“Is she still breathing?”
“What?”
“Well, when you slay dragons, they die…” A hint of a dimpled smile. It made him want to take her back to his room and not leave for several days. Then the dragon walked into the kitchen.
“Is it true?” Jemima asked, looking like she wanted to physically toss him out of her house. She probably could, too.
Saia expelled a rough breath. “Is what, Mother?”
“That he asked you to marry him.”
Her startled gaze rushed to him. You did?
Would you have me tell her I’ve already bonded with you? He leaned against the counter opposite her. Answer your mother.
Saia bit her lip and nodded.
“And you didn’t think to tell us?” Jemima demanded.
“Because I needed to think,” Saia muttered, turning the ice cream container so the label faced her.
Jemima cut him a deadly black stare. She didn’t say a word, just walked out.
“This won’t go well.” Saia glanced at the empty doorway. “She hasn’t given up.”
“It matters not.”
Riley cared little about the marriage. Saia was soul-joined with him. Nothing and no one could break that. At least, he didn’t have to continue watching over his shoulder for Jemima to spring another potential suitor on his mate. That just irritated the shit out of him.
Riley folded his arms over his chest and watched her as she made inroads in her melting therapy.
Something else was troubling her.
Saia pushed the ice cream away feeling a little nauseated. The dessert churned in her stomach. Her mother hadn’t given up. She must have a trump card hidden somewhere in her arsenal.
And Riley, he was nearing a dangerous moment in his life, one she could very well lose him to.
“What’s wrong?”
His voice drew her gaze to him. He still leaned against the counter, arms crossed, like he had no care in the world. She glared. “How can you ask me that?”
His brow furrowed. “We’ve covered everything of importance, what else is left?”
Christ. Men could be so obtuse.
The silvery-haired stranger had unsettled her. He’d looked like he could kill with little remorse. “Who was that man on the road?”
“Raphael.”
The spoon dropped from her hand. “The archangel?”
He nodded, didn’t seem particularly concerned over the imminent threat. Fear exploded like needles piercing her skin. “Please…please, Riley, you have to leave—have to go back. They’re already watching you.”
He walked across the room, swept her off her feet, and sat her on the counter. “No.”
“What do you mean no?” She leaned back in exasperation.
“And leave you in the face of danger? Not happening.” He planted his hands on either side of her hips. “And if I see that weed-smoking idiot hanging around you again, he’s dead.”
“Then I should have done the same to those skanks in Stygia, and the tattooed one for kissing you.” She still wanted to stake Pandora in the heart for that.
“Those in Stygia have been dealt with. Pandora is the past, you know this.”
“But she’ll always be with you. For the rest of your life,” she muttered, thinking about the ink on his biceps. She hated that his ex-lover had left her mark on him.
His brow furrowed in confusion. “Explain.”
“How about I show you?” The fact that he had no clue as to what she was talking about irritated her. She unbuttoned his shirt. His brow rose. Miles of smooth, tanned skin and muscled pecs distracted her. Reaching for the opening, she pushed his shirt down his shoulders and her heart tripped.
He sported more tattoos. Intricate ink travelled from his biceps to his back now. Darker, less colorful, and merged with red.
Pained jealousy cut deep. “You’ve been to see her again, despite knowing how I felt.”
The frown deepened. “What are you talking about?”
“I know what tattoos you have. Now there’s more. Were they so important that you had to see her first?”
Hands spread on the counter, his head dropped for a second, then green eyes lifted to hers, amusement lurking in their depths. “I’ve never been inked in my life.”
Her mouth tightened at the lie. “Then I must be looking at another man’s body.”
His amusement vanished. “You’ll never be this close with another. This is what happens when you’re heir to a Sin. They are symbols. All Sins have them. Mine are darkening because I’m about to come into my heritage.”
Relief flooded her, the ice in her heart melting. But faced with those mouth-watering miles of bronze skin, she reached out and traced the strange symbols crawling from his thick biceps up to his shoulders.
