The Darkest Fire

  Any moment the creature would cease its stalking and spring. She knew it, felt it. Kadence reached inside herself as she angled her chin to stare deep into its eyes, surprised to find her power easily accessible. She shouldn't have been surprised, though. She might try and suppress it, but it was always there, never silent, a churning sea inside her.

  "Stay," she said, and the creature locked in place, its mind still active but every part of its physical form hers to command.

  For a long while, she simply drank in her handiwork, amazed. I did it. Not once did the fiend try and approach her again - even though murder gleamed in those beady eyes.

  "Something's happened," Geryon said, sounding confused.

  "I happened," she said, proud of herself. "Watch. " To the demon she said, "Raise your arms over your head. "

  Instantly, it obeyed, shooting both arms into the air without a word of complaint. But then, she had possession of its mouth, as well. Clearly, it had not wanted to comply with her demand, for its gaze continued to translate its hatred of her.

  Joy burst through her. For once, she had used her ability for good: to save someone she greatly lo - admired. Dear gods. Did she love Geryon? She loved being with him, loved the way he made her feel: cherished, protected. But did that mean she had given him her heart? Surely not.

  "Look, Kadence. " Geryon pointed to the slab. "Look what's happened. "

  She followed the direction of his finger and gasped. Every demon had frozen in place, their hands in the air. Even the spirits had stopped writhing. There was no laughter, no cries. Only the sound of her own breathing could be heard.

  "You did this?" Geryon asked.

  "I - yes. "

  "I am amazed. Awed. "

  Her joy intensified. "Thank you. "

  "Can they hear me?" When she nodded, he slowly grinned and shouted to the creatures, "Hear me well. Go forth and tell every Demon Lord the guardian is here and that I plan to destroy them. " To Kadence he added, "Release them. "

  Though she wanted to protest, Kadence did as he'd asked. In less than a blink, the creatures were racing from the building as fast as possible, leaving her and Geryon alone. "Why?"

  His grin widened. "Now we wait. They will come to us. " CHAPTER FIFTEEN

 

  Geryon fortified the building against attack as best as he was able, given the lack of supplies and tools. Kadence remained at his side, lending a spiritual touch whenever needed, forcing the planks and stones to bow to her will. He noticed she grew paler with every minute that passed.

  "What's our battle plan?" she asked when they finished, settling against the far wall. The only place without blood or. . . other things on it.

  Keeping you alive, by whatever means necessary. He joined her, careful not to touch her. One touch, and he would pull her back into his arms. He needed to be alert, on guard. "You'll lock them in place and I'll slay them. "

  "Quick and easy," she said with a ring of hopefulness in her tone. "How long do you think we have?"

  "A few hours. It will take a while for news of my arrival and intentions to spread. Longer still for the Lords to gather their forces and plan an attack. " Geryon raked a claw across the floorboard to mar the curse etched there, stone shards flying into the air. "I understand why Lucifer wishes you to destroy the demons trying to leave hell and thereby prevent all other demons from following them, but why does it matter so much to you?"

  She shrugged. "When I agreed to enter this realm, I became. . . connected to it. If the wall crumbles, I die. "

  She would die? "Why did you not tell me before now?" he growled. "And why would you connect to such a thing? Why would you come here willingly?"

  "Had I remained in the heavens, I would have been punished every minute of every day. No one is crueler in that respect than the gods. They wanted me here, so here I came. But I had no idea how permanent the bonding would be. How powerful. As to why I didn't tell you. . . " She shrugged. "You had permission to finally leave your post yet you chose to help me. I didn't want to burden you further. Now you've saved me, again, and I don't wish to lie to you. "

  "Kadence," he said, then shook his head. "I should have remained at the inside of the gate, without you, and slayed the Lords as they approached. Now the wall is without protection, and you are in more danger than ever. "

  "They would have seen you and stayed away, for there is no place to hide above the pit. "

  "And that would have been fine with me. That would have kept you safe. "

  "Yet that is no kind of life for you, simply lying in wait. "

  "It is the life I am used to. "

  "But you deserve more!" Looking away from him, she traced a fingertip over the area he had clawed. "We had to do this. Or rather, I did. But I want you to know that if I fall, the wall will remain as it is, for it isn't bound to me. I have been hurt many times over the years, yet it did not show signs of damage. "

  "I don't care about the damn wall!"

