She thought the name Amun.
Goose bumps broke out over every inch of her skin. She licked her lips, her mouth suddenly flooded with moisture. See? Reaction. Always. And that wasnt good. Not good at all.
What ifwhat if she hadnt dreamed of Micah? What if shed dreamed of Amun? Did that mean Amun was a bad memory trying to surface? Or, like the visions he had showed her of her past, was he something good?
Neither made sense, really. One, in the visions, she knew the man she saw was her key to happiness, to freedom. Two, how could a demon-possessed immortal, responsible for the travesty that was her lifeand her parents and sisters deathsbe something good?
She kicked back into motion, her sure strides eating up the distance from one cell wall to the other. A better question: How could a demon-possessed warrior be the one thing she craved? The one thing she didnt think she could live without?
Live. Without. The words echoed through her mind, and she stumbled to another halt. Her stomach twisted, sharp little knots forming, cutting. No. No, no, no. She purposely kept her home and belongings sparse, her friendships casual. That way, she could pick up and leave without a moments notice or regret.
She could live without him. She could. He was a mystery right now. A mystery she needed to solve. That was all.
Another complication sprouted. If the warrior she craved was Amun, he wouldnt want her when he discovered the truth about her. The fact that hed kissed her meant he hadnt realized who she was and what shed done to his friend, Baden. When he did, he would want to kill her, not pleasure her.
But he knew you were a Hunter. You told him. Still. Easier to forgive a run-of-the-mill Hunter, she thought, than the Hunter who had helped behead his friendand planned to do the same to all the others.
Footsteps suddenly resounded. Haidee swung around, facing the cell door. She tensed, waiting, dreading. A few seconds later, the blond, blue-eyed keeper of Defeat rounded the corner and approached her prison. Bile burned a path up her throat. His pretty features were devoid of emotion, but his skin was pale, the tracery of his veins evident.
Though her heartbeat sped up, thumping erratically, she didnt back away, wouldnt act the coward.
How are you feeling? she asked, just to taunt him. Have a tummy ache?
Both of his sandy brows arched into his hairline, his eyes glittering dangerously. His gaze perused her from top to bottom, purposely lingering at her breasts, between her legs. Im feeling like I can do anything I want with you. Calmly yet brutally uttered, his threat clear. Anything.
That wasnt the answer shed expected, and she scowled at him. But then, she should have known he wouldnt simply endure her snide remarks. He always had to one-up her. So. Enough pleasantries.
Wheres the warrior? she demanded. The one I was with?
You mean Amun, keeper of the demon of Secrets? So calm, so certain. Or your boyfriend?
Secrets, hed said. Just as shed suspected. The confirmation explained so much. The knots in her stomach twisted into themselves, sharpening further. Still, she wouldnt confirm or deny what she knew. Maybe thats what you want me to believe. That hes masquerading as a Hunter, while in reality, hes really your friend. The words croaked from her. Or maybe you just want me to hate my own boyfriend. Maybe you want me to hurt him and afterward, youll taunt me, laugh at me.
Now why would I want that, huh? If hes my friend, demon-possessed like me, yet I told you he wasnt, that he was your man, you would do your best to watch over him. And I would want my friend watched over, wouldnt I? Strider propped his shoulder against the bar, and though his head was turned, his hard gaze remained fixed on her. But if he isnt, if he is your boyfriend, why would I give the pleasure of killing him to you, even for a joke?
Her chin lifted a notch, her stubborn core refusing to be cowed. Despite his sound reasoning. Why would you admit he was your friend, then? Thereby placing him in danger?
So Ive admitted hes Amun, have I?
No, he hadnt. Hed only questioned her thoughts on the matter, probably trying to confuse her. I dont care who he is. Either way, he belonged to her. That was a fact she couldnt argue, even with herself. I just want to see him, make sure hes okay.
Want, want, want. He tapped a finger against his chin. Who said anything about giving you what you want?
She popped her jaw, still refusing to show him emotion. Why are you here, Defeat?
Well get to that in a minute. First, I have some questions for you.