“Saia, I haven’t been with anyone since the moment I met you.”
“I know. It’s just that when Wrath showed me those images, it really hurt.”
His mouth tightened. He drew his shirt back over his shoulders. “I’m sorry you got drawn into his morbid mind games and had to see that, but it’s all in the past—”
The sharp beep of a cell phone cut through the tension. Riley pulled out his phone, swiped his finger across the display. His entire body stilled. Right in front of her, he morphed into a stone-cold stranger.
“What is it?”
He shook his head. “I have to go out for a while.”
She didn’t like that he’d clamped up again, going all I-am-the-man protective on her. “Riley, don’t shut me out. I survived Hell and that vindictive demoness in Stygia, do you think I can’t face those things in this world?”
“That’s what scares me,” he said grimly. “Saia, I don’t want you caught up in this. I want you safe.”
Gah! Any safer, and she might as well find a hole and burrow there. Well, she wasn’t waiting for an engraved invitation for him to tell her what was wrong. She snatched his cell. The text was from Zac, the bouncer at Satire.
Trevor’s here.
Her stomach pitched at the message. “You’re going after him, aren’t you?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t? That Caligo will not get another chance at you.” Fury remolded the lines of his handsome face in an unyielding visage. He took his cell back and pushed it into his pants pocket. “Trevor was Baric’s minion, and by default, Ayperos’s. I have a blood-debt to settle with that sonofabitch.”
She remembered Riley taunting his father about his favored foster son. “What did Ayperos do to you?”
Riley didn’t speak. He prowled to the end of the island as if to get himself under control. Pivoting, he expelled an angry breath. His shirt still hanging open, revealed his well-defined pecs and abs. He looked so damn sexy and so very…dangerous.
“My foster brother liked to show all of Stygia how altruistic he was, concerned about the weakling spawn of Wrath’s. But I hated the bastard, even though I wanted to be like him.”
“Why?” she asked in confusion.
“I was six. He was the big bad, the strong male my sire preferred. So I allowed his friendship. When I lost control of my powers and slaughtered a village of demons, he was there”—a tick pulsed furiously in his jaw—“became concerned and real considerate, said not to worry, even though Wrath was disappointed in me. Of course, my six-year-old heart was crushed. Soon after, my sire shipped me off, proving Ayperos right.”
“But it was all a lie,” she said, feeling his pain. “Did he turn your father against you, too?”
Mocking laughter. “No. My sire knew. He’s one cold bastard. Children? Not his deal. He thought it was better—safer, that I lived elsewhere.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, at least my foster parents cared about me. Ayperos wants to inherit my legacy, has no idea only those of the bloodline can. It’s why he sent Baric after you, trying to trap me. He thinks I can mutter a few magic words and give him the damn legacy. When you wounded him, Baric took you to Stygia instea
d. Can’t heal a deadly injury like that in this world.”
Good. She was glad she’d hurt the assbutt.
“Ayperos killed my foster parents. Torched their house, thinking I was there, asleep. Except I wasn’t.” His gaze became green granite. Slowly he refastened his shirt. “For that he will pay before I send him to his own eternal damnation.”
A chill of fear slid through Saia’s veins. He was changing. She knew it, felt it like her own heartbeat.
Riley was slipping more and more into a replica of his father. And that terrified her.
Chapter Twenty-One
Ayperos crouched beneath the cypress trees in the reeking bayou, watching the enormous scaly gator resting on the shores of the dank river. Its teeth sharper than those of his horde of blood-demons perched restlessly on the branches of the swampland trees.
Movement caught his attention. A Caligo slithered between the trees, keeping to the shadows. It halted some distance from him.
Despite Ayperos’s intense hatred for the vile entities of his world, it didn’t stop him from using them. At the promise of a new human host, they would do anything. Since Baric, the idiot, had already used this Caligo, he saw no reason not to continue. This one was already crumbling, its host mere days from becoming a husk. Its human face was just skin on bones now. The thing looked like road-kill.
