Thats what I thought. With a flick of his wrist, Sabin drove the stone home. Her heart thundered in her chest, nearly cracking her ribs. Gradually the glass liftedliftedsoonsoonAnd then there was nothing between her and Sabin but air. The scent of lemon and mint strengthened. The coldness shed grown used to gave way to a blanket of heat that seemed to wrap around her.
She smiled slowly. Free. She was truly free.
Sabin sucked in a breath. My gods. Youre incredible.
She found herself stepping toward him, reaching out, desperate for the contact shed been denied all these months. A single touch, thats all she needed. And then she would leave, go home. Finally.
Home.
Bitch, Chris shouted, struggling against Cameos hold. Stay away from me. Keep her away from me. Shes a monster!
Her feet halted of their own accord, and her gaze swung to the wretched human responsible for all the distress, all the anguish, shed endured for the past year. Not to mention what hed done to her cell mates. Her nails elongated to razor points. Tiny, seemingly gossamer wings sprang from her back, ripping at the cotton, fluttering frantically. Her blood thinned in her veins, rushing through every part of her, fast, so fast, and her vision tunneled to infrared, colors fading as body heat became her only focus.
In that instant, she realized shed never had any sort of control over her beast. Her darker side. It had swirled inside her all along, mostly quiet as it waited for the opportunity to strike
Only Chris, only Chris, please gods only Chris. The chant rang through her mind, hopefully penetrating the bloodlust of her vengeful beast. Only Chris, leave everyone else alone, attack only Chris.
But deep down, she knew there would be no stopping the death toll now.
CHAPTER THREE
FROM THE FIRST MOMENT Sabin had seen the lovely redhead in the glass cell, hed been unable to remove his gaze from her. Unable to breathe, to think. Her hair was long and curled wantonly, blond streaked with thick locks of ruby. Her eyebrows were a darker auburn, but just as exquisite. Her nose was buttoned at the end, her cheeks rounded like a cherubs. But her eyesthey were a sensual feast, amber with striations of sparkling gray. Hypnotic. Black lashes spiked around them, a decadent frame.
Halogens hung from hooks in the walls and drowned her in bright light. While that would have revealed anothers flaws and did in fact expose the dirt streaking her skin, it gave her a healthy glow. She was petite, with small, round breasts, narrow hips and legs long enough to wrap around his waist and hold on through the most turbulent of rides.
Dont think like that. You know better. Yeah, he did. His last lover, Darla, had killed herself and hed vowed not to get involved again. But his attraction to the redhead had been instant. So had his demons, though Doubt wanted her for another reason. It had sensed her trepidation and had purposely targeted her, wanting inside her mind, pouncing on her deepest fears and exploiting them.
But she was not human, theyd both soon realized, and therefore Doubt had been unable to hear her thoughts unless she voiced them. That didnt mean she was safe from its evils. Oh, no. Doubt knew how to size up a situation and spread its poison accordingly. More than that, the demon relished a challenge and would work harder to learn this girls nuances and ruin any faith she might have.
What was she? Hed encountered many immortals over his thousands of years yet he couldnt place her. She certainly appeared human. Delicate, fragile. Breakable. Those amber-silver eyes gave her away, though. And the claws. He could imagine those digging into his back
Why had the Hunters taken her? He feared the answer. Three of the six newly liberated females were clearly pregnant, which brought to mind only one thing: the breeding of Hunters. Immortal Hunters, at that, for he recognized two sirens with scars along the column of their necks where their voice boxes had obviously been removed, a pale-skinned vampire whose fangs were gone, a gorgon whose reptilian hair had been shaved and a daughter of Cupid who had been blinded. To prevent her from ensnaring an enemy in her love spell, Sabin supposed.
How cruel the Hunters had been to these lovely creatures. What had they done to the redhead, the loveliest of them all? Though she wore a tiny tank and skirt, he could see no scars or bruises to indicate mistreatment. That didnt mean anything, though. Most immortals healed quickly.
