The Darkest Pleasure

'Why?'

'You get why, my friend get free,' Legion said, forked tongue flicking out. 'He isss sssad. Me not like sssad. Ssso we trade.'

Actually Aeron appeared enraged, his gaze tracking Reyes's every move, but Reyes wasn't going to argue the point. 'I'm afraid I can't trade with you. If Aeron goes free, he will try and kill my woman. And Aeron,' he said to the warrior, 'I thought you'd like to know you didn't kill Danika's grandmother. You walked away before rendering that final blow.'

There was a hitch in the warrior's breath, a slight tensing of his large form. 'I failed.'

'Reason to rejoice.'

'I failed,' Aeron repeated stiffly.

Reyes sighed.

'Uh-oh. You make him mad.' Legion crouched, moving into an attack stance. 'You pay.'

Would no one cooperate with him?

'Settle down, boy,' Lucien told the little demon. 'We only want the best for Aeron.'

Legion hissed like a startled cat, the noise scraping at Reyes's skin. 'Me no boy. You think me a boy?'

Everyone stopped, stared. Even Aeron.

Reyes was the first to find his voice. 'You're a…girl?'

A nod. 'Me pretty.'

'Yes, you are.' Reyes exchanged a glance with Lucien. 'Beautiful.'

Aeron had yet to recover from the shock.

'I need your help…sweetheart. There is a demon in hell who was asking a damned soul about a woman,' Reyes said to the she-demon, getting them back on track. 'My woman. I think he means to hurt her. Is there anything you can tell me?'

'Oh, oh. Big newsss in hell,' Legion said, lips lifting in a proud, happy smile. He— she—turned to Aeron. 'Everyone talking 'bout it. Visssiting demon told them. Can I tell, can I, can I?'

Still silent, Aeron nodded.

'Ssshe ticket to heaven. Whichever demonsss find her, get to ussse her to essscape.'

SABIN LIMPED TO THE CENTER of the entertainment room and turned—swayed, damn it—to face the people who were scattered throughout. Some were playing pool, others watching TV. Some were drinking. Ashlyn was sitting in Maddox's lap.

'What are we going to do with the girl?' he rasped. His throat was still raw, still healing from the bomb smoke he'd inhaled.

All eyes anchored on him.

'Study her paintings,' Lucien said, cue in hand. 'That's all we can do.'

'That, and treat her well,' Ashlyn interjected.

Softhearted women were the bane of the universe. 'Now that they know what she is, Hunters will come after us more fervently now.'

'I'd think that would delight you,' Paris said, glancing up from the flesh-fest playing out on the television screen.

It would, just as soon as he healed fully. Even now he wanted to prop himself against the wall. 'We need to lock her up, put her somewhere they won't think to look.'

Ashlyn gave a firm shake of her head. 'No way.'

'Yeah, good luck getting past Reyes.' William slapped Lucien on the shoulder, though his amused gaze never left Sabin. 'Man is wicked good with knives.'

'Who invited you into this conversation?' Sabin grumbled.

'Anya,' the immortal replied with a grin. 'She said I could stay as long as I wanted. Now, will you let us finish our game or what?'

More and more, Sabin couldn't help but like the irreverent bastard. 'Anya, put a leash on your friend.'

'Why? I'm winning.'

The two returned to their game of pool, Lucien watching Anya bend over to take a shot. 'I'd rather we kill the girl than allow her to fall into our enemies' hands. She's too powerful, could perpetrate too much damage to our cause.'

No one responded. They'd already tuned him out.

Kane picked up a wine bottle, and the glass shattered. 'Damn it!'

Rolling his eyes, Sabin strode to him, grabbed another bottle and filled a glass. 'Here. So?' he demanded of the others.

Torin, who stood off in the corner, alone and out of reach, finally acknowledged him. 'Touch her, and our groups will split again. Reyes would rather die than lose her, and I would rather lose you than hurt him.'

Sabin sighed, scoured a tired palm down his bruised face. He valued these men and didn't want to lose them again. Perhaps one day they would prize him as much as they used to.

Perhaps not.

Doubt, you stupid motherfucker. I hate you!

'Then we're gonna have to push her to find the third and fourth artifacts for us,' he said, 'so that the score remains in our favor. Hunters find the other two, and the war might never end.'

HOW AM I TO KEEP HER SAFE when the king of gods, every demon in hell and all the Hunters want a piece of her?

Reyes had trouble sleeping that night. Not only because Legion's words continued to echo through his mind, but also because Danika was mere feet away. All he had to do was roll from bed, open the door separating them, and he could sweep her into his arms.

He tried not to think of the first and could not help but wallow in the second. His wounds had mostly healed, so he had the strength to claim her.

One more time.

Too dangerous, he'd already decided.

Worth a chance. She's worth a chance.

If you're gentle, you minimize the risk.

Gods, he didn't know where the thoughts originated. With himself or the demon. And did he care? Having Danika one last time, holding her, feeling her warm breath, luxuriating in her soft body, glutting himself on her sweet taste…

Fisting the sheets, he ground his teeth together. These were hazardous thoughts. Hated thoughts.

Welcome thoughts.

She was so much a part of him, he didn't like being without her. He needed her. Wasn't complete otherwise. For her own good. Better this way. Be selfless for the first time in your life. How many times would he have to tell himself that? Her family hated him and had every right to do so. They would castigate her for staying with him. Guilt would bloom inside her, and hate would soon follow on its heels.

Distracted as he was, he didn't sense the intruder until it was too late. A cold blade pressed into his neck.

He stiffened. His lashes lifted and his gaze landed on Danika. Had she been an enemy, he would have reacted less violently. As it was, his entire body shuddered and jolted. Moonlight bathed her, shining around her pale head like a halo. Her hair was loose and tumbling around her shoulders. She wore an oversize white T-shirt. His. A sense of possessiveness awoke every cell in his body.

He was rock hard.

Fight this.

'How did you escape?' he demanded.

'I've learned to pick locks since the last time I was here.'

Her stormy scent wafted to him and he couldn't help but inhale deeply. 'Go back to your family.'

'Nope. Sorry. I'm going to prove I can hurt you without suffering myself.'

He didn't give her time to cut. Quick as a snap, he grabbed her wrist and held tight, preventing her from