Even with the distance, it stunk worse than this shitty swamp Ayperos had been forced to camp in because of his horde. He cocked a finger, and the thing slunk forward.
“Report.”
“He hasn’t been to the club for a few nights—” Its voice slurred. The Caligo scratched its head, and stringy strands of hair came loose. “The asshole bouncer’s all over the place, can’t search…”
Ayperos wasn’t interested in his feeble excuses. He knew exactly where Réomer was. The citadel. He’d seen him there when he’d sent the wyverns after the female. It was just a matter of time before Réomer returned to the human world in defeat.
He smirked. It’d been so easy to maneuver Wrath after Réomer caused the slaughter of those villagers a millennium ago. A whisper of concern and Wrath got rid of the little irritant he’d spawned. He’d sent the runt off to the upper echelons, where it would be safe.
It should have been easy ending the little shit, but he’d been busy with important quests for Wrath. A great pity he didn’t get to finish the job when he’d burned down the house.
No matter. Once he took back what was rightfully his from that debilis, he would kill him.
Wrath should be eternally grateful that he’d no longer have an embarrassment to hide from his legions.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Satire, as usual, teemed with tourists and locals. The familiar odors of liquor and heavy perfume greeted Riley as he walked inside. The jukebox crooned a Nat King Cole number. Balls clashed against the wooden edge of the pool table, adding to the dissonance.
A trio of drunken females sidled up to him. Before they’d started a conversation, he sidestepped them and glanced around the cramped place.
For the first time, he found no solace in his bar.
How had he spent so many decades here?
Easy, when he’d sought anonymity, the next meaningless hook-up to meet his needs. Nothing had mattered. Then Saia walked into his life and everything changed. He rubbed his sternum, a part of him she now inhabited and filled with her warmth. Her love.
His sire had trampled those emotions in him, his foster parents had mended them some—but still, he hadn’t believed in it. Until her. She completed him.
A disturbance at the far end of the bar drew his attention. A drunk shoved another male. Zac hauled the disruptive human and headed for the door.
His friend practically ran the place now and loved this joint as much as Riley once had.
The moment Zac saw him, he shoved the tanked male to another bouncer and pushed his way through the crowd. “Hey, Rile-man, you’re back.”
“Yeah. Where is he?”
“At the back—” Zac glanced to the tables in the more secluded corner of the bar. “Dammit. Sorry, man. I sent you that text like a half hour ago.”
“Been busy.” Riley turned to leave.
“Wait.” Zac stopped him, his brow furrowing, those penetrating gaze searching. “You okay? You’ve been gone several weeks.”
“I’m touched you missed me.”
Zac snorted. “You seem…different.”
“Haircut. New threads. Gotta go.” Riley cut through the throng of people in his way. Different? Zac had no idea.
He was days from inheriting a part of the most deadly sin.
His brain battered around in his skull at the thought. By the dark gods, he didn’t want this, but it seemed he had no say in the matter. Being loaded with an entity that never gave him any peace? Hell, he shouldn’t even be on this realm. Saia was right. But he didn’t give a shit, not when his mate’s life was at stake.
Outside the bar, he glanced around the dingy place and scrubbed his face in pure frustration. Ayperos was out there somewhere, just beyond his reach. He could sense him. And so was that Caligo fuck, Trevor.
The next morning, Saia rolled over in her bed as rain drummed against the window. Gray light seeped into her bedroom, lighting the shadows. Ugh, she didn’t feel like getting up. Fatigue and lack of sleep kept her huddled beneath the covers.
The door opened.
“Saia?” At Riley’s low voice, she pushed up, the covers sliding to her waist. He crossed to her and sat on the bed. His features appeared drawn, lips pressed in a tight line. He looked exhausted.
