The Darkest Pleasure

DANIKA SNUGGLED into the warmth of Reyes's body. For several hours she'd dozed on and off, lulled by the drugging satisfaction humming through her. Reyes slept like the dead and had not awakened once. Had not shifted, had not made a sound. Twice she'd pressed her ear against his chest to ensure his heart still beat.

Now she remained awake, warm and sated. Except her mind churned, refusing to settle down. Being with Reyes had been...everything she had not wanted. Perfect, wonderful, amazing, sublime. No man had ever pleased her like that.

Every heated touch had sparked a tidal wave of desire. The waves had been never-ending, hurtling her from one plateau to another. And that he hadn't allowed her to keep emotional distance between them...even now, she shivered. They had connected, body and soul, and she had secretly loved it.

One question tormented her, though. Well, besides the fact that he'd disappeared but thought she had imagined it. Maybe she had. Her climax had been so intense, she could have blacked out, dreamed he was gone and then woken up underneath him. What she wanted to know more than anything was whether or not he'd enjoyed being with her.

Unless he'd faked it, he'd come. But he hadn't let her hurt him. That's what he needed to feel pleasure. She'd wanted to do it, too. Not only so that she might have been able to purge him from her system, remembering him as the worst bed partner ever, but also because she'd wanted to give him anything and everything. Even pain. She'd wanted him to remember her as she would forever remember him.

He claimed he didn't want her tainted by the violence of his life. She'd thought she didn't want to be tainted, either. But as he'd caressed her, as his mouth had devoured her, she'd wanted to meet every single one of his needs.

Other women had hurt him as he craved. Why couldn't she?

"The Darkest Pleasure"

Danika twisted her head and gazed at Reyes's sleeping face. Soft and relaxed, the harsh lines of stress were no longer visible. His lips were lush and pink, something she hadn't noticed while his intense eyes watched her.

Carefully she reached up and brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. He inhaled more deeply, but gave no other reaction. Her heart seemed to expand, to grow so big it swallowed her ribs.

I care for him. Though she'd fought against it, there was no denying it.

He'd taken care of her, given her food and shelter and clothing. Never once, even when ordered, had he hurt her. He'd purchased paint supplies for her and created a studio just for her amusement. He'd made love to her as if she were more important to him than breathing.

His strength and courage constantly amazed her; his past fascinated her. He hadn't wanted to hurt others anymore, so he'd locked himself away. Talk about discipline. Compassion. Determination. He was possessed by a demon, and yet he had the heart of an angel. The contradiction delighted her, and she suspected she could happily spend the rest of her life learning his nuances - and there would still be more to learn.

Oh, yes. She cared. And what the hell was that buzzing noise?

Her gaze circled the bedroom, her cheek brushing Reyes's white-hot skin. His heartbeat picked up speed. The buzzing continued sporadically, but she finally pinpointed its location: her pants. That meant...

Dread cascaded through her. She was getting a call on the cell phone. Only one person had the number. Stefano. She gulped. For a moment, only a moment, she wished he had been at the club tonight. That he'd faced Reyes, that her struggle with what to do, who to help, was over. When that moment passed, however, guilt scraped at her.

Danika gingerly slid from the bed, watching Reyes for any sign of wakefulness. Still, he remained at peace, unmoving. Part of her longed for him to open his eyes, see the phone and save her from herself. The other part of her prayed he stayed just as he was. She was naked, nipples now hard from the cool air, and one look at those intense black eyes and she would melt, Hunters forgotten. She would beg for Reyes's mouth on her, his heat flicking away the chill.

Her legs were shaky as she stumbled to her pants and she almost toppled as she crouched to pull the phone from their pocket.

The buzzing continued.

Another glance at Reyes - still sleeping. What are you doing? Don't do this.

I have to. There's no other way to save Reyes.

She padded to the bathroom and quietly shut the door. Alone, she flipped the phone open. Her mouth dried as she whispered, "Hello."

Once again, Stefano didn't bother with pleasantries. "You left the fortress." A statement, not a question.

Yesterday, she'd been happy to know he was out there somewhere, watching her. Now..."Yes."

