The husband must have found out and killed her accomplices.
Demon animal, the guy whod checked his pulse muttered as he straightened. A booted foot slammed into Kanes stomach, rubbing a few of his organs against his spine.
Kane willed his eyelids to remain shut. Willed his muscles to remain lax. Meanwhile, Disaster churned in his head, now a seething cauldron. Not yet, he repeated. If they planned to cart him to Stefano, he could finally, at long last, destroy the bastard, taking out as many of his enemy as possibleeven if it meant taking out himself, too. Thats what hed planned to do here, anyway. A change of location hardly mattered on that score.
Of course, when Kane kicked it, his body would no longer be able to contain the evil inside him and his demon would be unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. Disaster would escape, crazed, hungry, desperate to create tragedy after tragedy.
That had happened to Kanes friend, Baden. Hed diedbeheaded by Huntersand his demon, Distrust, had roamed the earth unfettered. Perhaps that was why nations had fought each other for so long. They always suspected the other of foul deeds and even fouler intentions. Perhaps that was why so many marriages had failed over the years.
Then, not long ago, the Hunters had somehow managed to find Distrust and pair the demon with a new host, one of their choosing. A female. She had yet to challenge the Lords, probably still too lost to the evil inside her to do more than moan and writhe and beg for relief.
Diego? someone muttered.
Yeah, a man with a slight Spanish accent replied.
You ready?
Yes, sir. There was a nervous tremor to the words.
Markov, Sanders, hold his arms. Just in case he wakes up before he dies. Billy, cut deep and cut fast. Theres no room for error.
Im not stupid. Weve gone over this a thousand times, was the belligerent reply from the man whod kicked Kane.
Yes, we have, but this is go time, our one and only chance. If we arent careful, his demon will escape the cave before Diego can absorb it.
O-kay. There would be no waiting, no reaching Stefano, Kane decided. They were going to murder him and try and pair his demon with a Hunter, thinking to control Disaster and use the demon to fight for their cause. To destroy his friends. To rule the world.
Cue evil overlord laugh, Kane thought dryly, then sobered. This was serious business.
Get ready, he told his demon.
The churning quickened, quickened, and the entire cave shook. Just a little. Just enough to cause dust to plume in the air and pebbles to fall from the ceiling, thudding on the ground.
Whats that?
Doesnt matter. Just hurry. Lets get this done. Knife?
Here.
Strong hands suddenly gripped Kanes arms and flipped him over so that he was lying on his back. Those same hands pushed, hard, pinning him in place. Kane didnt wait a second longer.
Now!
The shaking increased swiftly, the falling pebbles becoming falling boulders. Boom, boom. Boom! Someone screamed in pain. Kane was released. There was another scream, a round of curses.
Finally, Kane opened his eyes. Just in time, too. A boulder was heading straight for him. He rolled out of the way, coughing as his mouth filled with dirt and debris. The abrupt movement tore the stitches riding the curve of a rib.
His gaze panned his surroundings in one swoop. He was in a cave, just as hed suspected, though it was more spacious than he would have believed possible, branching in several different directions. No wonder the Hunters had so easily overpowered his original captors. Not even an army could protect itself from ambush here. There were too many places to hide.
The Hunters scrambled for cover. The shaking continued and the rocks rained down. Another scream, a grunt. The crunch of breaking bone.
Kane lumbered to his feet. Thats the way, buddy. Keep at it.
Dont let him escape, someone shouted.
Got him in my sights!
Crack.
A sharp pain lanced through his leg. A dark curse left him. Someone had shot him. He hurried to one of the darkened enclaves, dodging the boulders along the way. More shaking, more boulders. Soon he would be trapped. If he wasnt already. But there was no way to stop a disaster of this magnitude once it had started.
He honestly didnt mind the prospect of dying. Hed almost died a thousand times before and had long ago prepared himself for the eventuality. At least he was taking these Hunters with him. Not that Kane would give up without trying to save himself. His warrior instinct would allow nothing less.
