The Darkest Secret

Amun’s, but in the best possible way. The Harpies were so open, so honest about their mischievous nature, they were a delight to be around. At least for Amun. For a while, he’d even considered pursuing Bianka’s twin sister, Kaia. War had gotten in the way. Speaking of angels, you should know that your precious Galen isn’t one. He—

«Okay, let’s agree right now not to talk about your friends or mine,» Haidee interjected angrily. «It’ll only make us angry with each other. We should focus on the mission.»

So she considered Galen a friend of hers? Of course she did, he thought next, and wanted to punch something. The leader of the Hunters wanted every Lord of the Underworld — excluding himself — dead and buried. Because of Baden, Haidee had to be a prize among prizes for the keeper of Hope. Or was it possible Galen didn’t know who she was?

Amun’s teeth gnashed together — he was doing that a lot lately — grating the top layer into a fine powder, but he nodded. Very well. There will be no talk of our friends.

«I just, I don’t want us to fight,» she said. «And just so you know, Galen isn’t a personal friend.»

«Time is up,» Zacharel’s hard voice proclaimed before Amun could reply.

At the vocal intrusion, he whipped around, at the same time moving in front of Haidee to act as her shield. The door was still closed. He frowned — until the angel simply stepped through the wood, a backpack dangling from his hand.

He’d possessed the ability all along, yet had only now opted to reveal it. Why?

«I will take you to the place your journey must begin,» Zacharel said. As with all angels, there was an undeniable layer of truth in his tone, and Amun couldn’t doubt a single thing he uttered. «But know that Lucifer is angry that he was thwarted in his quest to destroy you and yours through Legion, and will be out for eternal blood. Be wary, trust nothing and no one.»

I never do.

«Except, perhaps, each other,» the angel added.

Amun glanced over his shoulder, and he and Haidee shared a look.

Zacharel nodded in approval. «I can promise you that your last journey through the underworld was nothing compared to what you will soon face. In reparation for his role in Legion’s freedom, Cronus has returned it to its former glory.»

Why would he—?

The angel held up his hand, halting Amun’s tirade. «It was either that, or return Legion.»

He made the right choice, then.

«Let’s see if you still agree when you get there. Monsters you’ve only heard whispered about, you will soon encounter.»

Haidee stood, her cool hands flattening on Amun’s lower back. He had to bite his tongue to stop his moan of pleasure. Finally, contact. He felt as if he’d been waiting forever to feel her, any part of her, again. That she now offered comfort…comforted him.

Gods, he really was pathetic.

You won’t allow any of my friends to follow us? he signed.

«Correct. I will ensure you and the girl remain undisturbed by them.»

Amun took no offense. If anyone could keep the brutes here from getting their way, it was this hard-as-steel creature. Thank you.

«Now. Something else you should know.» A breeze ruffled the golden down streaked through the angel’s wings like a flowing, molten river. «With the changes, there are now six realms you must pass through before you even reach the gate — and the gate is another obstacle altogether.»

Haidee stepped to Amun’s side, but didn’t break contact. «How will we return here when we’re done?»

Zacharel’s green gaze briefly shifted to her. «Should you save Amun, you will have nothing to worry about. Should you not, you will never leave.»

The ominous warning rang through his mind. Then Amun shrugged. They would save him; it was that simple. We’ll find a way, he told Haidee.

Her hands trembled against him, but she said no more.

What about weapons? he signed. Food?

«Everything you need is in here.» The angel tossed the pack, and Amun caught the too-thin, too-light duffel with ease. «Good luck to you, warrior.»

The moment his fingers wrapped around the straps, his surroundings completely fell away. From light to murky dark, the smooth white walls were replaced by jagged stone stained with crimson splatter. Bones littered the equally rocky ground, and the temperature instantly flared hundreds of degrees — or so it seemed.

A cavern, he realized, deep in the earth. And there was no sign of Zacharel — no dainty hands on his back. Fighting a rush of panic, Amun swung around. He relaxed, but only for a second. Haidee was a few feet away, hunched over and vomiting. Beside her rested a toothbrush, toothpaste and bottle of mouthwash.

Amun closed the distance between them before he realized what he was doing. With one hand, he smoothed her hair out of the way. With the other, he stroked her back, trying to comfort her as she’d comforted him. Flashing from one location to another in a mere blink of time affected some but not others. She, apparently, fell into the «some» category. The angel must have known she would.

As strong as she usually was, the weakness probably appalled her.

The sickness will soon pass, he told her. Even as he soothed her, he thought perhaps she had infected him with a toxic mix of hunger, stupidity and unwanted tenderness — and he would never find a cure.

She spit, wiped her mouth with the back of her trembling hand. «Thank you. For not kicking me while I’m down.»

I’m not a monster, Haidee. Yet.

«I know,» she said weakly. «Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.»

She, apparently, suffered from the same toxic mix.

That did not bode well for their mission.

Chapter Thirteen

«Before we get started, let’s see what we’ve got to work with,» Haidee told Amun after she disinfected her mouth. Twice. She ducked her head as she walked away from him so that she wouldn’t have to see his expression.

He’d had his hands on her the entire time. Did he regret it? She’d vomited in front of him. Did he find that amusing? She had responded to him, goose bumps breaking out over her skin. Did he feel smug?

He offered no reply, and she experienced a wave of hurt. A wave she ignored because it was stupid. He wasn’t her boyfriend, wasn’t a tame pet dog, and was merely using her, the enemy, to stay calm.

Still. Would a «that’s smart» or «are you okay?» have been amiss? After all, she had agreed to venture into hell with him. Was actively trying to reach the fiery pit for him.

And because of that, she was alone with him, she thought, suddenly dazed by the way things had worked out. She was completely, utterly alone with the demon-possessed immortal who set her body on fire. The demon- possessed immortal who would probably try to kill her after they found a way to free him from the evil that plagued him. The demon-possessed immortal she should despise, did despise, but couldn’t convince herself to hurt, even in the smallest way.

The demon-possessed immortal she still craved.

Frowning, she crouched in front of the backpack the angel had given them. Her hand shook with the force of her nervousness as she unzipped and parted the folds. What she saw, or rather, what she didn’t see, had her sputtering.

«It’s empty!»

Pounding footsteps resounded, then Amun was crouched beside her, grabbing the pack and searching inside. She heard his growl whisper through her mind, low and rumbling.