of Gideon’s eyes. “Don’t you dare listen to me, to what I’m really saying. I slept with her. I did. Okay? All right?”

There was something about his claim, something she should be considering, but at the moment, she couldn’t make rational thought matter. All she could see was Gideon’s naked body wrapped around her aunt’s, the two lost to their passion. All she could hear were Gideon’s moans of pleasure.

He’d wanted Mnemosyne all along.

Scarlet’s hands balled, her nails cutting skin. “You’re going to regret ever meeting me. That’s a truth you can take to the bank. Or better yet, the grave.”

“You are so not stubborn,” he gritted out, remaining exactly as he was. Splayed, hers to abuse. “I will always betray you. Don’t you understand? Always. Betray. You.”

“I know!” Another kick.

Breath exploded from his mouth. He closed his eyes for a moment, lines of frustration branching in every direction. “Don’t think about this,” he repeated. “I’d met your aunt a thousand times before. There are many reasons—”

“Shut up! There’s nothing for me to think about.” Scowling, she paced around his prone body. Another kick. But again, satisfaction proved elusive.

Growls suddenly filled her head. Nightmares had stopped pleading and was now worked into writhing fury. Stop, or I’ll make you relive Steel’s death. Over and over again.