He searched the shadows for a way outsaw the barest crack of light to the right. Not stopping to think, he dove for it, jerking at the rocks, widening the airy space, ignoring the twinges of pain shooting through him.
Kane!
William? He stilled, stiffened. Shit. Shit! If he killed his friend
Crack.
Human! William shouted angrily. Someone must have shot at him. Youre gonna hurt for that.
Boom, boom, boom.
Get out of here, Kane shouted. Run!
Kane, damn it! Where are you? I didnt knock Nurse Ratchet out and travel all the way down here to my least favorite place just to play hide-and-seek with you. Get your ass over here!
Kane pushed to his feet, inhaling more dust. He raced out of the safety of the enclosurejust in time to see William grab a Hunter by the throat. He wasnt paying attention and didnt see the massive rock descending on him.
And because Kane was watching William, he didnt see the massive rock descending on him.
SWEET SUNRISE, THAT was amazing.
Paris rolled away from the grinning, panting female and her glistening sweat-sheened body to peer up at the ceiling. As hed hoped, Arca hated Cronus and hadnt minded betraying the god king. As hed dreaded, shed had a price Pariss body, his demons scent arousing her the moment he stepped inside her chamber.
Hed just spent the past hour pleasuring her in a way he was sure shed never been pleasured. She had enjoyed every second of his attention, while he had loathed himself, his actions.
You do what you have to do.
He hadnt had to worry about interruptions. The spacious bedroom was hidden in the back of the harem. A bedroom Arca couldnt leave. Cronus had actually cursed her so that she would experience utter, absolute agony if she stepped outside the spacious boundaries of her home. And having learned from the mortals and their mistakes, the king had ensured there were no windows for the goddess to utilize.
Clearly, the king had thought it was better to deprive Arca of sunlight and fresh air than to chop off her long, silky hair.
She propped herself up on her elbow and stared down at him, white braids draped over her shoulder. Well?
Yes, that was indeed amazing, he said automatically, as hed said to a thousand others.
Her smile slowly waned. You could at least try to sound convincing.
Sighing, he studied her. Hed been with countless others over the centuries, and she was by far the loveliest. But appearances mattered little to him. What was a beautiful face when a monster could very well lurk beneath? All that mattered was how the other person made you feel, inside and out.
He doubted Arca was a monster inside. She had spent so many years in captivity, both on earth and here in the heavens, that she should have been warped, a shrew at the very least, but when hed strolled inside, she hadnt yelled at him. Hadnt fought him. She had peered at him with wide blue eyes, clasped his hands and smiled, so lonely and desperate for attention, any attention, that shed caused his chest to constrict.
And when hed tried to question her about Sienna, when she had shaken her head and said, After, already lost to the lust-haze his demon created, Paris had given in without protest.
Im sorry, he said, letting his voice dip with husky promise. Another skill hed perfected over the years. Its just, you wore me out, sweetheart. I have no energy left.
She chuckled and fell beside him, snuggling into his side. Cronus wont find out, I promise. So if you want to return to me
He remained silent. He couldnt sleep with her again. His demon wouldnt let him. Even if he spent hours kissing and touching her, his cock would remain flaccid and useless. Always did around anyone hed already bedded, and really, Paris wouldnt have wanted a repeat, anyway. He felt guilty enough, sleeping with anyone other than Sienna.
Hed had her and he could have her again. He could get hard just thinking about her. Which was why everyone hed nailed after her was like a slap in her beautiful face. Like she wasnt good enough for him. Like she couldnt satisfy him. But he couldnt save her if he died and he really would die if he remained celibate.
Plus, he felt guilty for another reason. These lovers of histhey didnt want him, not really. If not for his demon, they might not have ever slept with him, might have turned him down flat, found him unattractive, whatever. So, in a way, he was forcing them to be with him.
As always, his mind cringed away from the thought.
Whats wrong? Arca asked. You tensed up.
He forced himself to relax and rubbed her arm up and down, a gentle caress. Earlier I mentioned a woman. A slave, killed and in soul form, and now possessed by a demon. Wrath. Her soul is invisible to the naked eye. He tried not to reveal his own sense of desperation. Do you know of whom I speak?
