The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld #3)(78)
Author: Gena Showalter

"No," Ginger, her sister, said. "No, we’re fine. For the most part, they left us alone. They fed us, kept us healthy. Apparently they planned to use us to draw out our former kidnappers."

Like they tried to use me, she thought angrily. Thank God Reyes had – her gaze circled the room again, not seeing him. Give him a moment to calm down. Enjoy your family. Because in that moment Danika knew, all the way to her bones, that she was going to help Reyes bring down the Hunters once and for all.

No one threatened her family and lived. And Reyes was her family.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

REYES HAD ALREADY COME DOWN from his demon-high, had caged the beast even now drenched in agonizing physical pain and sated bloodlust. A beast currently purring with satisfaction. Now, Reyes feared the thoughts that must be running through Danika’s mind. He trembled, weakened from his injuries, knowing he couldn’t reassure her yet.

She was currently wrapped in the loving arms of her family – gods, how she glowed. If she knew he was in the room, she gave no indication. Quietly, he stepped into the hall and withdrew his cell phone.

He’d wanted to do this all night, all day, but hadn’t wanted Danika to overhear and hadn’t been able to reach Lucien when he’d been collecting their haphazard breakfast. With Danika preoccupied with her family, there was no better time.

As he dialed Lucien’s cell, his knees gave out and he sank to the ground. Once again, his friend failed to answer. This time, however, the keeper of Death simply appeared in front of him, mismatched eyes bright, face tight with fatigue. The fragrance of roses drifted from him, stronger than Reyes had ever smelled it.

Reyes wiped at his face with one hand and used the other to pocket the phone. He didn’t bother standing. "Here to collect souls?"

"Not yet, but I feel the tug." Lucien’s gaze slid past him, past the cracked open door. "What happened to you, my friend? You have more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese."

"Hunters happened. They were here, waiting, holding Danika’s family hostage to use against us later."

Those unusual eyes jerked back to Reyes, shock in their depths, before once again peering past the doorway. "Bastards. And they call themselves the good guys."

The sound of feminine laughter, then silence, then urgent female warnings drifted to them.

"You have to kill him, Dani."

"No, no. You don’t understand."

"There’s nothing to understand."

Reyes didn’t hear Danika’s response. Their voices became whispers. Was he the "him" who needed killing? Probably. After this latest battle, he was surprised and humbled to find that Danika hadn’t rushed to agree.

Lucien arched a brow. "The reunion, I take it."

He nodded and lumbered to his feet, hand immediately going to his temple and rubbing, as if the motion could shove the dizziness away.

"The building is probably wired and monitored," Lucien muttered. "We need to remove the women as soon as possible."

"Let’s see what we’re dealing with first."

"Very well."

They searched the entire structure and did indeed find a room very much like Torin’s in Budapest. There were computers and screens of the surrounding area, as well as one monitor that seemed to be showing another compound – where a large group of Hunters were gathering weapons.

"They were probably alerted, might even have watched the battle," Lucien said. "I imagine they’re coming here."

Reyes hunched over, trying to catch his breath. "Is the fortress secure?"

"Yes."

"Take us back, then," Reyes said. "All of us. Me last."

Lucien nodded, began to mist a second later, when Reyes grabbed his arm, stopping him. "How is Sabin?"

"Better. He’ll recover."

Good. Lucien disappeared completely then. Reyes couldn’t allow the Hunters to see what was going on, so he used the last of his strength to disable the wires. As he worked, he heard several of the women screaming and knew Lucien had just materialized in front of them. He wanted Danika unafraid, but he wanted her safe more.

Several minutes later, Lucien reappeared. "You’re the last. Ready?"

He gave a single nod. It was all he could manage.

Lucien touched his arm. Next thing Reyes knew, he was standing inside his bedroom in the fortress. His knees gave out again and he collapsed on the edge of his bed, remaining upright by clutching the nearest post. "Where are the women?"

"Locked next door. I will help you deal with them, I just need…the souls are calling to me." Lucien disappeared. When he returned a long while later, he reeked of sulfur. Reyes, who hadn’t moved an inch, wasn’t surprised the Hunters’ final resting place was hell.

Reyes’s head lolled forward, chin hitting his chest heavily. "Listen. I need you to go to Aeron’s cell."

"Why?"

"Please. Take your phone and call me when you get there. If I had the strength, I would go myself."

Expression confused, Lucien once more disappeared. In a heartbeat of time, Reyes’s phone was ringing. He flipped it open, fingers fumbling, and barked a quick, "You there?"

"Yes," Lucien said.

In the background, beyond his door, Reyes could hear mumbling. He would have given his left arm – literally – to walk to it and press his ear to the wood. But in the end, he didn’t have to. He could hear Danika soothe her family, her voice gentle yet determined. A grin curled the corners of his lips. My little soldier.

He had to see her.

The overwhelming need gave him strength, a surging heat that swarmed through him and lifted him to his feet. One unsteady foot in front of the other and he was flipping the door’s lock and winding his fingers around the knob.

"Reyes, are you there?"

Lucien.

"I’m here. Listen, last night Danika told me about a dream she’d had," he whispered so the women wouldn’t hear him. "In it, she visited hell. Heard and saw the demons there, heard and saw their victims. But Lucien, I don’t think it was a dream."

Crackling static. Reception in the dungeon was spotty at best. "I don’t understand."

"When I’m…with her, I’m somehow propelled out of my body and into the heavens. I think she’s a portal into the hereafter."

"Are you sure? Perhaps you – "

"I’m sure. Last time, an angel actually spoke to me."

"Dear gods."

"I know."

"But what does this have to do with Aeron?"

"Not Aeron. His friend."

"The little demon?" Shock rang in Lucien’s voice. "Reyes, break this down for me as though I were a child. Why?"