Really? Eager, Olivia pushed to her feet, crossed the room and swiped up as many of the fuller bottles as she could hold. The liquid swished inside, different scents drifting to her nose. Apples, pears, lemons. Dark spice. Giggle juice is what Ive always called it, she said, and Ive always wanted to try it.
Nows not your chance. Dont you dare pour any down my throat.
That would be my pleasure. After tipping one bottle over Gideons lips while he gulped back mouthful after mouthful, then draining the rest of the contents herself and nearly chokingit didnt taste as wonderful as shed hopedshe reclaimed her seat and flipped open the book, unmindful of the page.
The words blurred slightly.
She gripped her breasts and squeezed, she read. Interesting. Just as he had done earlier. Her nipples throbbed all the more, wanting his hands. A whimper escaped her. Normally she would have hated herself for making such a sound, but now, this moment, she was owned by her passion.
I know the feeling, Olivia thought. Sadly, she might not know it again.
She started on another bottle.
AERON PUSHED HIS WAY INSIDE the fortress, his hands drawn into tight fists. He didnt look around or head to the kitchen even though he was starved. He started pounding up the steps.
Wherere you going? Cameo asked, keeping pace beside him.
To find Olivia. To question her. He wouldnt kiss her as hed been craving these past few hours, thinking about her rather than searching for Nightmares. Worrying that he was becoming obsessed with her in the same way hed once been obsessed with killing Danika.
Only, he didnt want to kill Olivia.
He wanted to finally finish what theyd started in his bed. Yes, theyd both come, but he hadnt sunk inside her. He hadnt taken her all the way.
Still. Hed already soiled her, hed decided, by spilling his seed on her belly. Hed already earned Lysanders wrath. Not that he cared anymore. Not that the angel had come gunning for him yet. So what other harm could making love to her cause?
Just like that, his focus switched. Rather than question her when he found her, hed strip her. There you go again. Thinking about her rather than taking care of business.
Didnt help that his demon had yet to shut up. If he heard the word more one more time, he was going to erupt in a blood-craze all his own.
Concentrate. Question her. Yes. Thats what hed do. No stripping her. Unless her clothes were too tight, then he would be doing her a favor, removing them and helping her breathe.
Concentrate, damn you. Question. Her. Shed predicted that he would be unable to find Shadow Girl. Nightmares. Scarlet. Whatever. And shed been right. How had she known the girl would seemingly vanish without a trace?
Looked like he needed her, after all, he thought with a scowl. That didnt mean hed keep her, though. Definitely not. Strip her, however
He punched the wall.
Wow. You like her that much? Cameo said, incredulous. I mean, I know youre fooling around with her, but Ive never seen you this keyed up over a woman.
I dont want to talk about her.
Fine. Dont.
But if you insistI dont understand her and its driving me insane. He rarely shared his problems with his friends. They had enough to deal with. But just then, he didnt know what else to do. He needed help. Before he lost himself completely.
At the landing, he stopped and Cameo did the same. He scrubbed a hand down his face. Shes making me feel things Ive never felt before and want things Ive never wanted before. Cronus has to be teaching me a lesson. Thats the only explanation for her effect on me. No other woman had ever come close to tying him up like this. I never should have dared the god king to send me a female I would chase. Except Ive hardly had to chase her, so she cant be the one Cronus sent to me. Gods, this makes no sense. Something has to be wrong with me.
Cameo patted his shoulder, her expression understanding even through the misery etched there. She opened her mouth to respond, but an echoing feminine sob stopped her.
They shared a confused look before Aeron kicked back into motion. He recognized that rich, sexy timbre, even in its sadness, but the sound hadnt come from his room, or the one next to it.
Masculine laughter abounded next, and he scowled. Gideon. Laughing. That should thrill him, with as much pain as Gideon had recently endured. Thrilled was not what he felt, however.
Aeron rushed around the corner and into his friends bedroom. There was Olivia, lying directly beside Gideon, her head buried in his shoulder as her body shook. Gideon, the insensitive prick, was still laughing.
Whats going on? he demanded, rushing forward. And no, it wasnt jealousy pouring through his veins like fire. It was rage. Rage that Olivia was bothering his injured friend. Yes. Rage. At Olivia. He didnt want to stab Gideon in the heart with one of his daggers. Someone better explain before I do something well all regret.
