Is he? Another cruel laugh. Do you not think he will slay you the moment he no longer has need of you? Besides, if you do not bring us his head, your enemy will. And they will receive our prize.
Striders eyes widened, another answer finally sliding into place. This was why Galen would try for Cronuss head. This was why Danika had predicted what she had.
They couldnt allow Galen to curry favor with these beings. The consequences could be too greatfar greater than pissing off Cronus. Shit. Damn it! Fuck. No curse word seemed strong enough.
Why do you want him dead? Strider asked. As Sabin always said, knowledge was power. Perhaps in the answer, they could find redemption.
The creatures teeth gnashed together. He has made us slaves and we will not tolerate such a fate. Surely you understand.
Understand, yes. For too long, hed been a slave to his demon. But there was no redemption in her answer. These beings were determined. They would not be swayed.
What would happen if they were freed? Roaming unfettered? Nothing good, that much he could guess.
You need time to think, she continued. Time we will grant you. And to prove our magnanimous intentions, we will even give you another gift. Enjoy. I know we will.
Her eerie, smiling face was the last thing Strider saw before he and the others found themselves transported to another location, a jungleHunters suddenly surrounding them.
CHAPTER EIGHT
OLIVIA AND LEGION circled each other. When the little demon had lunged, Olivia had jumped out of the way, and Legion had slammed into the wall. Now, Olivia studied her foe. Shed seen this type of beinga minion, also known as a demon servantdefeated before. All angels had, even those whose sole purpose was to bring peace and joy to the world. But of course, shed never fought one herself.
Destroying them had never seemed like much of a battle for the warrior angels, though. Not really. They had merely stretched out their arms, their swords of fire appearing. Once those flameswhich hadnt been created in hell, but had instead sprung from her Deitys mouth, his breath far hotter than the blazes all demons so lovedmade contact with scales, the demons disintegrated. This, well, this would not be anything like that.
Kaia and Cameo were still on the ground, still writhing, their skin now a light shade of green. As an angel, Olivia would have been able to soothe them, taking their pain into herself and dispatching it. But trapped as she was in this feeble body, she could do nothing.
Nothing but watch. And fight.
If she hoped to survive, she needed that which shed never experienced or embraced before: fury. That was what strengthened humans, after all. Wasnt it? They seemed to expand, destroy, defeat when they hosted the emotion.
Sowhat made her angry? Her time in hell, definitely.
Though she would rather have plucked out her eyes, Olivia allowed the memory of her time in hell to play through her mind. The flamesthe stinkthose oozing, roving hands Sickness churned in her stomach, fear and disgust blending with that first spark of fury. After that, instinct took over and her shock at Kaias and Cameos mistreatment joined the fray, numbing the fear. Only, thankfully, the fear.
You die thisss day, angel.
Her hands curled into fists. Im strong. You can never be with Aeron the way you desire, demon, she said, knowing the truth in her voice had to be distasteful to a creature raised among liars. I tell you this not to be cruel, but to
Ssshut up. Ssshut up! Legion swung out her arm, claws bared.
Olivia bowed her back, leaning out of reach. Without her wings to balance her, she stumbled and nearly fell to the floor.
Aeron lovesss me. He told me ssso.
Most of her fury drained, and there was nothing she could do about it. Compassion was hardwired inside her, as was the need to give happiness rather than heartbreak. They desired the same thing, she and Legion. And its true. He loves you, but he doesnt love you as a man loves a woman. He loves you as a father loves his daughter.
No. A stomp of a foot. A hiss. Ill marry him one day.
If that were the case, I probably wouldnt have given up my entire way of life to come here and save him. I wouldnt have wanted to be with him. She spoke as gently as she was able. Emotionally wounding the demon wasnt her goal. For whatever reason, Aeron did like thething. But Olivia knew how demons operated and knew Legion would berate and undermine her unless she was made to understand. Already Ive slept in his bed, curled into his side.
Legion didnt accuse her of lying. How could she? Angels never had the need, and the little fiend knew it. Rather, she stopped and gaped at Olivia, her breathing choppy, shallow. More poison dripped down her fangs.