And I have every intention of answering them, she said, sugar sweet.
You will if you want to see yourman again. The last was gritted, as if the prospect bothered him.
You just told me I wouldnt get what I wanted.
No, I didnt. Think back. I asked you who said you would.
True. Bastard. But would he honor his word? The Lords of the Underworld were not known as givers in her world. After you just taunted me with never seeing him again, you expect me to believe youll escort me back to his room if I give you answers you wont believe anyway? Or bring Amun here, she thought, but didnt say the words aloud. No reason to put ideas into his head if they werent already there.
He shrugged. Youre right. I was merely taunting you. Can you blame me, though? You bring out the worst in me, and I struck back.
She wanted to yell at him to continue but remained silent, waiting.
So, he prodded. We gonna do this? Answers in exchange for a little sightseeing?
Yes, she gritted out. She had no other recourse. He might be lying, but she was willing to risk Hunter secrets on the hope that hed follow through. And thats what he would demand, she thought. Secrets. Lets hammer out a few details before I start spewing info. When will you take me to him? A few years from now? She wouldnt put such a trick past him.
A muscle ticked below his eye. Ill take you immediately following our conversation.
As if youll keep your word, she said, raising her chin another notch. She might be willing to risk everything, but that didnt mean she would be stupid about it. The terms needed to be laid out flat, ironed and starched. Just in case. To do that, she would have to provoke him. Some things had to be offered without her prompting.
His eyes narrowed to tiny slits, the top and bottom lashes catching and twining. Challenge me, then. Challenge me to keep it.
Like that. Had she challenged him on her own, he would have punished her. Is he even alive? Even asking, she wanted to cry. You can live without him, she reminded herself. She just didnt want to.
Oh, God. He already meant that much to her? Despite who and what he might be? Despite how he would hate her?
Yes, Defeat said. He is. Though his condition has worsened.
Her heart thumped against her ribs. How many questions? There has to be a limit.
He gave another negligent shrug. Five. And your answers had better be truthful.
How will you know if they are or arent? she almost asked, just to taunt him as hed taunted her, but she didnt. The outcome of this was too important. All right. II challenge you to take me to see MicahAmunafter I answer five questions honestly. If he punished her for the challenge, anyway, it would be no more than she deserved for allowing him to trick her.
Defeats pupils gobbled up his irises as he jerked his head once in a stiff nod. I accept. His hands fisted. Satisfied?
Shed seen that reaction before, recognized it as what hed claimed. Acceptance. Im as satisfied as I can be in a place like this.
Those pupils continued to grow, as if shed said something provocative. And maybe she hada virile man would see her words as an invitation to satisfy her physically, and this man was more virile and invitation-happy than mostbut it had been unintentional. She wasnt attracted to Defeat. He was beautiful, yes, but he lacked Amuns intensity. She also wanted to throw up in her mouth a little every time she looked at him.
Whats your first question? she demanded.
He didnt hesitate. What the hell are you?
She didnt pretend to misunderstand. Im human.
Fast as lightning, he struck out, his fist pounding into the bar and rattling the very foundation of the cell. Already youre lying. You can materialize weapons out of thin air. Thats not something humans can do.
She gave no reaction to his fury. If I can, why havent I produced one since being here? And I promise you, I would have sliced your throat from end to end if Id had even the slightest opportunity during our trek.
Now a muscle ticked in his jaw, but at least he didnt strike out again. An easy boast, almost believable. Maybe you just wanted a ticket into this fortress.
To do what? Expedite my torture?
You were Bait once. Maybe youre meant to be Bait again.
Then you were an idiot to bring me here, she lashed out.
His nostrils flared with the force of his renewed fury, but he said nothing else.
This is getting us nowhere, she said, as calmly as she was able. The weapons didnt simply materialize when we were in the jungle. I hid them from you until I found the opportunity to use them. And that was the Gods honest truth. That, and youre kind of a dumbass.
He exhaled, the breath seeming to drain his fury. Well, thats an improvement over stupid and idiot.
