At last Kane lost his air of disbelief. Forewarned is forearmed. I wont visit hell. So, problem solved.
I like where your heads at, even if its in Stupid World.
Hey
Listen. The Fates are not kind. They didnt drop you here out of the goodness of their hearts. They dont have hearts. They saw you begin the Apocalypse, and so they started arranging the dominos in a line. You will now face temptation on every corner and somehow, someway, they will get you into hell.
Before Kane could form a reply, something busted through the window, shattering the glass, rolling between them. They looked at it, then at each other. A grenade.
Oh, shit, William said, jumping to his feet.
Fire in the hole, Kane shouted, reaching for him.
They were too late. Boom!
Fire licked over himand about a thousand shards of wood and rockas intense air pressure sent him flying. Up, up he flew. Down, down he fell. When he landed, he landed on his head, cracking his skull. Kane smashed on top of him, crushing him. The warrior didnt get back up.
Damned Disaster. William knew exactly where to lay the blame for this.
Youokayman? He managed to work the question out of his raw throat.
Something hard slammed into his temple, and darkness swallowed him in one tasty bite. He knew nothing more.
WILLIAMFLOATED. A second after the thought formed, something cold and hard pressed against his razored back. Wheels began squeaking, little bumps up and down shooting fire through him, and he realized hed been laid flat on a gurney, someone carting him away. Do not groan. Do not cringe.
This one looks dead, a masculine voice said. It was unfamiliar. Fiftyish. With the raspy quality of a smoker.
No, sir. Not yet. Another male, this one young, probably early twenties. But if you think hes bad, you should see the other one. The demon.
Now that just wont do. I need them both alive.
But, sir
Do not question me, son. Do whatever it takes, but keep both these creatures alive.
A pause, an audible gulp. This one isnt a demon, though. We should
I dont care what the hell he is. He was with the other one inside that bloodbath. He deserves what he gets.
No pause this time. Yes, sir. I agree, sir.
The gurney hit another bump, a bigger bump, knocking Williams head a second time. Just as before, there was no stopping the darkness.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
The slow, rhythmic beep blended with the sound of rushing footsteps and frantic breaths. William blinked open his eyes, and gods, that hurt. It was like he had splinters under his lids and each of those sharp little pieces of wood had scraped at his corneas. When he was finally able to focus, he frowned.
A thick layer of film coated the room and everyone in it. People were rushing all around him, but he couldnt make out their features.
Were losing him! someonea femaleshouted.
His demon
I know! Im doing my best, but that may not be good enough.
They were talking about Kane. About losing William tried to raise his arms. He would help save the warrior. Only his wrists were bound to his bed, and he didnt have the strength to break free.
What the hell?
Doctor, this ones waking up.
Damn it, Im not ready to deal with him. Give him another ten ccs. Hell keep until I get this one out of the danger zone.
Something sharp jabbed at his shoulder, and his mind suddenly spun out of control.
ALL RIGHT, BIG BOY?
William fought his way out of the darkness and immediately regretted it. The pain! He ached all over. His skin felt charred, his bones as smooth as pudding and just as soft.
Thats the way. Just a little more.
His lashes parted. For a moment, the world spun. But soon, everything righted itself and he found his gaze settling on a pretty female. Fatigue had drawn her delicate features taut. She wore a white lab coat and had a stethoscope anchored around the back of her neck. Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and a pair of wire rims sat on her nose.
Youre probably wondering who I am and why youre here.
That would be a big, fat affirmative, though he could guess the answer. The Hunters had made their next move. He remembered hearing the hate in the voices of sir and company when theyd discussed the demons.
Williams gaze moved to his bound wrists, his bound ankles. They hadnt trusted sturdy rope, but had used thick, heavy chains. Next he took stock of his injuries, and he realized only a miracle was keeping him in one piece. He felt like a box full of tattered Christmas ribbons, his flesh so ripped he could see the equally ripped muscle underneath.
Well? the woman prompted.
