The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld #1)(52)
Author: Gena Showalter

Reyes and Lucien leapt on him, dragging him to the  ground and shoving Ashlyn from his head. He bellowed, a howl so loud he expected glass to shatter. Fists flew – his, theirs, he didn’t know. Someone kneed him in the stomach, knocking the breath from his lungs, but he didn’t stop.

Kill. Kill.

If he’d had fangs he would have bitten, so badly did he crave the taste of blood. He would have drained someone dry. As it was, he brought up a booted foot and kicked somebody in the cheek. Grunted in satisfaction when he heard a howl.

"Pin his f**king legs."

"Can’t. Got his arms."

"Knock him out, Paris."

"Sure. Want me to spew diamonds from my ass while I’m at it?"

A fist collided with his jaw. His teeth rattled and he tasted the blood he’d craved.

"That’s for ruining my game." Paris. "Bunny was about to spread oil on Electra."

"I’ll kill you. I’ll – " Ashlyn’s pleasure-drenched image flashed once again. Her eyes alight with passion. Her head thrown back as she enjoyed his mouth on her, licking every drop of her femininity.

He stilled, realization slamming into him. What was he doing? What the hell was he doing? He didn’t want blood and death on his hands. He didn’t. He wasn’t a monster. He wasn’t Violence.

Suddenly he was ashamed of his actions. He should have had more restraint. He knew better.

Panting, he tried to sit up. The men tightened their grips. He relaxed, not forcing the issue. No more, he vowed. No more attacking my friends.

We have to protect Ashlyn, Violence growled.

A desire to protect? From the demon?

We will, just not this way. Not like this. The more he gave in to the spirit, the more he became Violence. When had he stopped fighting against it so fervently?

Sometimes, when he was alone, he liked to think that if he’d been born a human, destruction would have been the furthest thing from his mind. He would have married, had a loving wife and laughing children who played at his side while he carved. Carving furniture – chests, dressers, beds – had once been a pleasure for him.

Since he had destroyed everything he’d ever created, he’d given up the hobby.

"He’s stopped moving," Reyes said with surprise.

"I can’t see the spirit anymore." Aeron. Confused.

"Hey. We didn’t even have to chain him." Paris.

"This is a first." Torin. Still laughing.

They released him and stepped away in unison. Maddox shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and piece together what had just happened. He had been consumed by Violence, yet he hadn’t murdered everyone in his path. Nor had his friends been forced to bind him to impede him.

Gingerly, he sat up and glanced around the room. Total destruction greeted him. Wood splinters, ripped foam cushions, black TV shards. Yes, he’d been consumed.

His brows puckered in confusion. Usually he had to be knocked out and chained. Or beaten so badly he could only wait in bed until Pain and Death came for him. Yet thoughts of Ashlyn had soothed him completely.

How?

"Good now?" Reyes asked him.

"Yes." The word was raw, hoarse. Someone must have choked him.

He pushed to his feet and stumbled to the couch. No cushions, not anymore, but he didn’t care. He fell onto the hard springs. They squeaked under his weight.

"Good thing Torin knows how to invest," Paris said, glancing around as he sat beside Maddox. "Looks like it’s time to splurge on new furniture."

"Where were we?" Lucien asked, getting them back to the business at hand. There was a cut on his forehead, one that hadn’t been there a few minutes ago.

A wave of guilt swept through Maddox. "I’m sorry," he said.

Lucien blinked at him in surprise, but nodded.

"The women," Reyes grumbled, settling at Maddox’s other side. "I say we give it more time. Unlike some of us – " he sent a pointed look in Maddox’s direction " – Aeron has his spirit under control right now, whether it’s stirring or not."

"I agree." Lucien walked to the overturned pool table, the scent of roses drifting from him.

A nice smell, but not as good as Ashlyn’s, all honey-warm and spiced with secrets and moonlight. Ashlyn… Thinking about her again caused his body to harden, to ready. Should have taken her when he’d had the chance, he thought again. Should have penetrated that tight, wet sheath.

"Uh, I’m happy to sit close to you and everything, but I had no idea you would like it so much," Paris muttered.

For the first time in hundreds of years, Maddox felt a blush creep into his cheeks. "It’s not for you."

"Thank the gods," was his friend’s reply.

"Speaking of gods, Maddox, now might be a good time to tell the others about the voice you heard," Lucien prompted him.

Maddox didn’t want to burden them but knew there was no other choice. "Very well. Someone came to me, in my head, commanding me to send every one of you to a cemetery tonight at midnight, unarmed."

Lucien motioned to Aeron. "You know these new gods better than any of us. What do you make of this? Does it sound like something the Titans would do?"

"I’m not an expert on them, but I do not think so, no. There would be no reason to concern themselves with our weapons. Useful as they are in battling Hunters, they’d be futile in a war with the gods."

Paris woohoo-ed, and everyone shot him a surprised glance. He shrugged sheepishly. "Got my game back on with the mini-TV I’d stashed in case something like this happened."

Maddox rolled his eyes.

"Let’s assume for the moment that the voice belongs to a Hunter," Lucien said, bringing them back to the main topic. Again. "That means we’re now dealing with a Hunter who has a formidable ability. And since it’s doubtful he’s working alone, we have to wonder if his friends have similar powers."

Aeron said, "We’re stronger than mere mortals, special powers or not. We can take them."

"Yes, if we can outwit them. Remember Greece? The Hunters were not as strong as we were but they managed to hurt us time and time again. Now a trap has most likely been set in the cemetery." Maddox eyed each of them in turn. "I can’t go – I’ll be dead – but everyone else can. You can turn their trap against them and kill them."

Lucien shook his head. "At midnight, Reyes and I will be here, with you. That leaves Paris and Aeron, since Torin can’t leave, either. We can’t send the two of them to fight a battle when we don’t know the odds."

"Let’s leave now, then," Maddox said. He hated leaving the fortress, but he would do it. To protect Ashlyn, he would do anything. If this new breed of Hunter meant her harm…"There are seven hours until midnight. That’s plenty of time for me to fight and return."