"So, he turned Daimon."
Acheron nodded. "And with those added demigod powers, he is equal to us in speed, strength, and skills. And unlike us, he has no Code."
"That explains a whole lot, doesn't it? If you can't get back at the gods themselves, then go after those who serve them."
"Exactly. And we are prime Desi bait."
"One question."
"Answer."
Kyrian ignored his sarcasm. "Why does it have to be a Dark-Hunter with a soul who defeats him?"
"Because that is the prophecy, and you know how prophecy works."
"How do you know all this?"
Acheron looked back at the doll he'd picked up. "I talked to Artemis last night. It took a while, but I wormed it out of her."
Kyrian considered that for a minute. Acheron had always been the goddess's favorite Dark-Hunter. Her preference for Acheron had been a long-standing grudge in the hearts of many Dark-Hunters. But Kyrian didn't mind. He was grateful for the Atlantean's ability to find out information from Artemis and give it to them.
"You know," he said to Acheron, "one day you're going to have to explain to me this relationship the two of you have and why you're the only Dark-Hunter who can be in a god's presence and not get fried."
"One day, I might. But it won't be tonight." Acheron handed him a retractable sword and a throwing dagger. "Now get your ass back to bed. You have a job to finish and you need your strength."
Kyrian started away from him.
"Oh and Kyrian?"
He turned to face him.
"Don't go home alone."
"Excuse me?"
"Desiderius has your number. It's no longer safe there."
"I don't give a damn if--"
"Listen to me, General," Acheron said, his voice menacing. "No one here doubts your ability to make Desi the next menu item at the Road Kill Diner; however, you have other people to protect, including a headstrong Cajun who listens about as well as you do, and a sorceress with virtually untapped powers. So, for once, could you just do as I ask and not argue?"
Kyrian smiled tightly. "Just this once, so don't get used to it."
Acheron watched as Kyrian left the shop. No sooner had he gone than Liza came from the back.
"Why didn't you tell him that you got his soul from Artemis?" she asked.
Ash slid his hand into his pocket where the medallion rested. "It's not time yet, Liza."
"How will you know when it's time?"
"Trust me, I will."
She nodded, and held the curtains open for him. "Now, speaking of people who should tend their wounds, you need to come back here and let me help you. Goodness, but I've never seen anyone with their back in worse shape than you. Why on earth you let anyone beat you like that is beyond me. And I know you had to let them. A Dark-Hunter with your powers would never take something like that unless he wanted to."
Ash didn't answer, but he knew the reason. Artemis never willingly let go of one of her Dark-Hunters. The price of their freedom was a high one.
He had agreed to sacrifice some of his flesh in order to gain Kyrian a chance to kill Desiderius.
Most of all, his torn and bruised back had bought the General a chance for happiness. It was a bloody ritual he willingly underwent every time a Dark-Hunter wanted his or her soul back.
A ritual none of them knew about.
What went on between him and Artemis was private. And he would always keep it that way.
*
Kyrian eased his way over to Bourbon Street where he'd found the punks before. The pain in his side was lessening, but still excruciating. It took him a full half hour before he found what he was looking for.
And the look on the punk's face was priceless.
"Holy shit!"
Kyrian grabbed him before he could run. "Tell Desiderius we're not finished."
The kid nodded.
Kyrian released him and watched as he tore down the street at a dead run.
He knew the first rule of war was that a surprise attack virtually guaranteed a victory, and he had just blown his best surprise. Still, he refused to keep his advantage at the risk of Amanda or one of her family members being hurt. Desiderius wouldn't go after them so long as he had a Dark-Hunter to contend with.
Limping, he returned to Nick's car and finally headed back to the one thing that gave him peace.
*
"Where have you been?" Amanda asked as soon as Kyrian returned.
"I had something to do."
Nick cursed. "You went to find Desiderius, didn't you?" He cursed again. "You sent word to him that you were alive."
Kyrian ignored him as he headed to the couch and sat down.
