The Darkest Pleasure

virgin.

He inhaled deeply, slowly released every molecule. Looked away from her. 'I told you the warriors here are not human. What I did not tell you is that every warrior here is possessed by a…a demon.' There was shame in the word. 'Lucien—do you remember him?—is possessed by the spirit of Death. When your human died, he was summoned.'

I know, she almost told him, but managed to cut off the words. Except, Stefano had said the men had become the demons, not that they were simply possessed by them. Still, her shoulders sagged as relief pounded through her. Funny that she felt relief at his admission. She didn't have to hide her knowledge now.

What are you doing? her mind shouted. He didn't know that she knew, and she had to keep it that way. Relief would seem odd. So…how should she react to such an admission? Laughter? Screams?

'Demons,' she said on a broken catch of breath. What else could she say?

'Yes.'

'I—I suspected,' she said, opting for a half truth. 'Last time I was here, there were things I couldn't explain. Supernatural things.'

He nodded, and her relief doubled. 'I don't want you afraid of us,' he said. 'We are demons, yes, but we will not hurt you. Not any more than we already have,' he added wryly.

It wasn't a promise of comfort, but she wanted to lean on him, anyway, maybe confess why she was here so he could solve the problem for her. Stupid. How gentle would Reyes be if he knew the truth? That she was here to learn everything she could about him so that the information could be used against him. You're doing this for your family. Don't forget. 'I didn't see him that night.'

Leaning on his elbows again, putting distance between them, Reyes eyed her quizzically. 'Didn't see who?'

'Lucien. When that man died, I didn't see Lucien.' Questions spun through her mind at the same speed Reyes's warmth abandoned her body, leaving her cold and shivering. 'You said he was there, that he saw what I had done.'

'The human did not die in the street, but in a hospital three days later. Had he died that night, though, you still would not have seen Lucien. He is able to remain in the spirit world, unseen as he does his duty.'

She had to keep him talking. This was exactly the kind of information Stefano desired. Even as the thought filled her mind, there was a spark of guilt in her chest. Guilt? Why? Reyes and his horde deserved to be ratted out. 'How is that possible? How does he remain in the spirit world? What does he see?'

'That is not for me to answer.'

To press would have been suspicious. Right? Her mind simply wasn't functioning at optimum levels. 'You said you are all possessed. Wh-what demon possesses you?'

He stiffened, his back going ramrod straight. 'The men who attacked you, they were Hunters.'

'Hunters,' she repeated. Reyes had just ignored her question as she sometimes ignored his. Perhaps it was better that he didn't answer. Right now, she could almost pretend this was just another dream, her family was safe and the only thing concerning her was whether or not she would finish her next painting on time for her client. She could almost pretend Reyes was a normal man, here to romance her. Almost. 'Ashlyn once mentioned them, but at the time we didn't know what they were.'

'They are a league of men who want us dead. They think the world would be a better place without us.'

'Would it?' she couldn't help but ask.

His eyes darkened. 'As long as humans have free will, the world will never be perfect. We do not force them to do bad things. They do them of their own volition.' Bitterness dripped from every growled word. 'Hunters are disinclined to consider that truth, however. It is far easier simply to blame all their problems on that which they do not understand.'

What he said made sense, but she didn't let it sway her. Too much was at stake. 'Well, you willingly hunted my family. Why? Tell me this time. I deserve to know. Why did you hunt us? What does my family have to do with any of this? With you?'

'Danika—'

'I'm begging you. Tell me!'

He rubbed the spot just above his heart. 'The gods ordered Aeron—you remember Aeron?'

She shuddered, even as her heart drummed excitedly at how close she was to getting answers. No way would she ever forget that man. Soon after her—first—kidnapping, Aeron had been chosen to take her into the city to gather medicine for Maddox's girlfriend—how any woman could be insane enough to get involved with one of these warriors, she didn't know, even though she'd later come to enjoy Ashlyn's company. He'd removed his shirt, revealing a body covered in violent tattoos, and she'd panicked, thinking he meant to rape her. Of course, she had resisted him every time he'd reached for her and he had nearly beaten her for it.

Reyes had calmed her—how, she still didn't know—and finally she'd allowed Aeron to gather her in his arms. Wings had sprung from his back and he'd flown her through Budapest. Flown her. Just to find her purse and bring Tylenol to the sick Ashlyn.

Danika recalled thinking how odd the men were, a strange combination of ancient and modern. They hadn't known anything about human medicines, yet they had a plasma-screen TV and an Xbox. They dressed like warriors of old, weapons strapped all over their bodies, yet one of them constantly partied at the local nightclub. They pampered Ashlyn but sought to destroy Danika. The contradictions had confused her. Still did.

'Yes, I remember Aeron,' she finally said.

'The gods ordered him to slay you and your family.'

Her eyes widened, disbelief storming through her. 'You're lying. One, there are no gods. Two—'

'There are no demons, either, I'm sure.'

Her mouth opened and closed as she tried to form a coherent answer. Stefano had used the same logic on her. She was sure the two wouldn't be pleased to know how closely their thoughts had aligned.

'There are gods, and they do want you dead. The sooner you start believing that, the sooner you can protect yourself.'

'Fine. But why? I've done nothing wrong. My family has done nothing wrong.'

'We do not know why. I had hoped you could solve this mystery for me.'

'Sorry, but no.' She laughed again, and this time the sound was like broken glass being scraped on a chalkboard. 'I used to go to church every Sunday. I always tried to be nice to the people in my life and I never purposely hurt anyone.' A pause as the dying man's visage filled her head again. 'I can't say that now, can I? Until I met you and your friends, I liked to think that I was a pretty decent human being.'

'You are.'

Her gaze narrowed on him. 'You don't know anything about me, and I don't want you to. I want you to take me the fuck to see the man—' Realization slapped at her and her anger faded to shock. 'It's Aeron, isn't it?'

Reyes nodded reluctantly.

She nearly vomited at the thought of facing the winged warrior again, but she repeated, 'I want you to take me to see him.'

Still, Reyes's features remained calm, collected. 'I have a tray of food in my room. You know what you must first do.'

Grrr! There would be no talking him around. Determination radiated from him. 'Fine,' she said, wasting no more time. 'I'll eat.' She gripped the banister and pulled herself up. Her knees quickly gave out.

Reyes's arm wound around her waist and held her in place. That arm was hot, like a brand.

She hissed at him. Hissing was safer than purring. 'I said no touching.'

He didn't move away from her, but swept her up, cradling her against the hardness of his chest. His heart pounded against her shoulder, strong and sure.

'Let me go.' Her cheeks heated as the breathlessness of her tone registered. 'Just let me go. Please.'

'I am afraid I will never be able to let you go.'

REYES CARRIED DANIKA back to his room and eased her onto the edge of the mattress, careful not to disturb the plates resting nearby. She refused to look at him as she scooted away. She concentrated on the food,