I want her. Intense fatigue radiated from her, yet when shed smiled at him in thanks for freeing herhe could have died from the sheer glory of her face.
I want her, too, Doubt piped up. You cant have her. Which meant he couldnt either. Remember Darla? As strong and confident as she was, you still managed to break her down.
Gleeful laughter. I know. Wasnt it fun?
His hands fisted at his sides. Fucking demon. Eventually everyone caved under the intense worries his other, darker half constantly threw at them: You arent pretty enough. You arent smart enough. How could anyone love you?
Sabin, Aerons cold voice called. Were ready.
He reached out and motioned the girl over with a wave of his fingers. Come.
But his redhead had backed herself against the far wall, her body trembling in renewed fear. Hed expected her to beat feet, despite his warning of the consequences. He hadnt expected thisterror.
I told you, he said gently. We mean you no harm.
Her mouth opened, but no sound emerged. And as he watched, the golden glow of her eyes deepened, darkened, black bleeding into the whites.
What the hell is
One minute she was before him, the next she wasnt, gone as if shed never been. He spun, gaze scanning. Didnt see her. But the only Hunter still standing suddenly belted out an agonized screama scream that halted abruptly as his body sagged, collapsing on the sandy floor, blood pooling around him.
The girl, Sabin said, palming a blade, determined to protect her from whatever force had just slain the Hunter hed planned to interrogate. Still he did not see her. If she could disappear with only a thought like Lucien, she would be safe. Out of his reach forevermore, but safe. But could she? Had she?
Behind you, Cameo said, and for once she sounded more shocked than miserable.
My gods, Paris breathed. I never saw her move, yet
She didntdid shehow could she have Maddox scrubbed a hand down his face, as though he didnt believe what he was seeing.
Again, Sabin spun. And there she was, back inside her cell, sitting, knees drawn to her chest, mouth dripping with blood, atrachea?clutched in one of her hands. Shed rippedor bitten?the mans throat out.
Her eyes were a normal color again, gold with gray striations, but they were completely devoid of emotion and so faraway he suspected the shock of what shed done had numbed her mind. Her expression was blank, too. Her skin was now so pallid he could see the blue veins underneath. And she was shaking, rocking back and forth and mumbling incoherently under her breath. What. The. Hell?
The Hunter had called her a monster. Sabin hadnt believed it. Then.
Sabin stepped inside the cell, unsure of what to do but knowing he could neither leave her like this nor lock her back up. One, she hadnt attacked his friends. Two, swift as she was, she could escape before the window closed and do serious damage to him for breaking his word.
Sabin, man, Gideon said, grim. You might not want to rethink going in there. For once, a Hunter was lying.
For once. Try once more. Know what were dealing with here?
No. Yes. Shes not a Harpy, the spawn of Lucifer who did not spend a year unfettered on earth. I havent dealt with them before and I dont know that they can kill an army of immortals in mere seconds.
As Gideon couldnt tell a single truth without soon wishing he were dead, his entire body wrapped in agony and riddled with suffering, Sabin knew everything he said was a lie. Therefore, the warrior had encountered a Harpy beforeand he clearly didnt mean the word in a derogatory senseand those Harpies were the spawn of Lucifer and could destroy even a brute like himself in a blink.
When? he asked.
Gideon understood his meaning. Remember when I wasnt imprisoned?
Ah. Gideon had once endured three months of torture at Hunter hands.
One didnt destroy half the camp before a single alarm could be sounded. She didnt take off, for whatever reason, and the remaining Hunters didnt spend the next few days cursing the entire race.
Hold on. Harpy? I dont think so. She isnt hideous. That little nugget came from Strider, the king of stating the obvious. How can she be a Harpy?
You know as well as we do that human myths are sometimes distorted. Just because most legends claim Harpies are hideous doesnt mean they are. Now, everyone out. Sabin began tossing his weapons on the ground behind him. Ill deal with her.