She twirled a braid around one of her fingers. Yes. I remember. You want to know where Cronus is keeping her.
Easy, steady. Do you know the answer?
I havent heard anything, no.
He closed his eyes, fighting a rush of disappointment and regret. Hed thoughthed hopedhed been so sure
But, she went on, I do know where he kept prisoners he couldnt control, people he didnt want anyone to find, before his imprisonment in Tartarus.
Tell me. The words rang out with more force than hed intended.
Ill do better than that. Her arms tightened around him, and she trembled. Ill show you.
His stomach churned. Cant alienate her. You know that isnt possible, sweetheart, he croaked. You have to stay here.
But She sat up again, expression tight as her braids fell around them, framing them. Please. I have to leave. I cant stay here any longer. I hate it, and Im slowly going insane. Please.
He cupped her cheeks, trying to be gentle. Tell me where to find this secret place and once my mission is done, Ill come back for you. Ill find a way to save you.
Tears pooled in her eyes. That could take forever. You could die.
I know and Im sorry, but thats all I can offer. He couldnt save her now. He couldnt try and free her now. That would alert Cronus. The god king would come gunning for him and Sienna would be lost to him forever.
If Paris lost his head, if that was his destiny, he first wanted to move Sienna somewhere safe. Shed died because of him. Shed been paired with a demon because of him. Because hed brought her to the god kings attention. Paris owed her.
I could aid you, Arca said. Not just find the place for you, but help you navigate the secret corridors.
I know, sweetheart, but that doesnt change my mind.
Please
He didnt tell her that feminine pleas held little sway with him. How many had begged him to remain in bed with them? How many had cried as he walked away? Im sorry, but this is the best I can offer.
And if she wouldnt tell him what he wanted to know, if she continued to refuse him, he would hurt her. Hurtkillanyone who got in his way. Anyone. Hed come so far. She wouldnt stop him from going further.
For a long while, she sobbed silently. Then she bucked up on her own, squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin, the stubborn expression reminding him of Kaia.
How was Strider handling the female determined to bring him to his knees? Either the possessive warrior was fighting his attraction or hed finally given into itotherwise he would have been here, right beside Paris, meeting the terms of their challenge.
Do you swear youll come back for me after you find her? Arca asked.
Yes. I swear. When shes truly safe, I will come. The moment he spoke the words, he was bound to them. He knew it, felt the strength of the ties. To break your word to a god or goddess was to suffer eternally. If you survived.
She wiped at her tears. All right. Ill tell you what you wish to know. If Cronus has remained true to his old ways, and believe me, I know that he has, you will find your woman in one of two places. If shes in the first, shes lost to you forever. If shes in the second, and you venture there, you wont emerge unscathed.
Sienna was not in the first and that was that. The name of the second place?
As the words left her lips, his blood chilled. Breath abandoned him. Hed known Cronus would punish her for running to Paris, but he hadnt known the god king planned to torture her eternally.
Paris unfolded himself from the bed and dressed as swiftly as possible.
Will you still go after her? Arca asked.
Yes, he replied without a moment of hesitation. He was more determined now than ever.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
KICKED OUT OF HEAVEN and straight into hell, Kaia thought darkly. Or rather, her version of hell. And she hadnt even gotten to enjoy her afterglow!
A campfire crackled in front of her, orange flames twined with blue. Heat licked over her. Shed never truly cooled down after making love with Striderremembering, a shiver slid the length of her spine and she had to cut off a moanand she was glad. She liked the heat. Mostly because of the lingering hum of satisfaction herconsort had provided.
Consort.
Currently Strider was scouting the area for Hunters. Didnt take two hours to scout a small stretch of land. He was looking for the Paring Rod, no question. He wouldnt find it. Not here. Juliette wasnt foolish enough to hide the thing under her makeshift mattress.
So badly Kaia had wanted him to acknowledge the link between them. So badly shed wanted to touch and taste him. Wanted to be touched and tasted by him. That she had, that he hadgods, she was now scared to death. Because