The Darkest Kiss

'You have failed me, Death. Over and over again, you have failed me.'

'I am sorry.'

'Liar!'

The boom of the word nearly burst his eardrums.

'You will not suffer for it,' the god added quietly, 'but your friends will. I'll start with Paris, sending him to a place where no women reside. I will prevent him from leaving and I will laugh as he weakens. I will laugh when he is forced to turn to other men for strength. And when I'm through with him, I'll look to Reyes.'

Fight him, as Anya does. 'You would kill them, then? Set their demons free to roam the earth in a crazed frenzy? No mortal will bow before you once the demons are through wreaking their havoc.'

'Zeus might not have been able to protect the people from your demons, but I can. Do you wish to hear what I'll do to Reyes?'

Fight! 'You would prevent him from hurting himself, I'm sure. Perhaps flood him with pleasure he is no longer equipped to handle.'

'Do you dare mock me?'

'No. Nor do I wish to do that with which you have charged me.'

'I am aware of that, Death. I am also tired of waiting. Which of us do you think will emerge the victor and receive what he desires?'

'What if—' Lucien pressed his lips together. Should he do this? Yes, he decided a moment later. He should. There was no other way. 'Anya has something you crave. What if I procure it for you?'

For several seconds, there was only crackling tension.

Then, more calmly, Cronus said, 'I will allow you to try. If you fail in this, you will bring me her body. If you fail in that, I will not be so lenient. I will do everything I claimed and more. And I'll make you watch while I do it. Now go!'

A great gust of wind shoved Lucien forward. Cutting off a growl, he righted himself and followed the path Anya had taken. He found her in the lobby of the building, alive and well, though Cronus was nearby. He had to get that key from her. Right now, it was the only way he knew to save her. If he failed…

His stomach twisted into a painful knot. He would not fail.

He allowed his gaze to scan the building. There was a huge fireplace with a crackling blaze in the corner. Beside it, a desk was manned by two males staring at Anya in open approval. Lucien scowled. Unaware of the mortals, or perhaps uncaring, she tapped her foot impatiently and studied her bright pink nails.

They'd been red yesterday. Hadn't they? Perhaps they'd been blue. She changed them every day, nearly as often as she changed moods.

Lucien hissed at the men as he strode past them, unable to hold the noise back. He was too raw to care about consequences. Too raw to care that being possessive of a woman like Anya would bring nothing but heartache.

She's not yours, and she can never be yours. Even if nothing else mattered, stealing her precious key would ensure that.

He didn't speak as he passed her, but she kicked into motion beside him. He could feel her body heat and smell her strawberry scent—his two favorite things, he realized. His world would not be the same without them.

'What do you want to buy first?' she asked him, unaware of his thoughts and turmoil.

Lucien opened his mouth to ask about the key, but the words refused to form. Earlier, she had ended their conversation the moment it had been mentioned. He would have to soften her first, he supposed, and earn a bit of her trust.

'A coat would be nice,' he said. Though sunlight poured from the sky, chill wind beat against him.

'Then a coat you shall have. I know the perfect place.' She twined their fingers together and tugged him to the left.

Instinct demanded he pull away. He didn't. Instead he tightened his grip, wishing he could hold on to her and never let go. She gasped, threw a sweet smile over her shoulder. Death rubbed against the corridors of his mind, reaching for her, wanting to touch her, too.

She ushered him down an ice-covered road. Cars meandered by and people strolled along the snowy sidewalks, in and out of the cobbled shops. All around were those majestic mountains. The gods really had outdone themselves with this spectacular scenery.

This could have been heaven.

'In here.' Anya tugged him into a shop named Machen Teegeback.

'Warm Muffins?' he translated, having mastered many languages over the years. 'We just ate. And I thought we were shopping for a coat.'

She chuckled. 'This isn't a bakery, lover. It's an outlet.' Inside were coats, gloves, hats and all the things he would need to stay warm. 'Now, don't you worry. Anya will dress you just right.'

With another delighted chuckle, she trekked through the store, throwing different colored coats at him. 'This one will match your eyes. Well, one of them anyway.' Pause. 'This one will look great against your skin.' Pause. 'Mmm, this one has easy access to my new favorite place through the pockets.' Pause. 'Oh, score! Look at this.' She held up the masculine version of the coat she wore before tossing it at him. 'We'll be twinkies while we're climbing glaciers.'

Unless he found that key, she would not be traveling with him. Selfishly, he was disappointed at the thought. 'I only need one coat. Which do you—'

With a furtive glance at the cashier, she stuffed a pair of large wool gloves inside her jacket.

He frowned, certain he was mistaken about what had just happened. 'What do you think you are doing?'

'Stealing.' There was such relish in her tone, it was like a sexual high.

A shiver trekked the length of his spine. 'You were not teasing about the food, then. Are you short of funds?'

'Hardly. I'm loaded.' She anchored her hands on her hips and pouted up at him. 'Don't tell me the big bad demon is upset. 'Cause you shouldn't be. I'll pay them back another day, Sally Sunshine. Maybe.'

'Return the gloves, Anya.' Is this the way to soften her? His jaw clenched. No, it wasn't, but he refused to back down.

'No.'

'Very well. I will pay for them.' Lucien dropped the coats Anya had thrown at him, gently clasped her arm with one hand and pinched the gloves with the other. His palm brushed the side of her breast. Gulping, burning up, he gathered one of every item he needed, strode to the register, and paid with the bills Paris had given him earlier.

As they walked to the door, Anya fumed at his side. 'I have to do it, okay?'

Her intensity surprised him. 'Why?'

'You have your compulsions and I have mine. I can either burn the place down or take a measly pair of gloves.'

Understanding dawned. She had her own demon to fight, a dark nature she wished to control. He knew how hard such a thing could be. 'I am sorry I took them away from you.'

A pause. A sniffed, 'No problem.'

Carrying their purchases, he exited the building and stood at the curb, waiting for her to join him. Cold air slapped at him, but he didn't pull the coat from its sack. His skin was still on fire from having Anya next to him.

He wanted her next to him again, and it had nothing to do with getting his hands on that key. A minute passed, and she did not exit. What was she doing? He turned and walked forward with every intention of reentering the shop.

The door flew open, however, and Anya emerged. Her lips curled in a smug grin. His skin heated another degree.

'I might have to dig through the ice as I search for this artifact. I need the proper tools,' he said. 'Where can I acquire them?'