Mine, his demon growled.
Better than more, he supposed.
Aeron? Olivia met his gaze briefly before turning her watery eyes away from him. She even reached up and wound her arms around Gideons neck, holding on for dear life. Her tears soaked his shirt, her body again shaking violently. Oh, great. Now hes angry.
If you hurt her Aeron snarled. Okay, fine. He wanted to stab Gideon.
Hed never purposely hurt one of his friends. Had he fought them? Yes. Bashing each others heads into walls was merely a healthy way of blowing off steam. But Sabin had once stabbed him in the backliterallynot to blow off steam but in real anger, and hed vowed never to make his friends feel that kind of betrayal.
Now, though, he didnt think hed be able to help himself. And he wouldnt be able to blame his demon, either. There were no vile images flashing through his mind, no desire to punish a sinner. There was just more of that blinding rage.
You dont care about this woman. Youre getting rid of her at the first opportunity, he reminded himself, even as he scooped her up. Her sobs intensified, and she tried to hold on to Gideon.
Aeron shook her loose. Gideon! Answer me. What happened? What did you do to her?
Everything. Shes just a very happy drunk. Gideon gave him an unapologetic grin.
Pure, sweet Olivia drunk? Worse, someone other than Aeron had corrupted her?
Rage, yes. The dark emotion spread. Surprise, as well. And a jealousy he could no longer deny.
Oh, Aeron, Olivia said between gasping hiccups, finally deciding to seek comfort from him rather than his friend. Its so terrible. I have no wings and youre determined to kick me into the streets, alone and desperate. Legion was so mean, and for a few minutes, I was angry. Ive never been angry before. Not really. I didnt like it. And I know so much and could help you more than you realize, but you dont want my help. Maybe Lysander was right. Maybe I need to go home.
He recalled how bloody shed been when hed found her, those wings freshly removed. He recalled how much pain shed been in when Legion had bitten her. Guilt replaced every other emotion inside him. He shouldWait. Go home?
You can go back? he asked her, astonished.
Mmm-hmm. Sniff, sniff. In fourteenno, ten days. Im losing count. You told me I was sick for three, right? But if I do return, Ill be forced to kill you. Thats the only way theyll welcome me back into their fold.
So if she returned home, shed still have to kill him. Or try to. He could live with that. Hopefully literally. She would be out of reach, away from his dark influence and hurtful urges, safe from harm.
I can take care of myself, Olivia, he said, and she burst into a fresh round of sobs.
You shouldnt always have to, Aeron. Someone needs to protect you the way you always protect others.
This was how she would kill him, he mused. Through tears and kindness. Already there was a sharp pang in his chest. Hed always been the protector, the one to keep others safe. That someone else wanted to care for him was nearly irresistible. Get some rest, he told the still-grinning Gideon before striding out of the room.
Thats when he heard Wrath moaning in his head, as upset as Olivia was. Mine. Hurt. Better.
Im doing my best. I may not be able to fix anything you listed, but if you finally tell me what the demons did to you, I can make that better. Remember how?
Olivia rubbed her forehead against his slightly stubbled jaw. With a kiss.
Yes. His grip tightened. Gods, he was a giver. Tell me.
Sniff, sniff. No. I dont want to.
Did you tell Gideon?
No.
So. Even drunk, there was no chance shed spill. He could have pushed, but didnt. No more tears. Please, gods, no more tears.
Inside his bedroom, he eased her onto the mattress. She peered up at him, her eyeballs practically spinning. Do you wanna have sex now? she asked, then hiccupped. I think I gave my panties to Gideon, so Im good to go.
You gave your panties to Gideon? And he accepted them? Incredulous, Aeron fought the urge to check under her skirt, then fought the even stronger urge to return to Gideons room and finally attack.
I did, and he did. So are we going to do this or not?
Sadly, he was tempted. Even with her swollen eyes and splotchy skin, she looked enchantingand beddable. His body still craved her, and no one had ever needed comforting more. Not that he knew how to comfort anyone. But she deserved better than a drunken first time.