"Obviously they've released you."

"Yes," she repeated, recalling that she'd lied to him the last time they'd spoken, told him she was locked in a bedroom.

"Where are you?"

"In a bathroom."

"Alone?"

"Yes."

"Are you working for us, Danika? Or them? Have you forgotten everything I told you? For God's sake, they want to kill your family!"

The harsh question hung inside her mind like a noose, ready to hang her no matter how she replied. "You know that I - " What?

"If given a chance, they'll rape and mutilate your mother. Then your sister. They've already killed your grandmother."

She was shaking her head in denial.

"We're extracting you," he said flatly. "It's for your protection. My sources tell me the one called Aeron is nearly insane with bloodlust for you. We don't want you hurt. Unlike the Lords, we want to protect you."

Extracting her? "Wait. You want to take me out of the fortress?"

"As soon as possible."

No. In the morning, she and Reyes were traveling to Oklahoma. "No, I can't. You can't. I - "

"You have no choice, Danika. We're gearing to enter even now. While they place no value on human life, we do. We want you safe."

What? They were going to break into the fortress? There would undoubtedly be a battle, blood and death. She tried not to panic, though ice began to crystallize in her veins and a loud ringing blasted in her ears. "If you think I'm working for them, why did you call? Why are you warning me? Wanting to help me?"

"Anyone can make a mistake. They probably lied to you, convinced you they would leave your family alone if you would only stay with them, maybe help them with something. Maybe even help take us down."

Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound emerged. Everything he said made sense.

"Will you be ready?" he asked.

There could be no more stalling, no more straddling the fence, unsure of who to help and who to bring down. To her surprise, she didn't have to think about it. What he said made sense, but it didn't feel right. Sometime in the past few days, her anger toward Reyes had faded completely. Hate had been replaced by...something else. She didn't know what emotion lurked inside her, just that it was somehow at once both soft and almost violent. She would trust him to help her find her family, which meant cutting her safety net, the Hunters.

"The Darkest Pleasure"

"Yes," she lied.

"Smart girl." Stefano's relief was almost palpable. "How many Lords are inside the fortress?"

"All of them," she said, lying again. This morning, most of the men had taken off. Had Stefano seen them leave? Or had the warriors simply disappeared as Lucien had done on several occasions?

If Stefano knew the truth, he'd see the seizing of the fortress as easy. Keep lying. He might not know. She plopped onto the toilet lid, legs suddenly too weak to hold her up. She leaned forward, elbows digging into her knees. One hand continued to hold the phone to her ear, the other rubbed her temple to ward off the sudden ache. "They're heavily armed. You shouldn't risk entering the fortress. Why don't I sneak out and come to you?" She could tell Reyes where they would be waiting, and he could...take care of things.

"You aren't trained for that sort of thing. It's better if we handle this."

What could she do? What could she say to stop this?

"Think you can reach the roof without detection?"

"I - I - " Shit! "Maybe. What time should I be there?"

"One hour."

Dear God. One hour. Could Reyes contact Lucien in time? Could Lucien bring the others here? Sickness rolled through her. "I'll do my best," she said, trying desperately not to tip him off. Her voice was weak, barely audible.

"Don't disappoint me, Danika. Need I remind you what's at stake?" Stefano disconnected, and Danika closed the phone. She didn't straighten, couldn't; she was too busy trying to breathe. God, there was so much to do, and failure could cost Reyes his freedom - or his life.

"Interesting conversation."

The harsh statement assaulted her ears, and she jolted. All the blood drained from her face. Reyes stood in the now-open doorway, his expression unreadable. He leaned against the frame, one arm behind his back in a deceptively casual pose. He wore a pair of jeans he hadn't bothered to fasten. His chest was bare, the injuries and scabs gone.

"It isn't what you think. I swear."

One of his brows shot into his hairline. "So you weren't talking to a Hunter?"

She jumped up, mouth floundering open and closed.

Reyes's gaze immediately jerked from her. The arm behind his back shot forward and a second later a T-shirt was flying toward her. "Dress. Lucien is here. He wants to talk with you."

