No, of course not, he said, and she began to relax. Then he added, Im not going to train you.
She wanted to rant and rail at his lack of trust and support. Shed vowed to win the next round, hadnt she? Yes, yes, she had. Her mind might have been hazed by pain, but she remembered that.
Kaia held her tongue, though. Victory was as important to Strider as it was to her. He wasnt doing this to be cruel. But damn it, even knowing why hed set this into motion, the hurt escalated inside her.
Im good enough just the way I am. A plaintive plea in her head. Why wont you do the training? she asked. Gods, was that whiny voice hers?
There was a heavy pause before he admitted, My demon.
What did the pause mean? He was lying? No, she thought next. He wasnt lying. But she doubted his demon was the only reason. And youre afraid training with me will challenge him?
Yeah. Its happened before.
Hed once told her that everything was a challenge with her and that was one of the reasons they couldnt be together. Shed thought he would soon come to see the merit in her challenges. After all, he experienced pleasure every time he won, and if he won multiple times a day because of her
So far, that mind-set had only backfired on her. He hated the pain that accompanied defeat so much, he viewed every competitor as a threat. The more she pushed him, the more he pushed away from her.
That has to change. So. Okay. She would give him what he wanted, she decided. Peace. Smooth sailing. Utter tranquility. Shed be so easy to be with, hed have more fun watching grass grow. Maybe then hed take her to bed.
Why couldnt he like her for the girl she was, though?
Why couldnt anyone?
Fine, she said on a sigh, hating herself for throwing a pity party. He was with her. He hadnt taken off. Hadnt searched for the Rod while she was too weak to stop him. Thats fine. Ill train with whoever you want.
The truck wound down the city streets, lights flashing over the windshield every few seconds. Kaia propped her booted feet on the dash and leaned as far back as her seat would allow. Her dress hiked up her thighs, revealing the edge of her panties.
He kept his gaze on the road. I didnt expect you to agree with my plan.
Did he sounddisappointed? Nah. Just wishful thinking on her part. I aim to please.
I He smashed his lips in a mulish line, shook his head. She didnt press for moreas her new plan for peace dictatedand he didnt offer it. Several minutes ticked by in utter silence. Then, Why dont I have a nickname?
That clearly wasnt what hed wanted to discuss, but she could roll. Smooth sailing, she reminded herself. Well, you havent earned one.
So what do I have to do to earn one?
Dont know. Everyones different. Its a we-know-it-when-we-see-it kind of thing.
Another bout of silence ensued, this one so tense and heavy she couldnt have hacked through it with a sword and chain saw. She had no idea what was swirling through his head.
I thought you didnt care what we called you, she said, just to shatter the tension.
I dont, he gritted out. I was just curious.
Okay.
Again with the agreeable attitude. Are you more injured than I realized?
She busied herself with plucking at her dress, trying not to let the comment get to her. Im not always a pain in the ass, you know.
Stop messing with your clothes, he growled.
She froze, not even daring to breathe. Hed still not glanced her way, yet hed known what she was doing? He was that aware of her?
Okay. Consider it done. Smooth sailing was already paying off. Fighting a grin, she settled deeper into the seat and dropped her feet onto the floorboard.
About an hour from civilization, they pulled off the highway and into the parking lot of a dilapidated shack sporting a blinking neon sign that read Crazy Abels. There were a handful of other cars there and two big burly guys stumbling from the front door.
A bar? she asked, trying not to pout. A human bar?
You get to play before you pay.
Really? Forget pouting. Excitement poured through her. You should have told me. I would have worn my slutty outfit.
His narrowed gaze swept over her, lingering on her cleavage. He parkednearly sideswiping another carand she jumped out, halfway to the entrance before hed even opened his door. She passed the still stumbling humans, grimacing at the smell of cheap beer and cigarettes. They whistled at her and changed directions to follow her.
How much? one asked.
Oh, no, he didnt. She spun around, hands on her hips, teeth bared in a scowl. What did you say?
Well pay the price, whatever it is, we swear, the other said. After. Both snickered, then the first patted the second on the back in a job well done, as if hed just negotiated the deal of a lifetime.
