The Darkest Night

'No.' And he did not care.

Awesome. Lesson time.

'Ashlyn is—'

Not going anywhere. Now hush it. I need to lay some background so you understand exactly what I'm risking for you.

As he rocked Ashlyn in his arms, he pressed his lips together, fighting his desperation, his urgency.

So anyway, the Titans are in control, the bastards, and they totally plan to take the world back to what it was in their heyday. A place of peace, a place of worship, blah, blah, blah, where humans bow and sacrifice to them, and all that shit. In a few days, two temples will suddenly rise from the sea. You just wait. It will be the beginning of the end, for sure. She paused dramatically. I don't know whether the Tities want you guys dead or not in the big scheme of things, but I do know they plan to use you to get what they want.

'The women. Danika,' Reyes said.

Bingo. Something about her bloodline, maybe a prophecy. I'll have to study up 'cause I'm mostly drawing a blank. But you can see my dilemma, right? By helping you, I'm really going to piss off the new management.

'Do you wish me to kill them for you?' Maddox rushed out. 'I will do it. I will.' However much time it took, whatever he had to do. He would find a way.

'Maddox,' Lucien warned. 'Stop. Before you bring a far worse curse upon our house. She's going to help you. She's just pretending she's got to bargain. Right, goddess?'

Oh, a Smartie McSmartpants, she purred. You're a sexy one, I'll give you that. She uttered another sigh, dreamy this time, before collecting herself. No time for that. Unfortunately. Like I was saying before, the little woman really impressed me. I didn't think she'd do it, truth be told. What a show, though, right? Chuckle. If I had bodily functions, I think I would have peed my pants.

'Goddess. Focus. Please.'

'Maddox,' Lucien warned again.

Anya. My name is Anya. And I'm not, technically, a goddess myself, just the daughter of one, so stop lumping me in the same category as those jackoffs. Angry sigh now.

'What can I do? Tell me! I will do anything.' Maddox thought Anya might have been sucking on a piece of candy, for there was a slurp and a pop and a strawberry and cream breeze.

Your woman gave up her life for yours. Are you willing to do the same? Because you should know, my powers are contingent on others' actions and I can't do anything unless you do. Oh, and there's the little matter of payment.

'Yes. I will sacrifice anything for her.' Again, no hesitation. 'I will give whatever payment you ask.'

There was another sucker-slurping pause. All right, here's the scoop. I've got Titans chasing me down. Don't ask me why. It's a long story. Anyway, they're hunting me like a freaking animal and have been for, like, days. If I ever come to you for help, you're going to give it. Understand?

'Yes. Anything.'

Not just you, sweetness. All of you.

For a moment, neither Lucien nor Reyes responded. Maddox was close to leaping at them and cutting both their throats. Then, 'Yes,' they said in unison.

Okay, then. A deal is struck. Your woman will wake up, and she'll be bound to you. She'll live as long as you do. Not a bad deal for a mortal, really. But if one of you dies, you both die. Got it?

'Yes, yes.'

If you try and renege, know that I'll kill you, which will kill her. Her voice dripped to a sugary hum. I'll cut off your heads and feed them to the gods on a silver platter.

'I understand. I accept,' he said immediately.

One heartbeat passed. Another. Then there was a purr of satisfaction and Maddox was suddenly caught up in a whirlwind. Ashlyn was ripped from his bloody arms and he bellowed, reaching for her. She still lay motionless, but her blood seemed to be flowing back into her body.

Maddox was thrown back on the bed and the chains once more banded around him, his wrists and ankles healing in seconds. Reyes and Lucien walked to the center of the room—but they were walking backward.

Time was reversing at an accelerated speed, Maddox realized, shocked. He'd seen many things in his long life, but never this.

Reyes stood in front of Ashlyn, pulling the sword out of her rather than thrusting it in. Rather than falling, she rose.

As suddenly as the whirlwind began, it stopped. Everyone looked around in confusion.

'What happened?' Ashlyn asked, incredulous. 'I was dead.' She held up her arms, looking them over, then felt her stomach, searching for wounds. 'I know I was. I can still feel that blade cutting through my—Oh my God, Maddox, what did you do? Did the curse reverse, too?'

'That was… I do not have words,' Reyes said, frowning. 'I stabbed her.'

They had all retained their memories of the event, yet as of now the event had not actually happened. 'Free me,' Maddox shouted. 'The chains.'

Expression confused, Lucien obeyed.

Maddox leapt to his feet and pulled Ashlyn into his arms, kissing her face and squeezing as tight as he could without crushing her. She laughed, then drew back to study him. 'But the death-curse—'

'Is broken. I swear it. I feel its ties no more.'

Enjoy yourselves, boyz, 'cause now you're free from Maddox's curse, as well, Anya's voice suddenly sang. Don't worry, though. I'm sure your demons will keep you plenty miserable. Just don't forget our deal. Ta-ta for now.

Reyes's body jolted and Lucien's head was thrown back. They shook, their knees gave out and they fell to the ground. Both remained there, panting, for a long while. They looked up at the same time, their eyes meeting.

'I do not have to kill Maddox anymore,' Reyes said, awed. 'The pull of his death is gone. Gone!'

'The death-curse truly is broken,' Lucien said, his tone as close to joyful as Maddox had ever heard it. 'Thank you, Ashlyn. Thank you. You are a remarkable human.'

'I'd like to say it was my pleasure,' she teased with a grin.

'You died for me,' Maddox said, claiming her attention and blocking his friends from his focus. Only one person mattered right now. And he was shocked and overcome and furious at her. 'You died for me,' he growled.

'I'd do it again,' she said. 'I love you.'

He swung her around and she squealed happily. 'Never again, woman. You will never leave me again.'

'Never.'

'Reyes, Lucien. You will leave,' he said without taking his eyes from Ashlyn.

They quietly exited the room, gifting him and Ashlyn with privacy. Maddox stripped her and kissed her stomach, where she'd been stabbed.

'I need you,' she breathed.

And he needed her. Now and always. He penetrated her, unable to stop, and moaned at the pleasure.

'I love you,' he told her, slowly pumping inside her.

'I love you, too.' She sighed, her head thrashing from side to side.

'Thank you. For what you did, thank you.' No one had ever sacrificed so much for him. 'Just… do not ever let yourself be killed again. Understand?'

She laughed, but he stroked her deeply, exactly where she liked and her laugh became a moan. 'Then don't get yourself cursed again, my sweet prince.'

'Cursed? Love, I have been blessed with a prize beyond measure.'

'So have I, Maddox,' she said, and they both climaxed. 'So have I.'

The next afternoon, Lucien called a meeting.

Ashlyn perched on Maddox's lap, happier than she'd ever been. All of her dreams had come true. She could