Gentle, amused teasing. From him. Shocking. Or was he trying to throw her off balance? I answered. Honestly. So, second question.
The gentleness faded, only a single thread of the amusement remaining. If youre human, how are you alive? I watched you die. Which is a nice way of saying I fucking murdered you!
Ive been reanimated. She didnt mention how or how many times. He hadnt asked. Thats two. Next.
He shook his head. Not done with that one yet. If youve been reanimated, and Im guessing thats just a fancy way of saying you were brought back to life, a god aided you. Only a god has the power to reanimate a body after a beheading. And even then, Im not sure its possible.
Silence enveloped them. He stared at her pointedly. She stared back.
Well? he demanded, spreading his arms as if he were the last sane man in the universe.
Well, what? You didnt ask a question.
The muscle in his jaw started ticking again. Who aided you?
Aided was not the word she would have chosen. Cursed, maybe. A creature very much like you. I think. I didnt see it, only know I had a reaction to it the first and only time it touched me. And thats all she would say on the matter. Even if he asked for more. Thats three. Next. Why hadnt he asked her about the Hunters?
Rhea, then, he said, as if that explained everything.
Haidee schooled her features, unwilling to show him the depth of her confusion. Rhea, the supposed queen of the Titans? Haidee had heard of her, of course. A small group of Hunters even worshipped her. But why did Defeat assume the woman was responsible for Haidees curse? Or infection, as the Bad Man had called it? Two more questions to go. Better make them good.
When I saw you withhim, kissing hed almost said a name, she realized, but had managed to stop himself in time were you interested in him as a man or as a possible escape route?
Of everything Defeat could have asked, why that? Why the hell do you care?
His traced the tip of his tongue across the seam of his lips. I dont believe our bargain involved explanations on my part.
Fine. The man.
There was a beat of silence before he gave her a reaction. A flash of that fury, quickly gone.
Hes always been the gentle one, you know, Defeat said almost absently. Hes rarely ever displayed a temper. Has never hurt one of his friends. And he would be horrified to know what he did to me. As soon as he realized what hed said, what hed admitted, he scowled at her, as if the confession was her fault.
She pretended not to notice. You have one more question. And did I forget to tell you that if you lied to me, I would personally reacquaint your spine with a shard of glass?
He stared at her for a long while, studying, searching for something. Whether he found it or not, she didnt know. Then he spoke, soft, gentle. Why did you help kill Baden, Haidee?
She sucked in a breath. Of everything he could have demanded to knowhow dare he ask that? As if he didnt already know the answer. As if he hadnt rallied to destroy her, all those centuries ago. As if he would enjoy hearing her pain and her heartbreak.
Just like that, all the hate inside her exploded to the surface, and she stomped to the bars, placing herself within striking distance. She didnt attack him but dared him to attack her.
He didnt move, just continued to stare at her.
Why did I help kill him? She threw the words at him as if they were weapons, and maybe they were. Because he took what I loved most. And dont try to lie and say he didnt, that Im confused, or misremembering. I saw him. I was there.
He
Im not done! Why else did I help kill him? Because he represented what I despised most. Because he deserved what I did, and he knew it. He wanted me to do it. And not once, not once in all these years, have I ever regretted it.
Again, silence. Those blue eyes glittered far more dangerously than before as he reached inside his pocket. Haidee expected a dagger to the stomach but still didnt back down. Physical pain might dull her emotional anguish.
He merely keyed the lock. The cell door swung open, the hinges squeaking. For some reason, you calmedour boy before. Hes worse now, and we need to know if you can calm him again.
Him. Amun. So, she thought, furious all over again, Defeat had meant to take her to the warrior all along. She hadnt had to answer a single question. Shed been tricked, just not the way shed thought. What a fool she was. And what is it, exactly, that I calm him from? How is he worse? What the hell did you do to him?
Im going to take you to him, the demon went on, ignoring her. Either he was unaware of her volatile emotions or he just didnt care. But if you harm him, Haidee, I will kill you. And Ill make it hurt in a way you cant even imagine.