The Darkest Pleasure

Danika.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

PARIS DROPPED TO HIS KNEES. He'd left the warriors in the entertainment room when a sense of urgency had filled him, the god king's whisper of 'Now' echoing in his mind. He'd strode to his bedroom, knowing he had to at last make a decision.

It was time. He couldn't wait any longer. He felt torn apart, raw.

Now he raised his blade high in the air, shouting, 'Cronus, Lord Titan, I am here as you bade me.' As he spoke, he slashed the knife over his chest. Deep, as deep as he could get it. Skin ripped, organs tore and blood gushed.

The pain was severe, and he nearly doubled over. But he had to prove his determination. He'd already slept with two women today. Two women he couldn't even recall, and one he had bedded only an hour before. He was sick of it. So sick.

He had spent these last few days thinking. It's all he ever did anymore. What a novelty that was for a man who had spent too many centuries to count giving in to his body and shutting down his mind. Now his mind was a constant swirl of questions and possibilities. Aeron or Sienna.

'Cronus, I beg you. Appear. One more audience, that's all I need. I—'

'Am shouting unnecessarily,' the god king said behind him. The scent of stars instantly filled the room. A hum of power charged the air, raising the fine hairs on Paris's arms.

Though he wanted to, he didn't turn and look at his guest. He bowed his head reverently, assuming the position of a servant. He hadn't decided if this sovereign truly meant him ill or if Cronus was as confused about the Lords of the Underworld as they were about the gods.

He was unsure, tentative, but he planned to proceed as if the latter were true.

'Before I make my decision, I have questions for you,' he said. 'If it would please you, I would ask them.'

'I have wondered about you many times, demon. You and your desires have presented a mystery I am determined to solve.' The thump of sandals, the swish of cloth, and then Cronus was standing in front of him. 'Ask.'

'If I chose Sienna, would I merely receive her rotting corpse?'

A warm chuckle of true amusement echoed. 'So suspicious. That is something the Greeks would have done, I am sure, wily bastards that they were. But I am a more generous soul. From me, you would receive her just as she once was. For you, she will look the same, speak the same. She will not simply be a talking dead body. She will have a heart, and it will beat.'

For you.

The words echoed through his mind and he frowned. Did those two little words have significance or was he simply looking for hidden meaning where there was none? The gods had been known throughout the ages for their tricky natures. Wily bastards, Cronus had said about the Greeks, but Paris would bet the Titans were no different.

Still, he pressed on. 'Would she hate me as she did before?'

Another chuckle filled his ears as fingers stroked the back of his neck. They were gentle, yet emitted a strong pulse of energy that sped his heart into an erratic rumble. 'Of course she would hate you. She is a Hunter. You are a Lord. But I am sure, Promiscuity, that you can charm her into love.'

Could he?

And was having her back worth the guilt he would feel at not saving Aeron when he had the chance? Reyes seemed to think so, for he couldn't keep his hands off the woman Aeron was desperate to destroy.

Paris slowly lifted his head, and his gaze met Cronus's. The king's expression was blank, seemingly uncaring. Damn it! What should he do?

DANIKA SCREAMED as Reyes leapt away from her and tackled—Aeron, she realized, wide-eyed. Terror sprouted inside her and quickly spread its limbs. She scrambled backward on the bed, the cold headboard soon pressing into her back. What the hell should I do?

The two men rolled on the floor, punching, tearing at each other's skin, biting and snarling like animals. Aeron repeatedly slashed at Reyes's neck, screaming that Reyes's head would soon roll. Twice he made contact, causing the side of Reyes's throat to bleed profusely.

Reyes was already weak. She'd stabbed him only minutes before, for God's sake. Her knife. Yes. That's what she needed. Where the hell was her knife?

Her gaze scanned…there, on the floor. So close, so far. Last time this had happened, Aeron had knocked her down and she'd stayed down. Reyes had saved her, but he'd taken a beating for his efforts. This time, she wouldn't passively watch, wouldn't run away. She would help. She'd trained to help.

She inched off the mattress as the two men sprang apart, circling each other, panting.

'She's mine,' Reyes growled.

'Belongs to the gods,' Aeron snarled. He swung around, and the razor-sharp tip of his wing sliced Reyes's cheek.

Reyes's head whipped to the side. As he straightened, he smiled. 'Not anymore. How did you escape the cell?'

'Cronus. Now was the time to act, he said. And when the gods speak, I obey.'

Legion peeked out from underneath the shadow of Aeron's wing. 'Don't hurt.'

Aeron reached up to pet the top of the little demon's head.

The creature purred, much as Danika had heard Reyes do when he was hurting. Just a little more, she thought, closing in on the weapon and doing her best to stay out of the warriors' way. The silver blade continued to wink up at her, taunting.

'Pays to have friends,' Aeron said darkly.

'I'm your friend.'

'No.'

'Aeron, I love you.'

'Not Aeron. Wrath.'

'You're Aeron. My brother of the box.'

'And yet you locked me away, even knowing how terrible such confinement is.'

'You begged it of me!'

'You should not have listened!'

Down she leaned. As her fingers curled around the hilt, she saw Reyes pale. Aeron's words must have hit their target—Reyes's guilt—and they must have cut as deeply as any sword. She straightened.

Reyes had chosen her over his friend, she realized, understanding for the first time how hard that must have been for him. These men had overcome the fires of hell together. Literally!

'I did what I had to do to protect you from yourself,' Reyes growled.

'No, you did what you had to do to protect her!' Aeron shouted, pounding a fist against his thigh. His nostrils flared, his hands clenched as he geared for another attack. 'My enemy.'

Reyes was naked, weaponless, probably afraid to approach the bed, where the other dagger lay. Most likely he didn't wish to draw attention to Danika. Again he was protecting her, no matter the danger to himself.

She licked her lips, watching as he slowly inched backward. Tremors raked her. She wanted to call out, to toss the blade she held to Reyes so he had something to use. What if her voice broke his concentration? What if Aeron used that distraction to pounce on him and cut his throat?

She'd seen firsthand how Reyes recovered from his wounds, but she knew he wouldn't be able to recover from decapitation.

Legion propped her scaled elbows on Aeron's shoulders and gazed imploringly at Danika. 'Ssstop them. No hurt Aeron.' Scaled hands stroked the warrior's hair. 'Calm, friend. Calm.'

'I'm trying,' Danika whispered. She inched forward, remaining in the shadows, blade poised and ready.