  Her eyes widened. Then she gulped and continued as if he hadn't spoken. "Without me, there will be no one who senses when something is wrong. The gods will have to find someone new. I know you are now free, but would you remain there, vigilant, until that person is found? Even if Lucifer has already appointed a new guardian?"

  "You are not going to die, damn it. Now tell me why Lucifer allowed you inside? He needs you outside. "

  Color fused her cheeks. Embarrassment? Guilt? "He also needs his wall protected. "

  Guilt, most definitely. It was there in her voice, echoing off the walls. "He could have destroyed or imprisoned the Demon Lords. "

  "If he could catch them. "

  "I'll give you that. " Geryon tapped two fingers against his chin, pondering the situation. "But Lucifer allows nothing, even those things he needs, without demanding some form of payment. What did he demand of you? And why did he allow you my services? Why release my soul? And where is my soul now, if Lucifer no longer has it?" Even as he asked the questions, a few of the answers shaped in his mind. He snarled low in his throat. "You bought me from him. "

  That color in her cheeks deepened. "Yes," she whispered. Her eyelids fluttered shut, the length of them casting spiky shadows over her cheeks. One of her hands rubbed at the amethyst dangling between her breasts. "I'm not sorry, either. "

  Was his soul inside? "Did you buy me with. . . yourself?" If so, he would slay the prince before allowing one evil finger to touch this woman's precious body.

  A pause, her eyes slowly opening. Then, "No. "

  "Tell me. " Anger was building inside of him. Anger with her, with Lucifer, with himself that this could have happened. What had this prized woman given up? Why had she given it up? He placed his hand over hers, not to hold her in place - powerful as he now knew she was, he doubted he could have done so - but to offer reassurance. He was here, he wasn't leaving. "Please. "

  Her chin trembled. "I gave him a year on earth, unimpeded, to do as he wished. "

  "Oh, Kadence," Geryon said, knowing the other gods would have to honor her bargain - and would make her suffer for it. Everything inside him rebelled at the thought. "Why would you do such a thing?"

  "To save you. To save me. To save the world beyond our reach. I could think of no other way. A single year to wreck his havoc seemed a small thing to trade in comparison to an eternity of demons roaming free. " Her mouth opened, but rather than words she gave a pained cry. Quick as a snap, her skin bleached of color and she doubled over.

  Concern instantly rocked him. "What's wrong, sweet? Tell me. "

  "The demons. . . they're at the wall. They're. . . they're killing me. " CHAPTER SIXTEEN

 

  Had Lucifer told the demons of her bond to the wall? Kadence wondered, pain slicing through her. Rather than come here to fight, they had gone there. Knowing she would weaken, die? Or, perhaps they had hoped to draw Geryon to them, leaving her here, alone and seemingly vulnerable to ambush. Or did they want her to come to them? So many alternativ
es.

  The prince probably found the entire situation vastly amusing. He probably - a thought took root in her mind, nearly paralyzing her. If she were killed, he could have more than the agreed upon year on the earth, bartering for souls, causing untold havoc. He could have forever, if he so desired, and he could bring his demons with him, ruling his minions and humans.

  He was a god, a brother to the sovereign. There was no guarantee he would be captured and sent back.

  Of course, his betrayal of her hinged on whether or not he thought he could force his demons to obey him out in the open. Unless. . . was she the payment for their cooperation? If they didn't know she was bound to the wall, Lucifer could "kill" her when it fell to prevent her from chasing them. They'd be grateful to him, might in turn pledge their continued allegiance to him.

  Oh, gods. The possibility sickened her, for if it was true she had unwittingly helped him every step of the way.

  He desired the wall's protection, she reminded herself. At first, common sense piped up. That doesn't mean he desires it now.

  For reasons that had nothing to do with her internal pain, she couldn't quite catch her breath. What kind of fool am I? She was so ashamed. So foolish.