A sea of protests arose.
Ill be fine. He hoped.
You might not be
Oh, shut the hell up.
Shes
Coming with us, he said, cutting Maddox off. He couldnt leave her behind; she was too valuable a weapon, a weapon that could be used against himor used by him. Yes, he thought, eyes widening. Yes. And shes coming alive.
Hell, no, Maddox said. I dont want a Harpy anywhere near Ashlyn.
You saw what she did
Now Maddox cut him off. Yes, I did, and thats exactly why I dont want her near my pregnant human. The Harpy stays behind.
Another reason to eschew love. It softened even the most hardened of warriors. She has to hate these men as much as we do. She can help our cause.
Maddox was undeterred. No.
Shell be my responsibility, and Ill make sure she keeps her claws and teeth sheathed. Again, he hoped.
You want her, shes yours, Strider said, always on his side. Good man. Maddox will agree because you never pressure Ashlyn to go into town and listen to conversations Hunters might have had, no matter how badly you want to.
Eyes narrowed, Maddox popped his jaw. Well have to subdue her.
No. Ill handle her. Sabin didnt like the thought of anyone else touching her. In any way. He told himself it was because shed most likely been tortured, used in the most horrendous way, and might react negatively to anyone who tried, but
He recognized the excuse for what it was. He was attracted to her, and a man attracted couldnt turn off the possessive thing. Even when that man had sworn off women.
Cameo approached his side, attention riveted on the girl. Let Paris deal with her. He can finesse the cruelest of females into a good mood. You, not so much, and we clearly need this one in a perpetual good mood.
Paris, who could seduce any woman, anytime, immortal and human alike? Paris, who needed sex to survive? Sabins teeth ground together, an image of the couple flashing through his mind. Naked bodies tangled, the warriors fingers gripping the Harpys wild fall of hair, bliss coloring her expression.
Would be better for the girl that way. Would probably be better for them all, as Cameo had said. The Harpy would be more inclined to help them defeat the Hunters if she was fighting by her lovers sideand Sabin was now determined to have her help. Of course, Paris couldnt bed her more than once, would eventually cheat on her because he needed sex from different vessels to survive, and that would probably piss her off. She might then decide to aid the Hunters.
Bad idea, all the way around, he decided, and not just because he wanted it to be.
Justgive me five minutes. If she kills me, Paris can have a turn with her. His dry tone failed to elicit a single chortle of laughter.
At least let Paris put her to sleep as he did the others, Cameo persisted.
Sabin shook his head. If she were to wake early, she would be scared and she might attack. Ive got to get through to her first. Now get out. Let me work.
A pause. A shuffling of feet, heavier than usual as the warriors were carrying the other women out. And then he was alone with the redhead. Or strawberry blond, he supposed the color was called. She was still crouched, still mumbling, still holding that damn trachea.
Such a bad little girl, arent you? the demon said, tossing the words straight into the Harpys mind. And you know what happens to bad little girls, dont you?
Leave her alone. Please, he begged the demon. She cut through our enemy, preventing them from searching forand findingthe box.
At the word box, Doubt cried out. The demon had spent a thousand years inside the darkness and chaos of Pandoras box and did not want to return. Would do anything to prevent such a fate.
Sabin could no longer exist without Doubt. It was a permanent part of him and much as he sometimes resented it, he would rather give up a lung than the demon. The first he could regenerate.
Just a few minutes of quiet, he added. Please.
Oh, very well.
Satisfied with that, Sabin stepped the rest of the way inside the cell. He bent down, placing himself at eye level with the girl.
Im sorry, Im sorry, she chanted, as though she sensed his presence. She didnt face him, though, just continued to stare ahead, unseeing. Did I kill you?
No, no. Im fine. Poor thing didnt know what shed done or what she was saying. You did a good thing, destroyed a very bad man.
Bad. Yes, Im very very bad. Her arms tightened around her knees.