She caught the material and hastily tugged it over her head, shielding her nakedness. Her vision was blocked for less than a second, but by the time she refocused, Reyes was no longer standing in the doorway.

The shirt ended at her knees, but she still felt exposed as she raced into the bedroom. Cool air kissed her legs. "Reyes, I was helping you! You have to believe me."

She stopped short when she spied Lucien. The warrior was fully dressed, and his clothing was stained with blood. Reyes now stood beside him. Both men were staring at her expectantly.

"Look," she rushed out. "I'm supposed to learn everything I can about you. I've been trying. I admit it. The Hunters who captured me and asked me to spy for them are led by a man named Stefano. Dean Stefano. He was going to help me find and protect my family. To do that, I thought you had to be destroyed. But when I got here, I just couldn't do it. I've spoken to Stefano only twice since I've been here, but I've never given him any useful information."

"Is that all?" Reyes asked, surprisingly calm.

She nodded.

"Very well. Let's move on to another subject, then. I told Lucien what you told me, that there are other beings possessed as we are. Is there anything else you know about them?"

She held up a hand and gave a shake of her head. Why wasn't he accusing her of lying about knowing nothing more? "What are you talking about?"

"The men in prison, the ones housing the demons we released."

"Like that matters now! Will you just let me finish? Please. This is important. Life or death."

His eyes narrowed, but he said no more.

"Hunters are about to attack the fortress. You have an hour, probably less, until they arrive."

"You were painting earlier," Reyes said as if she hadn't spoken. Still, his expression gave nothing away. "Where is the canvas?"

Her gaze flicked to Lucien, then back to Reyes. What the hell? She'd laid everything on the line, admitted her crime, and that was all Reyes had to say to her? She'd told him men were about to storm his home, weapons blazing, and he only cared about her paintings?

"I would have been here sooner," Lucien said, "but souls were calling and I could not resist them. I was able to flash here for a moment, but you didn't see me. As Reyes said, you were painting. I must see that canvas, Danika."

"I'm not telling you where it is! Not until someone explains why you don't seem to care about the Hunters. They plan to capture you and suck your demons out. They're even looking for the box."

Something glistened in Reyes's eyes. What, she didn't know. It was dark and dangerous, both exciting and perilous. "Torin has the entire hillside monitored. He knew the moment they stepped onto the property, and he's already taken several out."

"The Darkest Pleasure"

Taken several out. Aka killed them. Danika rubbed her stomach in a vain attempt to calm its sudden turmoil. "So Stefano lied to me? They're not waiting an hour but have already begun attacking?"

"Yes, he lied. He didn't trust you," Lucien said. "My guess is he told you to go to the...roof?"

Dazed, she nodded.

"He told you to go there because he expected you to do the opposite. They have troops on the ground and they could have snapped you up. Now, what do you know about the box? Any small detail could be useful, but tell me quickly for I am needed outside."

Her gaze settled on him. Looking at him was easier than looking at Reyes. Gave her heart time to slow and her lungs time to expand. "I've already told Reyes everything I know about it, and that's very little."

"Do you know where it is? Where the other demon-keepers are? If they're still imprisoned?"

"No to both questions. I don't know."

"Would your grandmother?"

"You'll have to ask her." She prayed he got the chance.

Lucien's head tilted to the side. "Paris had a vision of you." His oddly colored eyes seemed to swirl, beckoning her. The scent of roses suddenly filled the room. "In it, you were cupping the box in your hands. You were smiling."

Incredulity tumbled through her, and she laughed. "That's impossible."

"If you know something..." Closer and closer Lucien stepped.

She wanted to run, but her feet were rooted in place, holding her captive. And then she didn't want to run anymore. The warrior stood right in front of her, a whisper away, and that rose-scent invaded her every cell. Her mind floated to the clouds. Utter relaxation softened all of her muscles. Whatever he says, I'll do. Happily.

"What do you know, Danika? Tell me."

"Nothing," she said, head lolling forward. She was going to fall and couldn't stop herself. Part of her didn't want to stop.