Go to sleep, Olivia. In the morning at which point sheand he?only had nine days before he ensured she returned home we have a lot to discuss.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
LEGION BATTLED TEARS as she raced through the fires and screams of hell. Once her home, now her hated refuge. She was on all fours, galloping like a lowly animal, a position she knew well. It kept her close to the ground, beneath notice, and increased her speed. Plus, it was the only position allowed for someone like her. Were she to stand and walk, every High Lord within reach would feel compelled to punish her for such impudence.
And speaking of High Lords, they were all around her, torturing the human souls that had been sent here to forever rot. They were laughing, loving every bit of the blood and the pain and the vomit.
Aeron didnt care that she was here, a place he knew she despised, either. Not anymore. How could he? He had protected the angel. Her enemy. He had then saved and, worse, comforted that angel.
Why? Why hadnt he tried to protect Legion? Why hadnt he saved and comforted her? The tears began to fall, and laced with poison as they were, they stung her scales.
When she reached a hidden alcove of shadow and stone, she stopped, stood and pressed her back against a jagged, blood-splattered wall. She was having trouble catching her breath, and her heartwhich was now broken in half, damn that Aeronpounded sharply.
The long length of her forked tongue emerged, and she wiped away a few of the tears. While the tart poison would have sent anyone else to their knees, sobbing and begging for mercy, it merely stung anew. So badly shed wanted the angel to die from that poison, but it hadnt happened. Aeron had been too determined to save her, and what Aeron wanted, Aeron found a way to get. Always.
What was she going to do? The first time shed seen Aeron, chained and hungry for blood, shed loved him. Hed been fighting that hunger, had even hated himself for it, and never before had she encountered anyone who preferred to save rather than destroy. Shed thought, He can save me.
In a mere heartbeat of time, shed decided to live with Aeron. To marry him. To sleep in his bed every night and wake up next to him every morning. Instead, hed had his friend Maddox build her a bed of her own. Still, shed wanted to be everything to him. Had known all she needed was time.
Yet time was not a luxury she had anymore. She couldnt return to their home because hed invited the angel to stay. That stupid, ugly angel, with her long curly hair and cloud-pale skin. Legionand every demon, reallycouldnt remain in the presence of such goodness for long. It hurt. Truly hurt. Somehow eroding everything they were, destroying them little by little.
Aeron didnt hurt, though, she thought darkly. How could he? Hed welcomed the bitch. Maybe Wrath had lived among humans for too long to react to the angel as a normal demon should. Maybe Wrath was buried too deeply inside Aeron.
Either way, Aeron should have cared about Legions pain. But he hadnt. Just like he no longer cared about her. Hed sent her away.
Whats wrong, sweet child?
Legion gasped at the sudden intrusion, peering wide-eyed at the newcomer. She hadnt heard him approach, yet he was now in front of her, as if hed simply materialized. Or had been waiting, invisible, all along.
A tremor rolled down her spine. She would have scrambled away, but the rock behind her stopped her. Bad, bad, bad. This was so bad. A visit she couldnt hope to survive.
Leave me alone! she managed to work past the sudden lump in her throat. A lump that held a thousand whimpers.
Do you know me? he asked smoothly, completely unoffended. Or seemingly so.
Oh, yes. She knew him. Hence the whimpers. He was Lucifer, brother to Hades and the prince of most demons. He was evil. True, undiluted evil.
Sweet child, hed called her. Ha! He would stab her in the back the moment she turned away from him and laugh while doing so. Just for funsies, as Anya would say. She swallowed.
Well? He snapped his fingers and in the next instant, they both stood in the center of his throne room. Rather than stone and mortar, the walls of Lucifers palace were composed of crackling flames. Its a simple question. Do. You. Know. Me?
II do. Yesss. Legion had been here only twice before, but the first time, during her birth into this realm, had been enough to convince her that she never wanted to return. The second time, she was brought here for punishment. Punishment shed earned for refusing to torture a human soul.
Concentrate, Lucifer snapped.
She blinked and forced herself to focus. Plumes of black smoke wafted from the floor, the walls, even the throne atop the dais, curling around her like fingers of the damned. There were screams trapped inside those plumes, and those screams taunted her.