Dont care. He had to unlock his jaw to speak, causing his temples to throb. The man No other words would form, his throat simply too raw.
Hes alive, she answered, knowing what he desired.
Thank gods. Relief speared him. He could deal with anything else she said.
I didnt want to be the one to tell you this, but you have a right to know. Your friendhes currently being transported to the deepest pits of hell.
Except that.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
KAIA HAD KNOWN STRIDER possessed a brutal streak, and shed thought she liked that about him. Now, she was pretty sure that streak was going to get him killed. Because she was freaking going to murder him! Painfully. After she drank him dry, that is.
His big plans for her? More blood-drinking. Or so she assumed. An entire day had passed since shed woken from her nap, but that was all hed let her do.
Of course, she had to ensure he regretted his choice. Had to show him the consequences of teasing her into thinking theyd kiss and touch and, well, make sweet, dirty love until their hearts exploded from the strain.
She didnt need more blood. Earlier her bones had snapped back into place and her cuts had woven back together. She was completely healed, utterly capable of a little ravishing, but every hour on the hour he would cut his wrist and hold the wound over her mouth. Even now, she was suckling, swallowing a delicious mouthful of his rich, warm blood now spiced with the sweetness of cinnamon.
The warmth spread, as it had every time hed fed her like this, tickling her nerve endings, reminding her of what they werent doing.
Just a little more, he said, his voice all kinds of husky. His forearm flexed beneath her grip.
Her eyes closed as she savored his decadent flavor, her murderous thoughts fading. Would she ever get enough of him? No, never, she decided a second later. Hed well and truly addicted her. Not just to his kisses, as shed already realized, and not just to his blood, but to his presence. His wicked smile, his warped sense of humor.
What would she do if he left her after the games as planned?
Normally she would tell herself shed find a way to keep him. She would pat herself on the back for her strength and cunning, and bask in the knowledge that she could do anything she wished. Having just survived the ass-beating of a lifetime, she wasnt quite so optimistic. Besides, what hope she did have had to be directed at the coming games.
So, by gods, she would hoard a thousand different memories of Strider. Just in case. Theyd keep her company during the long, cold winters alone, and sleep beside her during hot, sultry summer nights. No matter where he was or who he was with, she would never be without him.
In order to make those memories, she first had to seduce him. Soon. Forget revenge. Even now her body hummed for him, desperate for deeper contact. If only he would let her drink from his jugular
Shed asked, repeatedly, and hed said no, repeatedly. Did he not trust her? Or did he not trust himself? She imagined urging him to the mattress and splaying herself on top of him. Her breasts would mesh into his chest and her core would settle over his straining erection. And yes, he would have an erection. She would make sure of it.
She would rub herself against him as she drank from him. He would moan, his hands settling on her ass to move her faster, harder against him. Soon that wouldnt be enough, for either of them, and he would rip at her clothes. She would rip at his. They would be naked and
Before she could swallow another mouthful of his blood, he jerked away, removing her fangs from his vein and severing all contact. Enough, he said, panting. Youre medicated properly now.
Shed been writhing on the bed, she realized, panting herself. Had been angling toward him, her legs parting, her core desperate for him. Gods, she was already wet, aching.
He stood, walked away. He stopped and turned. Then he faced her, propping himself against the TV stand. She sat up, trembling and hot, enjoying her first full view of him since shed exited the bathroom a few minutes ago, having showered and changed into the fresh clothes Bianka had brought her. At that time, hed already positioned himself at the edge of the mattress and had merely motioned her over.
Shed thoughthopedbut no. Shed reached him and rather than throw her down and conquer Kaialand, hed tossed her down and fed her again.
As she studied him, she lost her breath. His pale hair shagged around his fallen angel face. His lips were red, as if hed chewed them. A lot. He wore a black T-shirt that read I Heart William.
William gave it to me, he said with a shrug, noticing where her gaze had lingered.
