The Darkest Pleasure

grow.'

Clearly, impending motherhood wasn't the key, either. He swallowed. 'Danika,' he growled. 'Talk to me. Now. I'm angry, Danika.' Not with you, never you. But he continued darkly, 'Soon I'll be forced to cut myself. I'll bleed. And you won't be here to patch me up and make me feel better. I—'

Reyes?

Reyes blinked open his eyes. That had been Danika's voice, whispering through his mind. It had worked. It had really worked! Sweat beaded all over his skin, relief and joy spearing him. Pain lit up inside his mind like a demonic Christmas tree. 'Danika? Talk to me again.'

Oh, my God. Is that you? Really you? I've dreamed of you and prayed for you and begged for you.

'I'm here, I'm here.' Tears burned in his eyes, scalding his irises. 'I need you to pull me to you, angel.'

How? The word rushed from her, as desperate as he felt.

'Picture me in your mind. Picture your hands reaching for me, wrapping around me. You can do it. I know you can.' This has to work. Please let this work. 'You're a portal. You can—'

Something cold pushed inside him. Ice crystallized in his veins, but he didn't move. Pain was grasping for her, but couldn't seem to latch on. 'I can feel you.'

And I you, but…

The sound of her frustration echoed in his mind. 'What's wrong, angel?'

I can't get to your spirit. I'm grasping air, nothing but air.

'Grab hold of my physical body, then.' He didn't even have to finish the sentence before fingers, ghostly but firm, clutched his arms—just as cold, but solid—and jerked so powerfully he was lifted off the bed and through the ceiling. The plaster cracked and gave way, falling beneath him like rain.

He slammed into another ceiling, thought he saw Maddox rolling from his bed and reaching for a blade, a naked Ashlyn gasping. Reyes was unable to hold back a grimace.

Stop? Danika asked, his journey already slowing.

'No, no! Keep going, angel. Keep pulling. No matter what sounds I make, keeping tugging me to you.'

He broke through the roof and was suddenly surrounded by night sky. Stars whizzed past him like blasts of lightning. He was weightless…soaring…then clouds engulfed him, zooming past, brushing his skin and leaving a moist sheen.

The moon seemed to grow bigger, more golden, so close he thought he could see a crater. And then, suddenly, he broke through some sort of invisible shield, the air around him warming, turning from black to shining azure in a heartbeat. The clouds became clusters of diamonds and Reyes could see golden columns flanking a winding emerald road.

His breath caught in his throat. Heaven, he realized. He was actually in heaven, albeit as a man rather than a spirit.

Angels ascended in every direction, their wings gliding prettily. Several looked at him and gasped. Others frowned and hurried away. To warn someone? Who? Angels didn't answer to either the Titans or the Greeks. That much Reyes had learned from Danika's paintings. Reyes hadn't found a depiction of who they did answer to, though. He would have liked to have spoken to the…man? Woman? Would have requested the use of the heavenly army. Maybe one day…

He broke through another invisible wall, and then, finally, he was there, hovering beside Danika's dais. His knees gave out, and he crumpled beside her, one hand already in her hair, the other cupping her jaw. Her sunny hair was spread around her. Her skin was tinted slightly blue from the cold. She was draped in white like a winter queen. His queen.

'Gods, I missed you.' How he had longed for this day, this moment. 'I will never let you go again.'

Reyes! You're really here. I can feel you. Feel your warmth.

'Cold, angel?'

Very.

'Let me warm you.' He snuggled next to her, wrapping her body with his own and soaking up her chill. 'I love you so much.'

I love you, too. I want to see you, but I can't break free of this…sleep. I can't jolt my body awake.

He placed a soft kiss on her lips, inhaling her sweetness. Part of him had despaired of ever doing this again. Ever holding her, breathing her in. 'Do you know where Cronus is?'

Oh, yes. I always know somehow. He's with his counsel.

'Can you hear what they're discussing?'

I already know. It's what they always discuss. What to do about you. What to do about me. Where to look for his other artifacts.

'Can you bring him to us?'

Maybe. But why? I hate him. I hate dealing with him.

'Which makes me sorry to ask you to do so, but I am. Trust me, angel. Please.' He pressed another kiss against her lips, then along her jaw. 'You are able to control a physical form with your mind. When Cronus arrives, wrap your mind around him and hold him as still as you can. We will not have long. He possesses a key inside his body that allows him to break free of any prison.'

A pause. Then, All right. I'll try.

'If you can and if he has it, pry his scythe out of his hands. And know that whatever happens, I love you.' If they failed in this, Reyes knew Cronus would kill him. This was a direct challenge and no king would take it lightly or without issuing severe punishment.

'I've got him.' A moment passed. Another. Danika's small body stiffened underneath his hands. He's angry. He doesn't have a scythe; he gave that to Chaos, who he put in charge of the Underworld when he imprisoned Hades, in exchange for a human soul. A female. Hunter. I think. He has Zeus's lightning bolt.

'Keep a firm grip on the bolt, angel. Take it from him if you can.'

He's almost here. Just a few seconds more…

Cronus stopped abruptly at the end of the dais. When he spotted Reyes, he growled low in his throat. Sparks exploded in his irises as the golden bolt was ripped from his grip and tossed aside.

From this moment on, Reyes knew every word out of his mouth, every emotion that colored his features, was critical. Everything counted. Forcing a casualness he didn't feel, he eased to one of his elbows. 'So nice of you to join us.'

The god king's body shook, as if he were attempting to move. He had no luck. His arms stayed glued to his sides, his legs to the floor. 'You will die for this, warrior.'

Slowly, Reyes kicked his legs over the dais and stood. 'You're probably wondering what's going on.'

'I possess the All-key, demon. It destroys any shackle, opens any lock. You will not be able to hold me long.'

'I know.' His heart pounded like a war drum, but he smiled. 'But you are not chained. You are simply being…momentarily embraced.'

The sound of teeth gnashing together echoed between them.

'You told me to summon you when I could prove my strength.' He paused, expression pointed. 'Cronus, I summon you.'

'Do you think I will help you after this?' The king uttered a cruel laugh. 'You are very foolish, Pain.'

How are you doing? he projected to Danika.

I'm not sure how much longer I can hold him. He's very strong.

Fighting a rush of urgency, he walked to Cronus, stride unhurried. Expression still pointed. 'You will free Danika and return her to earth. To me. Together, she and I will destroy any foe who thinks to take or use her.'

'You—'

Reyes cut him off. 'In return, if she agrees, she will tell you of her dreams and the things she sees.'

'She will do that anyway,' Cronus snarled.

'Has she so far?' Reyes tried not to panic. 'If you feel she is in danger, protect her. But do it from here, while