Reyes was suddenly there, his arm around her waist keeping her upright. He was strength and heat and chased away the cold. "That is enough, Lucien."

"Reyes," Lucien snapped, and it was the most callous she had ever heard the man.

"No," Reyes replied, equally harsh.

"I didn't betray you," she said. She rested her cheek against his chest, praying he believed her. She'd allowed herself to care for him. She couldn't lose him. Not now.

"I know." His fingers rubbed her hip, up and down.

"Wait. What? You know?"

"Yes."

She tossed up her arms. "Well, why were you angry with me?"

"Angry? I was not angry."

"You stormed away from me. You barely even looked at me."

"Angel," he said on a sigh. His hand lifted and he cupped her jaw, angling her to face him. "I am new to this sense of...caring. I hated that you were speaking to a Hunter, I worried for your safety and I did not want to scare you away with my fervency. Also, I knew you were trying to protect me when you lied to the Hunter about the number of warriors here. But I also knew you had created problems for us that you didn't intend."

"I don't understand."

"Now they think we are all here, when there are only a few. They will send more men, bring more weapons."

The heat drained, totally and completely. "I'm sorry. I didn't think...I just thought...Like Lucien said, Stefano doesn't trust me," she said. "He might assume I was lying. He might think only a few of you are here."

"I can bring the others here," Lucien said. "We'll be prepared for the worst."

Oh, God. There was going to be a fight, after all.

"Don't worry," Reyes said. "All will be well. Now. The painting," he reminded her. "Get it for us. Please. We need to see if what you created means anything or can help us."

She nodded just as a phone rang, the sound echoing off the walls.

Frowning, Lucien dug inside his pocket. He barked a quick, "Yes," when the phone was next to his ear.

A moment passed.

His frown deepened as he hung up. "Sabin is impatient."

"I'll be right back." Danika rushed into the studio and lifted the second painting she'd done from its place against the wall. She studied it, taking in first the bright colors and then the complex cast of characters. At the top of the canvas, two men and one woman, all garbed in white robes, sat upon thrones and stared regally down. At the bottom, a breathtakingly beautiful man with angel wings and devil horns led a human army across a sea of blood.

There was a butterfly tattoo on his lower stomach, the same type of menacing brand Reyes and the other warriors possessed.

The colors had yet to dry completely, so she was careful as she carted it into the bedroom. There, she propped the canvas on her legs. "Here."

Both men gaped when they saw it.

"What?" she said.

"Do you have any idea who those beings are?" Lucien asked her, his voice strained.

"No." And she didn't. Other than what she'd painted, she knew nothing about them. "But I've seen them in my nightmares," she admitted. "Many, many times."

"Cronus, the king of gods, sits in the center throne. Atlas and Rhea are beside him. At the bottom, those men are Hunters."

"The Darkest Pleasure"

"And at the head of the army," Reyes said, sounding choked, "is Galen. Keeper of Hope."

The two men shared a heavy look.

"I cannot believe this. If this painting tells us true, he is leading the Hunters." Lucien gave a shake of his head. "I never suspected...never thought...Why would Hunters willingly follow him? A demon?"

Reyes reached out to trace a fingertip over the winged man's face, realized the paint was still wet and dropped his arm. "Danika and I spoke of him earlier, yet I still cannot wrap my mind around this."

"We will have to deal with it later. There is no time to do so now. I must transport the rest of the warriors here." Lucien's gaze flicked briefly to Danika. "Tell her. She needs to know." With that, he disappeared.

"Tell me what?" Dismay thickened her blood, and her fingers tightened on the canvas.

Grim determination suddenly radiated from Reyes. "Ashlyn heard something. About certain artifacts we are searching for. We knew the second had the power of sight," he said, "something that could see into heaven and hell."

Her brow wrinkled in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"It's you." His gaze collided with hers and held, a black pit beckoning her to fall. "You are the artifact, Danika. You are the All-Seeing Eye. That is why the gods want you dead. That is why Hunters are even now on their way. Everyone wants a piece of you. And I fear no one will rest until they get it."