The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld #3)(83)
Author: Gena Showalter

Aeron paused, glanced in confusion at his arm. Frowned. From under the bed Legion cried out in alarm, drawing Aeron’s attention further from the fight. The distraction cost him. Reyes bucked and worked his legs between their bodies. His feet shoved Aeron backward in a powerful thrust. The warrior slammed into the wall. The impact didn’t slow him, though. Didn’t even rattle him.

He uncurled himself. Reyes rushed toward him, menace in every step. But Aeron didn’t seem to care. Grinning, he launched a dagger of his own. A dagger Legion had swiped up and rushed to him. As Reyes barreled into him – only then seeming to realize what had happened, a scream of denial ripping from him – that dagger found its target: Danika.

"I WILL NOT WAIT much longer," Cronus said, sounding bored. "Soon I will lose my curiosity over your choice and allow you neither Aeron nor Sienna."

Paris began to sweat. Do it. Just say a name.

But as he opened his mouth, Cronus’s head tilted to the side, his ears twitching as if he could hear something beyond the quiet of Paris’s bedroom. "Oh, yes," the king said, and there was delight in his tone. "You must choose soon."

Had something happened?

The pound of footsteps hit Paris’s ears a moment later. Then, a knock on his door. "Paris, are you in there?"

Sabin.

Paris glanced at Cronus – no, at empty space. The king of gods was gone. Had he lost his chance? Scowling, he jackknifed to his feet and strode to the door. "Not now," he said as the wood swung open.

Sabin eyed his bleeding chest with confusion. "You okay, man?"

"Fine. What’s going on?"

"Aeron escaped. He and Reyes are fighting." As though to prove the words were true, a roar of agony sounded, followed quickly by an eerie laugh.

Cronus’s eagerness for an answer suddenly made sense. With the realization, there was dread. There was no more time to ponder or consider the ramifications of his choice.

Perhaps he should have left well enough alone.

Behind Sabin, Gideon and Cameo raced down the hall. Both were clutching guns. Sabin shot a look over his shoulder. "We don’t have a lot of time."

"What’s the plan?" Paris demanded.

Sabin faced him again, already backing away. His gaze was grim. "Whatever’s necessary to finally end this."

FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE, Reyes had seen the glint of silver. But only when he heard Danika gasp, only when he saw the crimson stain spreading over her chest, did he realize what had happened.

Danika was hurt. Bleeding. She collapsed, now silent, barely breathing, unmoving.

No, no, no. Despite his vows, he had failed to protect her. She might…she might…No! He refused to believe anything other than that she would recover, totally, completely. And yet, fury rose inside him. Fury and hate, desperation and so much emotional pain that it radiated into his bones, hurting, strengthening him.

He was on his feet a moment later, rushing toward her. Aeron grabbed his arm, stopping him. Panic rushed him as he toppled to the ground. His friend jumped on top of him and straddled his waist.

A fist flew at him. Contact. His nose cracked in the center.

Reyes bared his teeth in a snarl, twisted and grabbed Aeron by the forearms. He had his friend beneath him a moment later. Satisfaction burned in Aeron’s now-violet eyes, the red gone. Was that…surely that was not guilt blended with the satisfaction.

He hurt her. I must finish this, get to her. Help her.

He stared down at Aeron, hands already wrapped around his throat. Strong as Reyes was just then, Aeron could do nothing to buck him off or pry the shacklelike fingers from his neck.

Behind him, he could hear his friends gathering. Muttering.

"Don’t do this, Reyes."

"Let him go."

"There’s another way."

He didn’t know who said what and he didn’t care. He squeezed harder, claws digging past skin, past veins. Warm blood was pooling between his fingers.

Legion suddenly slithered forward and jumped atop Aeron’s chest. Teardrops that looked very much like diamonds streamed down her ugly little face. "Ssstop, sstop. He mine."

Reyes squeezed all the harder. Once Aeron was dead, Danika would be safe. From one threat, at least. She could be patched up. Healed.

With a cry of despair, Legion launched herself at Reyes. Biting him, scratching him. The creature’s saliva must have been laced with poison, because it stung like acid, rushing through Reyes’s veins, burning in a way that made his demon moan. Still, he didn’t let up.

"My warrior," the demon cried. "Mine. No hurt."

Aeron’s eyes were wide, blood vessels popping. His body was shaking, his skin becoming pale. Almost blue. His struggles were growing weaker and weaker. Soon he would still completely and Reyes would release him, pick up one of the swords hanging on his wall and remove his head. Soon –

"Reyes," a voice said weakly.

It was the only voice that managed to penetrate his rage and his hate, overshadowing them entirely. Reyes’s attention lashed to the side, to the floor where Danika lay, staring over at him.

She needed him. He released Aeron instantly and rose to shaky legs. Aeron’s body went limp, but he remained awake, watching Reyes. Legion began kissing Aeron’s face and chest, cooing to the warrior.

A gun cocked. "No one moves until we figure this out."

Reyes paid the command no heed, nor did he acknowledge whoever had issued it. He rushed to Danika and crouched beside her. The stones around her were soaked. She’d pulled the knife from her side, opening the wounds. She was pale, too pale, and tears burned in her eyes.

"I tried…to help," she said with a weak smile. "For once."

"You did, angel. You did help me." Gently as possible, trying not to cry himself, he gathered her in his arms. Her muscles were so frail, she was unable to move on her own. "Lucien, I need you!"

Footsteps. "I’m here." Lucien stood beside the bed, mismatched eyes concerned.

"Don’t take her soul," Reyes choked out. "Just…don’t. I need time to fix her."

"You know if I’m summoned to do so, I cannot stop myself," was the guarded reply.

Reyes smoothed a shaky hand over Danika’s brow. "Stay with me, angel." Never had he felt so helpless.

"Always," she said with another of those weak smiles. "Love you."

Oh, gods. The words, delivered now, nearly slayed him. "I love you. So much. I cannot live without you." He didn’t turn away from her as he begged, "Lucien, find a healer. Bring him here. Please."

Lucien nodded and disappeared.

There were multiple fists against the door next to his, and then feminine commands could be heard. "Open this door! You didn’t have to lock us back in. We wouldn’t have interrupted you. What’s going on?"