  "Kadence, speak to me. Tell me what's wrong," Geryon insisted. He popped to his knees and swung around, kneeling between her legs. One of his claws gently, tenderly brushed away the damp hair clinging to her brow.

  Her gaze lifted to his. Seeing him with so much concern in his beautiful brown eyes, she could not regret the choices she'd made. No matter what happened, he would be free. This proud, strong man would finally be free.

  "I. . . am. . . fine," she managed to gasp out. Gods, she felt shredded inside, as though her organs were being ripped to ribbons.

  "No, you're not. But you will be. " He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the back. To a room the owner must have used. He laid her on a thin pallet. "May I?" he asked, lifting the amethyst that housed his soul.

  She had planned to present it to him once their mission was completed, a gift for his aid, but she nodded. Right now, there was a good chance she would not complete anything.

  Slowly, carefully, he worked the stone from around her neck and placed it over his heart. His eyes closed. He was probably unsure what would happen. And at first, nothing did. Then, in gradual degrees, the jewel began to glow. A frown pulled at Geryon's lips, and he grunted. "Burns. "

  "I'll hold it for y - "

  The glow exploded into a thousand pinpricks of light, and he roared, loud and long.

  After the last echo sounded, everything quieted. The lights faded. Only the chain that had held the jewel remained in his hand.

  His frown was lifting into a smile as his eyes opened. But when he studied his arms and then his body, the frown returned, deeper, more intense. "I should have. . . I did not. . . I had hoped to return to my former visage. "

  "Why?" She loved him, just as he was. Horns, fangs, claws and all. Wait - loved? Oh, yes. She loved him. She had considered it before, but had discarded the idea. Now, there could be no discarding. The emotion was there, undeniable as Death stared her in the face.

  No man had ever been more perfectly suited for her. He was not disgusted by her nature, he reveled in it. He did not fear what she could do, but found pride in it. He delighted her, amused her, tempted her.

  "It is my hope that. . . that. . . " He gulped. "If you bond with something else, something besides the wall, perhaps your ties to it will lessen and your strength will return. Perhaps the pain will ease. "

  Something else? "You?" she asked, suddenly breathless for reasons that had nothing to do with pain.

  "Yes. Me. " CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

 

  Geryon looked away from her. "I know I'm ugly. I know the thought of being with me in such a manner is abhorrent, but I - "

  "You aren't ugly," Kadence interjected, "and I do not like that you think so. I do not like when you demean yourself like that. "

  He blinked over at her, astonishment shining in his expression.

  She continued, "The thought of being with you is welcome. I promise you. "

  Now his mouth opened and closed. "Welcome?"

  "Yes. But I don't want you to bond with me simply to save me. " She had once been too afraid to admit she craved his body, had pretended merely to be grateful to get a kiss. There would be no more pretending. "I want you to want to do this. Because I. . . I want you inside of me, becoming part of me, more than I want another tomorrow. I want to be your woman, now and always. "

  Before he could respond, another pain slicked through her, raining like poisoned hail and curling her into a ball. Another crack had just slithered through the wall; she saw it in her mind.

  "Geryon?" she panted.

  His gaze bore into her. "I once swore that were I ever lucky enough to regain my soul, I would never, for any reason, trade it again. I have just realized that I would willingly trade it for you, Kadence. So yes, I want to do this. "

  Geryon slowly divested Kadence of her robe, careful not to hurt her with his razor-sharp nails. She was already in pain and he doubted she could bear much more. Beautiful, precious woman. She deserved only pleasure.

  For whatever reason, she desired him. Desired forever. Together. She had given him the thing he'd thought he valued most - his soul - but he had not known until he'd watched her curl into a ball that he valued her more. He'd longed to take her pain into himself. For her, anything. She cared not that he was a beast. She saw to the heart of him, and liked it.

  When she was naked, he drank her in. Alabaster skin dusted with the sweetest hint of rose. Lush breasts, a curved waist, a navel his mouth watered to sample. Legs that stretched for miles. He bent and licked one of her nipples, laving his tongue around the delectable tip, his hands traveling all over her body.