“Are you all right? I waited up for you…”
“I’m good. The Caligo was a no-show, slipped the radar. But not for long. I’ll get him.”
“I’m glad you’re back.” She patted the bed. “Come, lay beside me. Rest for a while.”
A smile. “Tempting. But your family’s gathered downstairs. Thought you’d want to know.”
Darn. “All of them?”
“The twins are on their way.”
She rolled her eyes. They must have heard the news. “They can wait a few more minutes.”
Relieved he was okay, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. He grasped her chin and deepened the kiss for a moment before letting her go. He traced a finger beneath her eye, where she was sure traces of her horrid, sleepless week still showed. His expression tightened. “You still look tired.”
“I’m fine. You’re here now.”
He rose from the bed. “How about getting up? Let’s get this inquisition waiting below over. Then there are a few things we need to discuss.”
She wrinkled her nose. Yawning, she slowly crawled out of bed when a firm slap landed on her bottom. Surprised, she spun around. “Did you just hit me?”
“I don’t hit females, that was a spank.”
“How is that any different?”
A hint of a smile, one that made her heart flip. “Just get that delicious backside moving, mate. I’ll see you downstairs.”
A half hour later, Saia stopped at the dining room entrance.
Her mother, as usual, sat on her throne at the far end of the long table and presided over her underlings as she drank her tea.
She glanced at Saia but remained quiet, which surprised Saia.
Through the French doors, she saw Riley talking to her father. Saia turned and clashed with Noah’s watchful gaze. He set aside the paper he’d been reading and rose. In trepidation, she waited. Liz gave her an encouraging smile as Noah made his way over.
“This is what you want?” he asked quietly.
More than anything else in her life, she realized. She was in love with the aggravating and mind-numbingly sexy man. “Yes.”
She cut Riley a quick look and found him watching her through the glass panes. His green eyes gleamed. Of course, he was listening.
“Okay.” Noah kissed her cheek and went back to his breakfast.
Saia crossed to the sideboard and pou
red herself coffee, wondering what Riley wanted to talk about?
“Happy?” Liz asked, joining her.
All Saia’s concerns came crashing down. “Liz, he refuses to go back. I’m so scared. If anything goes wrong during the transference, I’ll lose him,” she whispered in one breathy rush.
“Easy, hun.” Liz rubbed her arm in a soothing gesture. “I’m sure Riley knows what he’s doing. He wouldn’t risk you. Try and calm down.”
“I’m trying, Liz, honestly, I am.” She took a sip of her coffee, hoping the hot beverage would get rid of the sick feeling in her stomach. Wrath had been adamant about what could happen. He’d even lied so she’d leave Stygia and not distract Riley.
The thud of boot steps sounded. Zayn loped into the room moments later.
“Hey, family.” Took care of his greeting. His gaze fastened on her. “Heard the news. And there she is.”
Hastily, Saia set her mug down. She didn’t want coffee spilled over her clothes, and just in time, too. Zayn picked her up and swung her around. Oh, crap!
“My baby sis is getting hitched. Damn. I go away, and all this happens.” His tawny eyes sparkled with laughter. “Good job, by the way. I now have a full-time pool partner. And just so you know, he does anything wrong, even looks at you wrong, and I will become the hunter I hate being.”
A shaky laugh left her. She smacked his shoulder. “You’re such an idiot, put me down. Where’s Rohan?”
“Eating my dust.” He chuckled and set her on her feet. “Ro thought racing my R8 with the turtle he drives would get him here faster—” His jaw dropped. He gawked as Ikaria walked into the room. She sent Saia a quick smile before sliding into her seat to resume her breakfast.
Zayn stared like he’d just been given an early birthday gift. Whatever. “Damn, she’s hot.”
Saia whacked his arm. “Stop that. Don’t you dare try any of your alley-cat moves with her.”
He glanced back at her, his expression about as harmless as a tiger around a gazelle. “Me?”
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