Before she could reply, Strider stalked over and punched them both in the back of the head. At the same time. They propelled forward, but he caught them by the hair before they could hit the ground, used his knees to slam into the back of theirs, and forced them both to kneel before her.
Apologize, he commanded, and there was so much darkness in his voice she could almost smell the fire and brimstone. Now.
Kaias heart fluttered. The men obeyed, babbling and crying. Strider lifted one and tossed him. The human went soaring and crashed into a car, the alarm suddenly screeching. The second man joined him a moment later.
Thanks, she said, fighting the urge to melt into a shivery puddle at his feet. My pleasure.
They entered the bar side by side.
THE WOMAN WAS GOING TO SLAY him with that killer body of hers. Delicious curves were wrapped in a swath of material that might not pass for a bathing suit in some countries. Her skin was luminous, but lacking its multihued shimmer. She must have covered herself with total-body makeup. Not that hed complain.
Anything that would stop other men from desiring her had his stamp of approval.
Who was he kidding? Men not desire her? That was never going to happen. No matter what she did to her skin, no matter what she wore, men would always desire her. The knowledge pissed him offand filled him with pride.
She considered Strider her consort. No one else.
Resisting her was becoming harder. And harder. Literally.
Hey, who isAnya? Gideon? Amun? And, like, a thousand others. Kaia had to shout to be heard over the blaring music. She peered up at him with wide silver-gold eyes, soft with an emotion he couldnt name. How did you get all of them here?
A man could lose himself in those fathomless depths. I asked and Lucien flashed. More like hed demanded and Lucien had dragged his feet. But who cared about details? Theyre only here for the night, though.
Sweet! One night, I can love them. Two, and I always want to kill them.
Just dont mention, he lowered his voice, first prize. Okay? Theyd be all over his case about it. What hed done with the Cloak of Invisibility would be thrown in his face. His motives would be questioned. His smarts. Theyd want to stay, want to search for the Paring Rod, steal it.
He and Sabin had already chatted. The others needed to guard the two artifacts they already had. They needed to protect the fortress in Buda. They needed to remain vigilant against Hunter attacks. If, however, the two of them failed to steal the Rod on their own before the final Harpy game kicked off, they would call for reinforcements.
Tonight, while Kaia was distracted with her training, they were going to hunt down the Eagleshields. In fact, thats what Sabin was doing right now. Peering down from the heavens, finding the seemingly unfindable. Boss man should be here any minute to drag him away.
I wont mention anything about anything, I swear. And thank you! A huge grin split Kaias red-painted lips and she clapped. Then she jumped up and planted a scorching kiss on his cheek before dashing away. Her mouth burned his flesh, perhaps imprinting his every cell.
The past few days, all hed been able to do was think about her. Shed been so pale, so still, so weak, and hed been so desperate to help her, yet unable to do more than feed her his bloodand crave. Oh, had he craved. Still craved.
Something hed realized, though, was that sleeping with her had to wait until after the games. Right now, he had to remain strong. He couldnt risk being laid flat by losing a challenge. Any challenge. Even one in the bedroom.
Once her well-being no longer depended on him, nothing would keep him out of those microscopic pants. He had to have her. Had to taste her, hear her cry his name. Hell, he planned to gorge himself on the woman, no matter the consequences. And not just once, as hed thought to limit himself before, but over and over again.
He watched as she threw herself into Amuns arms. The warrior looked tired, and there were bruises under his eyes, but he appeared genuinely happy to see Kaia as he spun her around. Gideon, the punked-out keeper of Lies, grabbed her up and hugged her tight. She threw back her head and laughed before messing up his blue hair and tugging at his eyebrow ring. How carefree she was, how uninhibited.
How mine, he thought darkly, then forced himself to add, for now, at least.
Inside his head, Defeat perked up.
Oh, no, you dont. You just stay silent, you little prick. You werent invited to this party.
A growl rang in his ears, and he recognized the sound as the war cry it was.
You want to win the Paring Rod, right? Or would you rather return to Pandoras box and rot? Because if I fail, Kaias our only hope. And if she fails, well lose the artifact. If we lose the artifact, the Hunters could use it to get their hands on the box, suck you back inside. Eternally trapping you.