"Are you okay?" Amanda asked.
He nodded as he stretched out.
Nick glared at him. Rounding the sofa, he clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides. "Dammit, Kyrian, why would you--"
"Nick, lay off me. I'm not in the mood."
Nick's nostrils flared. "Fine, go and get yourself killed. What do I care anyway? I get the house, the cars, everything. So you go right ahead and tell him you're wounded and half-dead. Tell you what, why don't I just leave the door unlocked and invite him on in here?"
"Nick, you're not helping," Amanda said gently.
She saw the agony in Nick's eyes. The filial affection he had for his Dark-Hunter. "You know what?" he said through gritted teeth. "I don't give a damn. 'Cause I don't need anyone." He pointed at Kyrian. "I don't need you, your money, or a damn thing. I've never needed anyone but myself. So you go right on and die, 'cause I don't care."
Nick turned to leave.
Faster than she could blink, Kyrian was on his feet in front of Nick.
Nick glared at him. "Get out of my way."
Kyrian's face showed the patience of a father with a rebellious teen. "Nick, I'm not going to die on you."
"Yeah, right. How many times do you think Streigar said that to Sharon before he was turned into an extra crispy fried Dark-Hunter?" Nick shrugged Kyrian's hold off his arm and stormed out of the house.
A tic started in Kyrian's jaw as he pulled his cell phone off his belt and dialed it.
"Acheron," he said after a brief pause, "I have a renegade Squire who is no doubt headed out to the Quarter in a new anthracite Jag XKR convertible. Can you catch him before he does something stupid?"
His brow creased with worry, Kyrian met her eyes as he listened. "Yeah, thanks."
He looked extremely peeved at something Acheron was saying. "Yes, O great lord and master, I'm resting."
A shocked look came over his face. "How do you know I'm standing?"
After a brief pause, he snorted. "Bite me, Ash. Good luck with Nick." He hung up the phone.
Even though she didn't know exactly what Acheron had said, she caught the gist of it. "He's right, you need to lie down."
Kyrian's black eyes flashed. "I don't need to be coddled."
"Fine, Nick. Want to tell me how you need nothing and no one too and then storm out of the house?"
Kyrian offered her a sheepish smile. "Now you know why I tolerate him. Two peas in a pod."
Amanda laughed, even though her heart felt for both of them. "Let me guess, you were just like him at his age?"
"Actually, he's a lot more tolerable than I was. Not quite as stubborn, either."
Amanda stepped into his embrace and wrapped an arm around his waist. "Come on, let's go upstairs."
To her amazement, he allowed her to take him back to the guest room and put him back to bed.
As she undressed him, she saw his pink, healing wounds. Taking his arm in her hand, she touched the small nail holes. "I can't believe you're up so soon after what happened."
He sighed. "You can't keep a Dark-Hunter down for long."
Amanda barely heard his words. As she touched the wounds, images flashed through her mind. She felt Kyrian's rage, his pain. Then she saw a flash of the future. Of Kyrian spread out against a wall and at Desiderius's mer
cy.
Of Kyrian dying.
Gasping, she let go and stepped back.
Kyrian frowned at her. "What is it?"
Amanda patted her chest as panic swirled through her. She fought her anxiety attack as hard as she could, but inside she was screaming over what she'd seen.
She couldn't let him die. Not like that.
Forcing herself to calm down, she stared at Kyrian. "You have to let go of your past. So long as you hold on to it, Desiderius will be able to destroy you."
He looked away. "I know."
"What are you going to do? If you don't stop remembering it, he'll have you again."
"I can handle it, Amanda."
"Can you?" she asked, her throat tight as she saw him dying again. Oh, dear Lord, please not that. She couldn't bear to lose him. The thought of going a single day without feeling his arms around her, hearing his voice ...
His laughter.
It was unimaginable. The pain unbearable.
"I can control myself," he insisted.
