What are you? A wuss? Stop weaving poetry.
Anyway. When Kaias Harpy took over, her eyes went completely black, death swimming in their depths. But, if he were still being honest, even that was sexy.
Gwen and Kaia shared the same button nose, the same cherub cheeks. Same stubborn chin. Yet somehow Kaia was sin incarnate and Gwen was innocence walking. Made no sense. Even still, the resemblance affected him, heating him up.
He willed his body to remain unaffected. Sabin would fuss if Strider sported a hard-on around his precious. And of course, fuss meant Strider would find his intestines wrapped around his neck, breathing a thing of the past.
Bring it, he thought.
Defeat chuckled, startling him.
On edge, he waited for a challenge to be issued. It never came. Sweet gods above, hed have to be more careful. No more close calls.
What was he doing here, anyway? He should be in the heavens with Paris. He should be in Nebraska with William, torturing the family who had abused Gilly, a human theyd befriended. He should be out there killing Hunters. He should be in Rome, bargaining with the Unspoken Onesmonsters who were chained inside an ancient temple, desperate for freedom.
Hed given them one of the four godly artifacts needed to find and destroy Pandoras box. A relic the Hunters were searching for, as well.
The Unspoken Ones had the Paring Rod and the Cloak of Invisibility, and the Lords had the Cage of Compulsion and the All-Seeing Eye. So. Lords 2. Hunters 0. Boo-yah.
Unspoken Ones werent interested in the actual artifacts, though. They were interested in what they could trade for the artifacts. Whoever presented them with the head of the current god king (minus his body) would earn the Paring Rod in return, leaving only the Cloak to claim. The Cloak Strider had once owned but had exchanged for Haidee.
At the time, he hadnt minded making the exchange because hed been pretty damn confident the Unspoken Ones would keep the thing to bargain with him later. Still was. Hed have to pay through the nose, he was sure, but that was better than allowing Haidee to escape him and reveal his secrets to her Hunter friends.
And hed meant to go back long before now, but losing her to Amun had knocked Strider on his ass for over a week, his demon a writhing, seething cauldron of pain.
Maybe that was why hed been unable to let go of the idea of being with Haidee, he mused now. The echoes of that pain. Maybe that was why he still resisted Kaia.
Dont think about her anymore, you nutcase. Youll start foaming at the mouth. He resisted her because she would ultimately trample his pride, his well-being and probably even his will to live.
Did he really need another reminder of that?
He forced his thoughts back to the artifacts. Strider had vowed to recapture the Cloak. And he would. Soon. Because whoever found Pandoras box first would win the war, and more than he wanted Kaia, not that he was thinking about her, he wanted to win the war against the Hunters.
Talk about the ultimate victory. The pleasure he would feelgods, he could only imagine. Better than sex, drugs or rocking hos.
Anyway. Instead of all of that, he realized hed purposely cleared his plate this morning, visiting everyone, making amends just so he could leave and Shit! Not good. This was not good at all.
Just so he could leave and check on Kaia. He had to make sure she was okay. Even if that meant putting his obligations on hold again.
Dude. You cant do that. And he wouldnt. No damn way. Now that hed realized his intention, he could put a stop to it.
Why the hell are you just standing there? Sabin suddenly lashed out. State your business and leave, Stridey-Man. Youre turning Gwen into a raving lunatic.
Youre turning me into a raving lunatic! she growled, removing the bullhorn from the suitcase yet again. We dont need all this stuff.
How do you know? Sabin demanded. He scrubbed a hand through his dark hair, the gold in his eyes lighter than usual. Youve never participated in the Harpy Games before. And goddamn it, you shouldnt have to participate in them now!
You heard Bianka. Every single one of Tabitha Skyhawks daughters have been summoned. And even if we hadnt, even if only a handful of clan members had been summoned, I would still be going. Theyre my family.
Well, youre now part of my family.
Actually, youre part of my family, and as Im the General, the Captain and the Commander, you go where I go. And Im going!
Fuck. Sabin plopped onto the edge of the bed and put his head between his knees.
That bad, huh? Strider asked, doing his best to sound casual. Im not dying of curiosity. Really.