Silence.
Yeah. Hed thought so. There was nothing Defeat despised more than his memories of the box, the darkness and isolation. What he didnt mention was that if he managed to steal the Rod, Kaia would hate his damn guts. Shed forgive him, though, as Juliette had forgiven her man for his dark deeds. Right?
Kye, he heard Gideon say. I wouldnt like you to meet my hideous husband, Scar. He motioned to the black-haired stunner by his side with a wave of his hand. Since Gideon couldnt speak a word of truth without experiencing debilitating pain, hed lied. About everything.
Actually, the names Scarlet, his wife replied. She was the keeper of Nightmares and when she killed a man in his dreams, he died for real. She was tall, slender and mean as hell. And in case youre wondering, I dont have a penis.
Why couldnt I have gotten that demon? Nightmares? Talk about cool.
Defeat harrumphed.
Youre a pain in the ass and you know it.
Im Kaia. Or Damn it, Kaia, as Strider likes to call me.
I do not, Strider growled. He called her baby doll. And she was. Now where the hell was Sabin? He needed out of here el pronto.
Kaia ignored him. Werent you, like, locked in the Lords dungeon not that long ago? she asked Scarlet. Too dangerous to roam free, untrustworthy, violent in the extreme, blah, blah, blah.
Yeah. Thankfully, thats what whips this one into a frenzy, Scarlet said, motioning to Gideon with a tilt of her stubborn chin.
Gideon wiggled his dark eyebrows, and Kaia chuckled, warm and husky andhell. Strider felt his body responding. So not a good time to sport wood.
Kaia was in good hands, he thought, especially since Gideons were brand-new. Bastard had gotten his old ones cut off by Hunters and had been forced to regrow a pair. At the time, Strider had flipped out about the pain his friend had been forced to endure. Now, he got a good laugh out of it. Anyway, he didnt have to worry about Kaiaor lust after her, which he would continue to do if he stayed here and watched herso he made his way to the bar, only then noticing the blonde with pink streaks in her hair and tattoos sleeving her arm. Haidee. Shit. Having her and Kaia in the same room probably wasnt a good idea.
She turned, two beers in her hands, and when she spotted him, she nodded in acknowledgment. Still she glowedand not from pregnancy as hed first assumed. No way shed drink a beer if she were. Quite simply, she glowed with love, his second assumption.
Once again, there was no pang in his chest when he looked at her and hed never been happier about that.
You shouldnt be here, he said, then told the bartender to bring him a beer.
Hurt flashed in her eyes, quickly masked.
I wasnt trying to be mean, he admitted. Just trying to protect you.
Smiling sweetly, she shook her head. Dont worry about it. Amun just returned from the heavens and there was no way I was going to be parted from him today. Especially when I might be parted from him tomorrow.
How forlorn she sounded. Why tomorrow?
I dont want to talk about it, she grumbled, losing the smile.
He lifted his hand to pat her on the back, to offer comfort. Before contact, he dropped his arm to his side. Even such a token gesture from him might make her uncomfortable, and besides, he realized he shouldnt be offering.
With their violent, turbulent history, any such offering might tick Amun off. And rightly so. Strider could imagine his own reaction if, say, one of his friends had a past with Kaiacough Paris coughand the bastard put his hands on her. Hello, rage.
In that moment, he realized he had never truly desired Haidee as a forever after. Desired her, yes, but hed never felt so strongly about her, or anyone really, that he couldnt pick up and walk away. Without regret. Without remorse. Well, Kaia was a maddening, life-and-death exception. For the time being. He needed her. He wanted her, and when the time was right, he would have her. End of story.
That thought alone consumed him with lust, abolishing every other emotion inside him.
Not now, damn it. I have to let her relax and train with the boys. By the way, he said to Haidee in an attempt to distract himself. I know you know why Amun was summoned by Cronus the other day.
Yeah. So? Her dejection eased, her features lighting with amusement. Im no longer possessed by the demon of Hate, but I still like to torment you every now and then. Besides, I knew one of your buddies would step in and share the details.