But she knew the truth. She had experienced his execution firsthand. Worse, she knew he had never dealt with it. Not really. He had only pushed it out of his mind.
All of a sudden, she had an idea how to purge it from him.
At least she hoped it would work.
"I'll be right back."
Kyrian watched her leave, his emotions churning. Better than anyone, he knew his weaknesses. All Desiderius had to do was spread his arms out and he was lost to panic. Lost to memories so painful that he was powerless against them.
He ran his hands over his eyes. There had to be some way to push it all out of his mind. Some way to face the Daimon with a clear head.
The minutes ticked by as he considered possible solutions.
Kyrian became aware of someone watching him.
He rolled over in the bed to see Amanda in the doorway holding a tray and dressed in a long, flowing white satin robe. A warm smile on her face, she entered the room and set the tray on the dresser.
Kyrian frowned.
She approached the bed gracefully, then bent one knee. It peeked out from the slit in the robe. Bracing her leg against the bed, she rolled him over, onto his back. Still he stared at her stockinged leg and the hint of a garter belt underneath the robe.
Her smile grew wider as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a long silk scarf.
Kyrian's frown deepened as she wrapped it around his wrist. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to make it better."
"Make what better?"
"The past."
"Amanda," he growled as she pulled his arm toward the bedpost. As soon as he realized she intended to tie it there, he jerked away from her. "No!"
She grabbed his arm and held it between her breasts. "Yes."
Amanda watched the panic in his eyes. "No," he reiterated firmly.
Licking her lips, she lifted his hand to her lips. Opening her mouth, she gently suckled the pad of his forefinger. "Please, Kyrian? I promise you won't regret it."
Desire coiled through his stomach as he watched her. Her tongue flicked across his skin, down between his fingers. Then, she scraped the inside of his wrist and forearm with her fingernails, raising chills the length of his body.
She led his hand from her lips, to the parting of the robe, then inside to her bare breast. "Pretty please?"
His breathing ragged, he closed his hand over her. It was all he could do to remember what she was asking him.
She was asking for his complete trust. Something he hadn't been able to give to anyone in more than two thousand years.
Terrified of what had happened to him the last time he'd made that mistake, he met her gaze and felt his will crumble. Would she one day betray him?
Dare he take the chance?
This time when she guided his arm to the post, he ground his teeth, but didn't move as she secured it to the carved wood. Still, his heart pounded.
Amanda knew she had just won a small victory. Smiling, she tied the scarf loosely. "You can get loose at any time," she told him. "Just say the word and I will release you, but if you do, it will stop immediately."
"What will stop?"
"You'll see."
Amanda took his other arm and tied a scarf to that wrist. Kyrian watched her, his breathing sharp and unsteady. To her amazement, he said nothing as she tied him down. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
He pulled against the scarves, his muscles rippling and bunching. "I don't like this." He moved to free himself.
Climbing up on his body, Amanda caught his wrists in her hands and held him there. She dipped her head down and touched his lips with hers.
Kyrian tensed as he felt her tongue darting along the seam of his lips, begging for entrance. Opening his mouth, he welcomed her inside. He moaned at the way she stroked his tongue with hers, at the taste of her.
Her mouth was as close to heaven as a soulless man was likely to ever come. Her rose scent invaded his head, making him dizzy and hot. Breathless. Time stood still as her hands stroked his chest and he felt her breasts pressing against him.
It wasn't until he reached to hold her that he remembered she had him tied down.
Growling in frustration, he yanked at the silk.
At the sound of tearing fabric, Amanda pulled back from her scorching kiss. "Remember," she said huskily, "if you get free, you'll get nothing but a cold shower."
He stopped moving instantly.
To his chagrin, Amanda pulled back from him.
She ran her hands slowly down her robe, over her breasts, until she reached the belt. Taking her time, she unknotted the belt and parted the robe to show him her bare breasts.
His body burned as she let the robe flutter to the ground at her feet.
To his delight, she wasn't naked. She wore the dark blue garter belt he'd bought for her.