Kaia had tried to hide her fear yesterday, but she hadnt quite managed it. He had mentioned her trip, and she had trembled, paled. He shouldnt have noticed. Hed had his back to her. Except thered been a crack in her curtains, allowing him to study her reflection in the windowpane. And oh, had he studied.
She had sparkled like a diamond, drawing his eye automatically, and hed been so eager to touch her that his body had been on fire.
Harpy skinthere was nothing more exquisite. Nothing. Funny, though, that hed never wanted to stroke and taste Gwen, Bianka or Taliyah the way hed wanted to stroke and taste Kaia.
Not that he was thinking about her anymore.
Defeat uttered another of those chuckles, and Strider tensed. When the little shit made no reply, accepted no challenge, he relaxed somewhat. Damn it. What the hell was going on with his demon?
Gwen chewed on her bottom lip. Bianka told me the games are so violent that half the participants end up dead or praying for death. And once, about fifteen hundred years ago, far more than half died. Like, nearly all of them.
Strider straightened, his blood chilling. What? Why?
She didnt tell me more than that, so dont look at me like youll cut my throat if I dont fess up. Anyway, she wasnt exaggerating, Gwen continued. Oh, wait. She did tell me a bit more. Apparently the Skyhawks havent been allowed to participate in centuries because of something Kaia did, not that anyone will tell me what. No one in our clan has ever spoken of it, and I was never really around other clanswomen. Theyve always shunned us. But now, suddenly, theyre welcoming us back with open arms. Its weird, and I dont like it, but Im not sending my sisters into hostile territory alone.
Striders mind snagged on one detail only. Kaia had caused the turmoil. What had the gorgeous troublemaker done?
Oh, and one other thing. Bianka thinks this is a trap. Gwen angled Sabins head up and sank into his lap. Automatically the warrior wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. She thinks the Skyhawks, Kaia especially, will be targets, everyone out for revenge.
Kaiaa target for every Harpy with a grudge Now his blood heated for a different reason, the need to rage an inferno inside him. Men are allowed to go?
Consorts and slaves, yes, and theyre more than allowed, theyre encouraged. Blood is medicine to Harpies, and those consorts and slaves help the injured participants heal.
Does Kaia have aslave? He croaked the question. On one hand, he wanted her to have one, to be safe. On the other, he already wanted to murder the ugly prick.
Defeat snarled, no trace of amusement in the sound. Or his usual fear.
This isnt a challenge, buddy. Or was his demon upset by the thought of someone besides Strider hurting Kaia?
In a sick, twisted way, that kind of made sense. His sense of possessiveness was highly developed, with his enemies especially, but even with friends. Kaia was a bit of both.
Thankfully, Defeat offered no reply. Strider didnt need the added complication of fighting Kaia and/or anyone who challenged her. She wasnt his responsibility. She wasnt his problem.
No, Gwen finally said, sadness creeping into her tone. Kaia doesnt have a slave.
Relief, so much relief. Well find her one, then. Fury, so much fury.
No. Those strawberry-blond tresses slapped her face as she shook her head. She thinks you are her consort.
Yeah, once upon a time Kaia had said something like that to him. Hed believed that she believed, but hed also believed she was mistaken, that she was letting simple attraction confuse her. Not that there was anything simple about her attraction to him. She wanted the best of the best for herself, and he couldnt blame
Ego check. He massaged the back of his neck with his free hand. Rephrasing: she wanted someone strong, capable and handsome. Shit. Ego check, he thought again. Shed wanted someone somewhat handsome.
No. That didnt work. When a fact was a fact, there was no getting around it. Shed wanted someone extremely handsome, and he fit the bill. But
Paris was handsomer.
Handsomer wasnt even a word, damn it. Was it? Yeah, it probably was, and had most likely been coined because of Paris. So? he said with more force than hed intended.
So, she wont take anyone else, Sabin blurted. Harpies are territorial, possessive and stubborn as hell. Meaning, theyre just like you and cant compromise worth shit.
Gwen frowned. Hey!
Sorry, baby, but its true. Then, Kaia will take you or no one, he said to Strider. Thats just the way its sliced.