You want what you cannot have. You envy, you crave. Thats your nature, Olivia said, and I understand that nature better than I ever did before because that is the very reason I am here. I envy, I crave. But what you dont realize is that your leaving hell to be with Aeron has sentenced him to death. You are the reason I was sent to him. You are the reason I was ordered to kill him. You are the reason another assassin will be sent in my place. She drew in a breath. You are the reason he will die.
No. No! Ill kill the next dirty angel just like I plan to kill you now.
That was the only warning Olivia had. One moment Legion was in front of her, the next she was on top of her, and they were fallingdown, down. Olivia took the brunt of the impact, her skull cracking on the ledge of the hearth and oxygen shoving from her lungs like a heat-seeking missile. Bright lights winked over her vision, but not enough to obscure the teeth descending toward her neck.
Lysander had begun training her for her new warrior duties the very day that golden down appeared in her wings, so Olivia knew to jam her palm into Legions chin and shove, grinding the demons teeth together painfully.
Shed never relished the thought of battling demons. Especially when Lysander told her that warriors had to distance themselves from their task completely, leaving only a hardened determination to take down their prey. Could she?
A shock of cold bloomed in her fingers and spread up her armsinto her chestand that cold numbed more than fear this time, destroying what little remained of her fury, right along with the compassion and disgust.
Yes. She could, she realized. Shocking.
Do what you must, a voice whispered through her head. You are angel. She is demon. Let your instincts guide you. Let your faith flow through you.
For a moment, she thought Lysander was beside her. But then Legion growled, snapping her from her sense of relief, and it didnt matter. Olivia was ready. Rather than using emotions she had no experience with, she allowed that which was natural to her, faith and love, to consume her, as the voice had instructed. This was true strength.
With a flick of her arm, she tossed Legion across the room. The demon slammed into the wall and slid to the floor. All the while, those red eyes remained narrowed on her.
Up. Now.
Olivia jumped up and pressed her back into the hearth. The new position limited her range of motion, but she needed something to balance her when
Legion sprang at her.
Olivia ducked and once again the demon hit the wall. As she ricocheted backward, plaster dusted the air, filling Olivias nose and making her cough. Still, she didnt hesitate to kick out her leg and propel Legion to her bottom. Faithshe could win this. Lovegood against evil. The heel of Olivias foot must have somehow cut past those scales because crimson seeped from the demons breastbone.
I will not allow you to hurt me, demon.
You wont be able to ssstop me.
Again Legion leapt up. Again she threw herself onto Olivia, clinging like a vine. Teeth snapped and nails clawed. Olivia punched left, right and forward, working one knee between them to preserve some distance, but barely managing to keep herself upright. Legion shifted her head from side to side to avoid impact, but she wasnt always successful. A cheekbone cracked. Her nose broke.
Across the room, glass shattered. Then a dark winged figure was there, wild gaze searchinglanding on the still-struggling women. Aeron. Their eyes met, and time suddenly seemed suspended. His lips were pulled back in a tight scowl, and his tattoos were so black they were like shadows on his skin.
A bubble of excitement burst through her and Olivia lost her focus. Her hand collided with the demons mouth, an area shed been avoiding; Legion took full advantage and bit, those razor-sharp fangs cutting deep, thick poison dripping straight into her veins.
Olivia screamed. The burn, like acid and salt and fireoh, Deity. Her hand was turning to ash, surely. But when she looked down, she saw the flesh was merely cut and bleeding, a little swollen.
Olivia, Aeron shouted, rushing to her.
Her knees gave out and she slid to the floor, no longer able to hold her own weight. She clutched her hand to her chest, breathing suddenly too difficult. The pain was just too intense, like having her wings ripped out all over again.
Before, during the fight, stars had winked over her eyes. Now she saw black spots and they were a thousand times worse. They grew and intertwined, ruining her sight and leaving her in a dark void of solitude and pain.
What did you do to her? Aeron snarled, cutting through the illusion of aloneness. And even though he was angry, she welcomed the intrusion.