Just hearing Williams name made her snicker inside. The dark-haired charmer had a crush on her, and she couldnt wait until he realized why shed always turned him down. Shed probably laugh so hard shed pee herself!
Anyway, she didnt care about Striders T-shirt, but about the pecs underneath it. They were hard and well-defined, his nipples slightly puckereddefinitely lickable. At the shirts hem, she could see the bulge of his weapons, tucked into dark denim. That denim also covered the bulge of something else shed really like to see, but whatever.
With only the slightest twinge in her side, she pushed to her feet. I need you to be brutally honest right now, she said.
Wariness cloaked his features. Okay.
How pretty do I look?
His gaze dropped, following the line of her body. She wore a red lace halter dress that veed in the middle, all the way to her navel. The hem stopped just below the curve of her ass.
Striders pupils did that expanding thing, almost always a prelude to touching. You need to put on a pair of pants. His voice was a croak. And he did not move toward her.
This was one of those times when almost sucked the big one. Duh. As if Id go out like this. Ive got a pairright She looked around. There. She stalked to the nightstand and lifted the pants in question. A scrap of red lace spandex that wouldnt fall below her dress.
With a quick step, step, tug, she shimmied into the material and once again faced off with her consort.
His mouth hung open. We were just sitting on the bed, together, and you were just drinking from me, your mouth on my skin, and you didnt have any panties on?
You mean you didnt look? she said with a pout. No wonder hed left her so easily.
No. I wouldnt let myself.
Why?
Damn it, Kaia, he said, ignoring her. You cant just go around pantiless.
Which is why I just pulled on a pair. Were you not watching?
His eyes narrowed to tiny slits. You said pants. That you were putting on a pair of pants.
Yeah. Underpants.
Just He popped his jaw and extended his arm in her direction, waving his fingers up and down her body. Where are you going to hide weapons in that thing?
Strider, please. Give me and my girls some credit. She spread the deep V, revealing her braless breasts, her nipples flushed and beaded. Small, thin blades were strapped to her sides, just under her armpits. Weve been doing this since well before puberty.
Sweet Jesus. A strangled sound left him as she adjusted her dress back into place, and she fought a grin. The more he resisted her, the more he was going to find himself the recipient of these little peep shows.
Come on, he said, voice husky once again.
She closed the distance and twined her fingers with his, happy with the contact. Want to make out?
Sweet Jesus, he repeated. Little beads of sweat popped up on his brow. Weve got plans. Remember? Big plans. We have to be somewhere.
So blood-drinking hadnt been the only thing on his agenda. But then, sex clearly hadnt been added. Wherere we going? she asked, careful to cut the disappointment from her voice.
Youll find out. After a quick perimeter check, he tugged her into the cool night air. First thing she realized was that they were still in Wisconsin. She hadnt looked and she hadnt asked. The moon was hidden behind clouds, casting pink and violet shadows in every direction. Snow covered the ground, trees stretching upup
You cold? Strider asked.
Nah. This is nothing. Besides, body heat radiated from him, enveloping her. Any hint of Harpy or Hunter activity since I woke up? Or hell, even for the two days shed been down.
No. We hid you pretty well.
Even still, she kept her guard up. They walked several blocks before he stopped in front of a pickup and released her. Only took him three minutes and eighteen seconds to break in and gun the engine. She did not mention that she could have done it in two. His demon might view that as a challenge.
She merely said, Good job, as he threw the truck into gear and sped down the road. Now, tell me where were going because I do not like surprises. Unless they involve a man waiting naked in my bed, she added just to taunt him.
His grip tightened on the wheel and his knuckles leached of color. I talked to your sister. Taliyah. Weve got two days to get you ready for the next competition.
Wait just a sec. Youre going to train me? He thought she was so terrible a fighter she needed a few pointers? Well, why not? she thought with a bitter, inner laugh. Shed disappointed him with her loss, and she had no one but herself to blame. That didnt matter. Shock and hurt blasted her like poisoned darts. This was not the kind of memory shed hoped to hoard.