The Darkest Passion (Lords of the Underworld #5)(90)
Author: Gena Showalter

“Who said that?” Legion demanded.

“You heard him?” What did that—

Strong hands suddenly settled atop Olivia’s shoulders, propelling her outside and forcing her to face the sky. Before she had time to resist, those hands shoved her over the railing she’d repaired in Aeron’s absence, and she was falling down, down, down.

For the first time in her life, falling terrified her. “The water,” she screamed to Legion. “Don’t forget the—”

She would have said more, but something hard clamped over her mouth. Something else, just as hard, snaked around her waist, jerking her back into a solid wall. She leveled out, began to lift higher, higher still.

A man, she realized. A man was holding her. Not Aeron and not Lysander. Menace poured from this one. Using all the strength she possessed, she struggled for her freedom, scratching at the skin she couldn’t see but could now feel, kicking at the legs resting atop hers.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he said. The voice from the room.

“Who are you? What do you want with me?”

They broke through a layer of clouds, hiding them from view. “I’m hurt, truly. I thought my reputation preceded me.”

Galen, she realized. Aeron’s greatest enemy. He had found the Cloak of Invisibility; Aeron had said as much to Torin. That’s how he’d entered the fortress undetected. That’s how he’d snuck into Aeron’s bedroom.

That’s how he would ruin what was left of her life.

Torin didn’t have cameras in the bedrooms, but there were cameras outside them and those would have captured her jumping and flying. Anyone watching the feed would believe she’d simply been heading back to the heavens. Unless Legion told him what had really happened, Aeron would assume Olivia had lied to him. He would think she’d left him without saying goodbye.

Blood froze in her veins. She had to convince Galen to take her back. “I’m not sure what you hope to accomplish, but I assure you, you won’t get your wish. Aeron doesn’t care about me.” Not the way she dreamed, hoped. “He’s letting me go.”

“I highly doubt that, but you weren’t the reason I was in the fortress. You were simply a last resort.”

“And what did you hope to accomplish?”

His arms tightened around her. “Do you really think I’ll spill all my secrets?”

“Are you going to hurt me? Tell me that, at least.”

“And spoil the surprise?” He chuckled. “No. I’d rather show you.” His wings snapped closed, and they began to fall….

AERON CAME AWAKE with a jolt. One moment he’d been lost to the burning pain working its way through him, flaming his organs to ashes, and the next a cool rain had swept through him. A cool rain he’d instantly recognized. The River of Life. Olivia was here, and she had healed him once again.

Except, when he focused, he saw that it was Legion who loomed over him, and he fought a wave of disappointment.“It worked.” She smiled, all pearly whites and happiness. “It really worked.”

Though he badly wanted to ask about his fallen angel, he couldn’t. Not without causing all kinds of problems. “The others?” His voice was rougher than usual, and not because of damage from the smoke inhalation. The water had healed him. But thoughts of Olivia always filled him with need.

“Who cares? You know,” Legion added, tracing a finger down the line of his breastbone. Her lashes dipped to half-mast, though he could still see her eyes. They weren’t glazed with desire. No, it was determination that swirled in their depths. “Now that you’re healed, we have some unfinished business to attend to.”

He grabbed her wrist and held her hand at bay. “The others, Legion? How are they?”

With a sigh, she waved away his concern. “They’re still sick. Okay? All right? But they’ll get better on their own. I’m sure of it.”

Not with those bullets spurting poison into their systems. “You’re telling me they haven’t been given the River of Life?” Perhaps that’s where Olivia was now, seeing to his friends’ well-being. How like her. Caring, helpful.

“No, they weren’t.” There was a growing rigidity to Legion’s features. “Now, about that unfinished business…”

Damn her. She was going to make him ask. “Does Olivia have the vial?”

Finally giving up her attempts at seduction, Legion looked away from him. At least she hadn’t erupted into a rage because he’d mentioned that—beautiful, perfect—name. “No,” she said. “Because we ran out. Sorry.”

Hardly. Last time he’d used it, there’d been enough to save an entire army. Aeron sat up and scrubbed a hand down his face. So. If Olivia didn’t have the water, that meant Legion did, since it had just been given to him and she was the only one here.

But why would Legion— The answer slid into place, and he scowled. Of course. She was saving the rest for him.

“Why don’t I change into something more comfortable,” she suggested.

Not done with the seduction, after all. He shuddered. “Give me the water, Legion, and stop trying to sleep with me. I know we have to, just not now.”

Wrath stirred inside his head, stretching and yawning.

“No, I—”

“Legion. I’m giving up my life to save yours. The least you can do is give me the water.”

Frowning, she crossed her arms over her ample chest. “You make it sound like I’m…I don’t know, ruining you.”

He cocked a brow, his silence answer enough, and her anger increased. Any life without Olivia would indeed be a ruined one. Legion’s your bratty kid. “Baby girl” no longer seemed appropriate. You can’t hate her. Fine. “Give me the water or I’ll finally give you the spanking you deserve.”

Now Wrath purred.

The demon liked the idea of punishing her? He never had before.

“Fine,” she grumbled, and tugged the vial from between her br**sts. “They only get one drop each. No more.”

Because no more than a drop would be needed, he said, “I promise,” and grabbed the glowing blue vial, the glass so cold it seemed refrigerated. He pushed to a stand and gazed down at himself. He was still blood-soaked and soot-covered from head to foot. His jeans were ripped and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Good enough.

“Stay here.” With every step toward the door, his blood flowed faster and his strength intensified.