  The closer his fingers came to her core, the more she purred a deep sigh of satisfaction, her pain seeming to melt away. "The pleasure, it's replacing the pain," she said, confirming his thoughts.

  Thank the gods. He moved his attention to her other nipple, sucking, allowing the tip of a fang to graze it ever so gently. "Still helping?" All the while his fingers teased just above her clitoris, not touching, only teasing.

  "Still helping. But I want to see you," she said, giving his armor a pointed stare.

  He lifted his head and peered into her eyes. "Are you sure? I could take you without removing a single piece of armor. "

  "I want all of you, Geryon. " Her features were luminescent. "All. "

  "Whatever you desire, you shall have. " He only hoped she did not change her mind when she saw him.

  "Do not fear my reaction. You are beautiful to me. "

  Such sweet words. But. . . he'd lived with his insecurities so long, they were a part of him. "How can I be? Look at me. I am a beast. A monster. Something to be feared and reviled. "

  "I am looking at you and you are something to be praised. You may not bear the appearance of other men, but you have strength and courage. Besides," she added, licking her lips, "animal magnetism is a very good thing. "

  Slowly he grinned. "All right. I will show you the rest of me. " CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

 

  Geryon removed his breast plate and tossed it aside, his too-corded chest with its scars, fur and over-large bones revealed. His hands shook as he then unwound the leather wrapped around his waist, slowly revealing his hardened shaft, his scarred and fur-lined thighs. He tensed, waiting for the inevitable gasp of horror, even though she'd assured him of his "animal magnetism. "

  "Beautiful," she said reverently. "A true warrior. My warrior. " She reached up and ran her fingertips through that fur. "Soft. "

  Breath seeped from his parted lips, breath he had not realized he'd been holding until just then. "Kadence. Sweet Kadence," he rasped. What had he ever done to deserve her? If he hadn't fallen in love with her already, he would have fallen then.

  As the hottest thrum of desire
he'd ever experienced pounded through him, he kissed his way down her stomach, stopping only to dip his tongue inside her navel. She trembled. When he reached the apex of her thighs, he worshipped her, and the trembling became writhing.

  "Amazing," she gasped, fisting his hair.

  He wanted to devour her, possess her, but he held back, her taste like the sweetest ambrosia. Only when she came apart, screaming her pleasure, did he rise above her. He was proud and honored to have given her such ecstasy. But he was trembling now, his body on fire. Desperate. For her, only her.

  Her legs wound around him, and she cupped his cheeks, staring deep into his eyes. "I need more of you. "

  He entered her an inch, one blessed inch. Stopped, gave her time to adjust. He'd go slowly if it killed him. Make it good for her, the best.

  "Why do I not feel the need to master you?" she purred into his ear. She bit the lobe.

  Sweet fire. "That's how it was, before?"

  She nodded, arching her hips to take more of him. Another inch.

  He had to cut off a groan. "Perhaps because my heart is so completely yours, there's nothing left to master. "

  "Oh, Geryon. Please. " She stroked his horns, circling a fingertip over the hard points. "Take me all the way. Give me everything. "

  He could deny her nothing. Releasing his fierce grip on control, he pounded forward and she cried out. Not in pain, but in joy, he realized. Over and over he filled her, giving her all of him. Their wills intermingled so completely, it was impossible to tell who wanted what.

  His nails raked the floor beside her head, his teeth even nipped her, but she loved it all, urging him on, begging for more. And when he spilled his seed inside her, her inner walls clutching him in her own surge of satisfaction, he shouted the words that had been building inside of him since the moment he'd met her. "I love you!"

  To his surprise, she gave a shout of her own. "Oh, Geryon. I love you, too. "

  They quickly dressed. Kadence was still weak, but at least the pain had stopped.

  "Are they still at the gate?" Geryon asked.

  "Oh, yes. They're working it feverishly. "

  He kissed her lips, and she reveled in another taste of this man she so loved. "Whisk us there, lock them in place, and I will do the rest. "

  "I hope this works," she said, because she couldn't bear the thought of being parted from him.

  "It will. It has to. "