The Darkest Secret (Lords of the Underworld #7)(28)
Author: Gena Showalter

His attitude wil change. You know it wil . The moment he’s wel , his friends wil tel him who you are.

He’l go for your throat faster than you can say, “But I spared you.”

She’d worry about his hatred then. For now, for better or worse, she and Amun were connected. Later, she would search for answers, find out how and why. Maybe she could even convince herself she’d never had visions of him. And then…maybe then she could find a way to cut the ties that bound them. If he didn’t do it first.

Until then…

She would do everything in her power to save this man, just as before.

Even the thought was a betrayal to the Hunters. A betrayal Micah would take personal y. But that didn’t alter her plans, and that, she realized, drove home the knowledge that her relationship with him was over.

She was shocked by her lack of unhappiness at the prospect. Shocked further that she didn’t wish things were different. She just wished there was a way to let him know.

Gently. She desired another man, a demon-possessed man at that, and Micah deserved better than she could ever give him.

She sighed, the relieved sound an echo of Amun’s. It was nice, having something figured out. If only healing Amun proved to be that simple. She reached out and brushed the sweat-soaked hair from his brow. Those dancing shadows screeched, darting away from her and burrowing under Amun’s skin, even as the warrior leaned toward her, seeking closer contact.

What did that darkness represent? What did it mean?

Definitely something evil, as she’d first suspected. Amun obviously hated it, cringing as the last thread of gloom faded inside him.

Haidee, my Haidee. Another sigh wafted through her head, this one laced with contentment. Don’t leave me.

“I won’t leave you.” Her trembling intensified as she climbed in beside him and wrapped him in her arms.

“I’l be here as long as you need me.”

IN HIS OWN BEDROOM, Torin watched Haidee on one of his computer screens. Haidee. Come back to life. Who would have thought? And why hadn’t Strider told him? The questions lost their importance between one heartbeat and the next. His eyes widened as the shadows scrambled to escape her touch. He’d never seen anything like it and had no idea what it meant.

He did know one thing. She wasn’t human, as she’d told Strider. No mere human could frighten demons as she’d just done. And they were frightened of her. They’d hidden inside Amun, rather than try and escape him as they’d done from the first.

“So what the f**k is she?” he muttered.

SCOWLING, STRIDER BARRELED his way inside Amun’s chamber. How eager Haidee had been to reach the warrior, her sworn enemy. And now Strider saw her sprawled on the bed, curled into Amun’s side, tenderly smoothing his brow. As if she wanted to be there. As if she was glad to be there.

Helping a Lord.

She thinks Amun’s her boyfriend, remember? Of course she was glad. Of course she was helping.

“Ex?” he growled with more force than he’d intended.

Her gunmetal gaze shifted and locked on him warily.

“What?” There was nothing wary about her voice. That single word snapped at him with more force than even he had used.

Clearly, she wanted him to get out and leave her the hel alone.

His molars gnashed together, and he beat down the tide of jealousy that suddenly raged through him.

Jealousy.

Jealousy over a Hunter. A Hunter he’d always planned to kil . Why couldn’t he simply be happy that Amun now had a chance to pul through?

Because Haidee was going to make Amun miserable. And if the big guy fel in love with her, he just might abandon his friends to be with her. Which would get his ass kil ed for good. Ultimately, she would betray him.

I won’t let that happen. Ever.

Win, Defeat said, sensing the chal enge.

I wil . Strider raised both of his hands. In the left, he held a syringe. In the right, chains. They’d been waiting in the hal way, but she’d been too damn concerned for Amun to notice. “You didn’t honestly think you’d have free rein with him, did you?”

CHAPTER NINE

AMUN DRAGGED HIMSELF FROM the tangled web of his mind and forced his eyelids to open.

First things he noticed: the taste of frosted apricots fil ed his mouth, there was a wonderful chil inside him, cooling the fires that had raged, and an earthy perfume wafted into his nose every time he inhaled.

Second thing: sunlight streamed through the window, the heavy curtains parted and the blinds slatted to welcome every single bright ray. His eyes teared and burned, but at least those tears washed away the hazy shield seeming to cloak the entire room, al owing him a clearer view.

Third thing: Strider reclined in a cushy chair he’d placed just in front of Amun’s bed, watching him with an intent, almost forbidding expression.

Strider’s mind was blank, and purposely so. The warrior knew Amun could read every single one of his thoughts.

Everyone here knew it. Which was why, when they wanted privacy—because Amun simply couldn’t stop the flow of their innermost secrets, no matter how much he wanted to

—they had to wrap themselves in darkness and silence.

“How do you feel?” Strider asked, his timbre scratchy and rough.

Even though the new demons were rattling against his skul , Amun had no trouble understanding. He tried to raise his hands to sign his reply. Like shit, for the most part. The apricots, the chil , both overshadowed the worst of his pain.

Only, his arms refused to obey the mental command. Why?

His head turned to the left, gaze sliding to his wrist.

Scabbed skin, dried blood. Fingers swol en, nails ruined.

Suddenly memories flooded him, Secrets stretching to wakefulness inside his mind, enjoying the unveiling of what his inner defenses would have liked to keep hidden.

Hel . Those other demons. The dark flashes, the vile urges.

Haidee. The knowledge that he should kil her, the inability to do so. A taste of heaven, her body writhing against his, her hands al over him, her sweet cries in his ears. Strider.

Battle, blood. Hating himself for hurting his friend and shielding a Hunter. Failing to reach the girl when she needed him. The return of the demons, the dark flashes and vile urges. No Haidee. No heaven.

Grim expectation mixed with white-hot rage and bone-numbing fear, al fil ing him as he jerked himself upright. The bedroom spun, a sharp lance of pain tearing through his temples. He didn’t care, remained upright. Where was she? Dead? The thought left him sick to his stomach.

No. No, he assured himself desperately, and he felt Secrets’s agreement. She couldn’t be. That earthy perfume belonged to her, as raw and basic as his need for her. He had to find her. Had to make sure she was okay, that no one had hurt her.