Which is why Gwen inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly, her gaze locking on Strider with menace. You know I love you, right?
He gave a stiff nod. Shit, shit, shit. Him or no one. A blessing and a curse. He didnt have time for this. He didnt want this. He couldnt spend any more time with her. Had already said goodbye to her.
A goodbye that had come close to rousing his demon. With every step hed taken from Kaias home, Defeat had prowled through his head, wanting to act, to pin her and take hervictory would be so damn sweetbut not allowing himself to do so. Loss would be so damn painful.
Strider had never been happier that the demons of Pandoras box were afraid of the Harpies. And with good reason. They were descendants of Lucifer, the master of all things demonic.
Plus, Defeat had seen Kaia fight. No matter what weapon she usedgun, blade, claws, fangsshe blazed through her opponents faster than the eye could track. Nice qualities in a date, sure, and definite aphrodisiacs. If your very existence didnt depend on your victories, as his did.
Strider finished off the last of his candy, and chucked the empty box into the trash bin beside Sabins desk. Swish. Two points!
Defeat purred his approval, little sparks of satisfaction shooting through Striders veins.
listening to me? Gwen asked.
Yeah, sure, he lied, gaze quickly finding her. She was no longer perched on Sabins lap. Now she stood a few inches from Strider, her legs braced apart, her hands fisted at her sides. He recognized that pose. But, uh, give me a refresher. You were saying
She rolled her eyes. I was telling you that you only have two days to take care of any pressing business you might have. Because even though I love you, Im going to make sure you attend the games. Kaia needs you, and you will be there for her. Or else.
His attention flicked to Sabin, all what-are-you-going-to-do-about-this. Sympathy filled every curve and hollow of the mans face, but there was no hint of determination or ire. Okay, so. His fearless leader would be doing nothing. Perfect.
He glared at Gwen. Dont even think about challenging me, he snapped. I wont hesitate to retaliate. Of course, one little scratch on the girl and Sabin would attack him. Hed have to go berserker on his boss, but two victories for the price of one? Bring it.
As if I would ever use your demon against you, she replied, startling him. God, I cant believe you think so little of me. She truly sounded offended. Just as he opened his mouth to apologize to her, she said, Im only planning to beat the crap out of you, tie you up and have Lucien flash you to where the first meeting is being held. Jeez! Cut me some slack.
Only planning, shed said. He pursed his lips. You do realize that beating the crap out of me and tying me up would be, what? Using my demon against me. The loss would destroy me.
Oh. Her features fell. I hadnt thought that far ahead. Then she raised her chin, reminding him of Kaia all over again. Ill still do it, though. Just make this easier on yourself and agree to go with her. Please.
Begging doesnt work on me. Neither does crying, just so you know. Once upon a time when hed done the dating thing, hed learned that begging and crying were forms of feminine warfare. Women wanted something, and they did anything to get it.
Admirable, but it hadnt taken him long to harden his heart against such wiles. Or to decide that long-term relationships simply werent for him. As easily as hed learned about his partners ploys, theyd learned about his.
He had to win, and they always tried to use that to their advantage. How many times had he heard some variation of, Bet you cant spend the whole day with me and like it? Countless.
Well? Gwen demanded. Yes or no? Easy way or hard way?
How long? he gritted out.
Four weeks, she replied, clearly hopeful.
She could have said eternity, so emphatic was his reaction. Four weeks. Four damn weeks with Kaia. Feeding her, protecting her, guarding her with his body if the opportunity presented itself.
His cock twitched with eagerness. This isnt something to look forward to, you idiot. Hed guard her with his body if circumstances demanded. But even with the rephrase, this had trouble written all over it. Getting in and getting out as swiftly as possible was his M.O. now, and one that worked for him. No one had time to learn his quirksor use them against him.
Kaia, though, she already knew, and she never hesitated to challenge him. Part of him liked the thrill of that, yeah. You couldnt win if you never entered the game, and she was all about the game. On the flip side, you couldnt lose, either.
What about our war with the Hunters? he asked Sabin. If there was anyone who liked winning as much as Strider, it was Sabin. Dude would have sold his mom on eBay just to fund a battle. If hed had a mom, that is.