The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld #3)(24)
Author: Gena Showalter

He nodded in understanding, but his pensive expression didn’t change. "I heard about the human you killed."

Human, he’d said, the single word driving home their differences in a big way. Then there was a flash of black and red in her mind, a pained gasp in her ears, concrete burning her palms and knees, pencil snapping, a dying breath echoing, and she didn’t care how different they were. She just wanted Reyes to pull her to safety.

"Danika."

Somehow, with only her name, his rough timbre was able to drag her from the mire of the hated memory. She gulped, shook her head. "I don’t regret my actions." She only hoped the words were true. Right now, she was too numb to know for sure.

"I’m glad."

Of course he was – wait. Did he say glad? "Why?"

"He meant to hurt you. You did what was necessary to protect yourself. I only wish I had been there."

"Well, I didn’t protect myself well enough," she said bitterly, then cursed. Bringing up the aftermath and her time with the Hunters wasn’t a smart move. Besides, she had a job to do. "How did you hear about what happened? Is there a warrant out for my arrest or something?"

She’d spoken so quietly, she had to strain to hear herself, yet he answered without pause. "No warrant. No one knows. But what I am about to tell you, Danika, can never be repeated. You hate us. With reason. So arming you with this information is foolish of me. And yet, I want you to know why we’ve done the things we’ve done."

Suddenly she was terrified of breathing – of stopping him, of allowing him to continue. What dark secret was he about to reveal? He had to sacrifice virgins at every full moon? She was next? Well, news flash. She wasn’t a virgin.

He inhaled deeply, slowly released every molecule. Looked away from her. "I told you the warriors here are not human. What I did not tell you is that every warrior here is possessed by a…a demon." There was shame in the word. "Lucien – do you remember him? – is possessed by the spirit of Death. When your human died, he was summoned."

I know, she almost told him, but managed to cut off the words. Except, Stefano had said the men had become the demons, not that they were simply possessed by them. Still, her shoulders sagged as relief pounded through her. Funny that she felt relief at his admission. She didn’t have to hide her knowledge now.

What are you doing? her mind shouted. He didn’t know that she knew, and she had to keep it that way. Relief would seem odd. So…how should she react to such an admission? Laughter? Screams?

"The Darkest Pleasure"

"Demons," she said on a broken catch of breath. What else could she say?

"Yes."

"I – I suspected," she said, opting for a half truth. "Last time I was here, there were things I couldn’t explain. Supernatural things."

He nodded, and her relief doubled. "I don’t want you afraid of us," he said. "We are demons, yes, but we will not hurt you. Not any more than we already have," he added wryly.

It wasn’t a promise of comfort, but she wanted to lean on him, anyway, maybe confess why she was here so he could solve the problem for her. Stupid. How gentle would Reyes be if he knew the truth? That she was here to learn everything she could about him so that the information could be used against him. You’re doing this for your family. Don’t forget. "I didn’t see him that night."

Leaning on his elbows again, putting distance between them, Reyes eyed her quizzically. "Didn’t see who?"

"Lucien. When that man died, I didn’t see Lucien." Questions spun through her mind at the same speed Reyes’s warmth abandoned her body, leaving her cold and shivering. "You said he was there, that he saw what I had done."

"The human did not die in the street, but in a hospital three days later. Had he died that night, though, you still would not have seen Lucien. He is able to remain in the spirit world, unseen as he does his duty."

She had to keep him talking. This was exactly the kind of information Stefano desired. Even as the thought filled her mind, there was a spark of guilt in her chest. Guilt? Why? Reyes and his horde deserved to be ratted out. "How is that possible? How does he remain in the spirit world? What does he see?"

"That is not for me to answer."

To press would have been suspicious. Right? Her mind simply wasn’t functioning at optimum levels. "You said you are all possessed. Wh-what demon possesses you?"

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.