His mouth watered at the sight.
Slowly, seductively, she walked to the bed and climbed up his body again like a sensuous cat as her breasts trailed from his stomach to his chest. Kyrian hissed at the feel of her stretched out over him, of her breasts caressing him.
"How are we doing, General?"
He swallowed. "Fine."
Smiling, she traced the line of his jaw with her lips and tongue.
"I'm better when you do that," he whispered, his body on fire from her touch.
She pulled back with a laugh. "How about I make you blind with ecstasy, then?"
He strained against the ties. "It would appear I'm all yours, sweeting."
How she wished that were true. Amanda left the bed and moved to the tray. As she picked up the warm honey, she remembered the boiling oil the Romans had used on Kyrian. Remembered the look on his face as they poured it over his skin, scalding him.
Her heart constricting, she moved back to where he lay at her mercy. She held the bottle over his chest and saw the shadow pass across his eyes as he too remembered.
Kyrian involuntarily cringed as the warm honey first touched his bare skin. But there was no scalding pain. No blisters forming or skin burning. It actually felt good.
Relaxing, he watched as Amanda drew small circles in the honey, smearing it around his nipples where she dragged her nails, sending chills over him, and then down to his stomach.
She set the honey aside, then slowly licked every bit of it from his skin. He writhed in blissful pleasure as she laved him. Her tongue delved into his navel, making him even harder for her.
She laughed low in her throat as she looked up at him from his lower abdomen. Then she moved up his chest with one long lick that culminated at his Adam's apple. Hissing, he leaned his head back to give her greater access to his neck, and when she lightly bit his skin, chills shot through him.
"Amanda," he breathed.
Smiling at him, she left the bed and grabbed a small bowl.
Amanda didn't know where her boldness came from. Never had she behaved this way, but she wanted to save Kyrian at any cost. Besides
, something strange was happening to her as she did this for him. It was as if some part of her were gaining its freedom.
Shaking the thought off, she dipped her fingers into the bowl of whipped cream, then brought them to his lips. She traced the outline of that poetic mouth with her thumb.
Kyrian licked the whipped cream from his lips as Amanda straddled his waist. Oh, the feel of her wetness on him. It drove him wild. And when she moved, grinding herself against his swollen shaft, he thought he would die from the pleasure of it.
"Let me feed you, Commander," she whispered, then slowly she used her finger to feed him the whipped cream.
Kyrian swallowed as his emotions swirled. She was re-enacting Valerius's cruelty. But there was no pain from her. Only an ecstasy he'd never known before.
Locking gazes with her, he offered her a tentative smile.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked.
"Because I care for you."
"Why?"
"Because you are the most wonderful man I have ever known. Granted, you're stubborn and infuriating, but you're also kind, strong, and giving. And you make me feel so..."
He arched a brow.
Amanda sat back and eyed him. "Now what's that supposed to mean?"
"What?" he asked innocently.
"That look."
Kyrian frowned. "What look?" He tried to reach for her, then remembered his restraints. How odd that he could have forgotten them.
Amanda dipped her head down to kiss him.
Kyrian moaned at the feel of her lips on his, of her tongue darting in and out of his mouth, carrying with it the taste of whipped cream.
She pulled back. "Do you like that?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then you're going to love this."
He watched as she scooted down his body, then took the whipped cream and made him a loincloth with it. Her fingers grazed his erection as the cool cream coated him.
Kyrian moaned at the sensation that sent heat all over his body.
Amanda nudged his legs apart and stared down at her handiwork.
She locked gazes with him, then laid her body down at his feet and took his sac gently into her mouth.
He growled at the feel of her tongue licking the tenderest part of his body. Her mouth closed around him as her tongue swirled, licking and delving as she worked her way to the other side, where she sucked him in tenderly and rolled her tongue around him.
Kyrian clenched the ties on his hands as waves of pleasure racked him. Nothing had ever felt better than her mouth on him or her tongue darting over his skin.