The Darkest Night

understand that I can't help it.' Pause. Shuddering breath. 'Here goes. You're not the only one possessed by something you can't control. I hear voices. When I stand in a spot where a conversation has taken place, I can hear every word that was uttered, no matter how much time has passed.' Her eyes landed anywhere but on him as she spoke.

Maddox listened, shocked to the core. She hadn't admitted to Hunters or gods or a vendetta against him, but to voices. He knew, deep down, her words were not a lie. They were too complicated and too easily disproved; true Bait would have opted for something less refutable. More than that, what she described made sense, fitting several pieces of last night's puzzle together.

Which meant she had tried to protect him earlier. Not for any ulterior motives, but because she had wanted to. Amazement flowed through him. Amazement and relief and joy.

Now he understood why she hadn't been too brokenhearted when he'd admitting to killing those men. Most likely, she hadn't even known them. As he'd suspected, they could very well have hoped to capture her and use her ability to their advantage.

His fingers itched for a knife; he wanted to kill them all over again. Calm down. They still could have worked for her Institute, and she simply hadn't realized it. No, that couldn't be right. They would have made themselves known to her, for they'd been close enough to hear and see her.

'Why did you fear I would hate you?' he asked.

'I hear secrets,' she whispered. 'It's hard to make friends, you know? The people who know what I can do want nothing to do with me and the people who don't know can't figure out how to deal with me.'

The loneliness in her tone affected him deeply. He understood. But even he didn't like the thought of her knowing—hearing—the violent things he'd done over the years. 'What secrets of mine have you heard?' He tried to keep his voice light, but didn't quite manage it.

'None. I swear.' She gazed up at him with wide eyes. 'When I'm around you, the world is silent.'

She'd said that before. He recalled the expression on her face when he'd first approached her. Total bliss. She'd been savoring the silence, just as she'd claimed. The knowledge humbled and baffled him, yet underneath both emotions was an unshakable pride. He had helped her. He, who was unable to fight free of his own torment, had somehow released another from hers.

'You said you hear secrets. What have you heard about us?'

'I've already told you. Most townspeople consider you angels. Some consider you demons. But all of them are in awe of you.'

'No plans to attack?'

'Not that I heard.'

'Good.' He splayed his hands around her waist, lifted and set her out of the tub. He climbed out beside her and palmed a towel from the cabinet. After wrapping it around her shoulders so that the material draped and warmed her, he grabbed one for himself.

'Good? That's all you have to say to me?' she asked.

'Yes.'

Surprise caused her mouth to fall open. 'Well, now that I've told you, I'd like to call my boss and let him know I'm okay.'

Maddox shook his head. 'I'm afraid that is not an option. No one can know you're here. For your safety, and for ours.'

'But—'

'It is not up for discussion. The answer is now and always no.'

Her mouth worked open again, as if she meant to argue. But she merely said, 'Fine.'

From her tone, he knew it wasn't. She probably planned to hunt up a phone the moment he turned his back. Women. For the first time, he understood what Paris meant when he uttered the word like a curse. He sighed. 'I swear to you, Ashlyn, this is the best course of action for all involved.'

Turning away from him, she patted her arms dry. Her actions were a little too slow, a little too measured, as if her mind were far away.

'What is wrong?'

'Lots of things. I need to call my boss, and I'm going to the moment I find a phone. You can't stop me.'

'That is—'

Now she cut him off. 'And even you, an immortal, have to think I'm weird after what I just told you, so I don't know why you're denying it.'

He scrubbed the moisture out of his hair and wrapped the cloth around his neck. 'You are not weird. I think you are beautiful, smart, courageous and most important, delicious.'

She anchored the towel around her torso, blocking his view. 'Really?'

Insecurity that strong had to have been beaten into her. He scowled, determined to kill whoever had wielded the verbal fists. 'Really.' Hands on her shoulders, he spun her around. Their gazes collided. 'If you knew half the things that happen here, you—' He pressed his lips together. Damn, but he should not have said that.

'You mean there's more than stabbings and resurrections?' she asked dryly.

Much more.

'So what are we going to do now?' She splayed her arms wide.

Though he wished to spend the rest of the day with her, he knew that he could not. He still had duties, was still a warrior whose home needed to be defended, now more than ever. After ushering her into the bedroom, he dressed, gathered a shirt, boxers and a pair of sweatpants from the floor and tossed them at her. 'Put these on.'

She missed every single item and had to bend to pick them up. With every movement, the white towel rode up her thighs. His cock hardened. Again. It should have been tired, but no. Not with Ashlyn. She excited him despite, well, everything.

'There are a few things I must do,' he said, more to remind himself than in response to her question.

'And you're taking me with you?' she asked, tightening her grip on the bundle.

'Yes and no.'

'What does that mean?'

No sense in lying, he supposed. She would find out soon enough. 'I'm locking you up with Danika while I do some…chores. That way, you will have company and there will be someone to tend you and call for me if you become sick again.'

First a look of panic shuttered over her face. Then anger. Her brows arched and the tip of her tongue traced the outside of her lips. 'One, there's no need to lock me up. I said I'd stay. And two, you're telling me Danika is locked up? She's a prisoner?' The last word emerged as a screech.

'Yes.' Perversely, he hoped the affirmation would anger her further; he wanted to see that tongue again.

'But, Maddox, you told me I was the first woman you had—'

'I did not lock her up. Nor did I lie to you. Now, not another word. Please.' If she asked him to release Danika, he would want to do it. He would want to go against the others and grant her request. 'Get dressed, or I'll drag you from the room naked.'

Silently, she studied him. Silently, she begged him to… what? He couldn't tell. He said nothing. He couldn't. Time was not his friend.

'What is it going to be? Clothed or naked?'

She scowled at him, her first real show of temper, and offered him a view of her back. Motions stiff and jerky, she allowed the towel to fall to the floor. Elegantly sloped back… rounded ass… His mouth watered.

'I should fight you on this, but I'm not going to. Know why?' She didn't give him time to answer. 'Not because you ordered it but because I'd like the chance to check on Danika.'

She quickly dressed, and he should have been happy those luscious curves were covered. No one else would be able to see her; no one else would have the chance to enjoy the view. But that also meant he wouldn't see, and he wouldn't enjoy.

'They're too big,' she said, facing him.

She was right. The clothes bagged on her, but Maddox thought she looked delectable. He knew what waited underneath that material. He knew what waited for his touch—and his alone. 'They're all I have. For now, they'll