Pro-protecting myself, Olivia managed to work past trembling lips.
Not you, he said, and this time his tone was gentle. Callused fingers smoothed over her brow, just as gentle, brushing her hair out of the way.
Despite the agony still blistering and sizzling in her hand, she offered him a weak smile. Aeron might not have wanted her to stay in the fortress, might even have run from her, but on some level he cared about her well-being. Hed bypassed Kaia and Cameo and come straight for Olivia.
Her newfound confidence had not been misplaced.
There was a shuffle of footsteps. Then, Aeron, my Aeron. Ssshesss nothing. Leave her and
The only one leaving her will be you. I told you to stay away from her, Legion. I told you not to hurt her. Aerons hands fell away from Olivia and she moaned, bereft. You disobeyed me.
Butbut
Go to my room. Now. Well talk about this later.
Silence. Then a sob. Aeron, pleassse.
Dont argue with me. Go. Clothing rustled. He must have turned away from her. What did she do to you, Olivia?
H-hand, she managed to work past chattering teeth. She still felt as if she was on fire, and yet, now she was as cold as ice. Bite.
Those strong, callused fingers returned to her, only this time, they circled her wrist and lifted her hand. Probably to inspect the injury, but that didnt matter. The action increased the velocity of her blood-flow, which increased the intensity of the pain, and she whimpered.
Ill make it better, he promised.
Others were bitten first. Help them, then me.
He didnt reply. Instead, he fit his warm lips around her wound and began sucking. In this, he was not gentle. Her back arched and another scream ripped from her. She tried to jerk from his clasp but he held tight, sucking, sucking, and then spitting. Sucking, sucking, spitting.
Gradually, the pain ebbed. The burn cooled and the ice melted, and she slumped against the floor like a doll. Only then did Aeron stop.
Now Ill take care of the others, he said, voice hoarse.
The black faded from her vision, and she watched fuzzily as he strode to Cameo and gave her the same treatment, sucking the poison from the wound in her neck and spitting it out. When the warrior woman finally stilled, sighing in relief, he turned his attentions to the Harpy.
As he was spitting out the last mouthful, the bedroom door burst open and two warriors rushed inside. Paris and William. The two searched the room, weapons drawn. Paris wielded some type of gun. William, two blades.
Whats going on? Paris demanded. Torin texted us that you busted through Kaias window.
Great timing, Aeron replied dryly.
What? William said, all innocence. We did you a favor, taking our time. We thought you were playing kinky sex games.
I willkill thatfucking bitch! A scowling Kaia lumbered to her feet. She bit me. She fucking bit me!
Ill deal with her. Aeron rose, as well. His expression was bleak but no less determined. Not you.
Kaia pointed a finger into his chest and lifted to her tiptoes, but that still didnt place them nose to nose. No, youll baby her like you always do.
Ill deal with her, he repeated firmly.
Hold everything. I missed a four-way chick fight. Then I find out someones been nibbling. Williams attention shifted to Olivia, who was still lying on the floor. Please tell me our sweet little angel is the biter. Itll make me want her ever so much more.
Aeron growled low in his throat, closed the distance and crouched beside Olivia. Get out of here, Willy. Youre not wanted or needed.
I beg to differ, William huffed.
Rather than allow Aeron to kill you, Ill explain what happened on the way out. Cameo scrubbed a hand down her face before holding out her arm expectantly.
William just arched a brow. A frowning Paris strode forward, clasped her hand and tugged her upright.
Thanks, she muttered with an irritated look to William.
He shrugged. Youre not my type, so I dont feel the need to help you.
She rolled her eyes. Every womans your type.
That should have made everyone in the room laugh, but tragic as Cameos voice was, everyone cringed.
Aeron scooped Olivia up. Good thing. All energy had abandoned her. Her muscles were still trembling, reminding her of the aftershocks of an earthquake. Without a word to the others, who hadnt left as planned, he carted her into the hall.
Every time I stumble upon you, youre injured, Aeron said.
True, but she wasnt going to ask him to stay away. I suppose I should thank you for saving me.