“Down we go, then.”
His muscles bunched beneath her as his wings moved against the thick air. She closed her eyes. She tried to concentrate on her surroundings. She could hear nothing but the steady thrum of Seamus’s heart and the ruffle of his wings. She took in a deep breath. His fragrance entered her system. Her lips parted in a silent gasp. Goosebumps sprouted over her flesh. They were too damn close.
“The air is cooler down here,” he said.
“Yes,” she whispered.
She sounded breathless. She kidded herself into believing he wasn’t aware of the effect he had on her. She swallowed the unhappy sigh lodged in her throat. She flexed her fingers on his neck, in a way, itching to caress him and run them through his hair.
Seamus was right. She never allowed anyone to help her, least of all him. It was a question of principles. Surely, he could understand that. The world of the Guardians was forged based on values of evil and good, right and wrong.
“Do you see anything?” she whispered, attempting to find a distraction from her befuddled emotions and the impenetrable black surrounding them.
“No.”
She shuddered. Seamus tucked her closer, protecting her. Kaila sucked in her bottom lip. That was his job. He protected the balance between good and evil. He helped humanity. In his eyes, she was just a girl, another human. Never mind that she could fight like him. She was just another assignment. When he realized they were mates, being an honorable man, he wanted to do the right thing. Find mate and keep mate. There existed no free will in the system. Except, she didn’t do what everyone else did. She needed space to grow as a person and she could not be with a man who considered her a task to check off his list. Not that it mattered anymore.
“We are going to die,” she blurted.
“What?”
“You heard me. We’re going to die.” She glanced upward. “There is nothing around us except this blanket of darkness.” A nervous giggle broke through her lips. The sound eerie and hollow to her ears. “Perhaps we are already dead, Seamus. Have you thought about it? Perhaps we are nothing more than rotting corpses pretending to have a mind, a conscience, when we have nothing.”
“If we are conscious, we can’t be dead,” he replied.
“Maybe, maybe not. We don’t really know the answer. Or do you know the answer?”
“Of course not.”
“Precisely.” Nerves fluttered deep in her belly, and she could feel the skin on her face stretch into a grotesque smile. “We know nothing. Nothing about the world that surrounds us. We could be imagining this as we speak.”
“Kaila.” Despite the warning and the concern in Seamus’s voice, she plunged on.
“Okay, fine, maybe we’re not imagining it, but you know the outcome as well as I do.” She grasped his shoulder hard, purposely digging her nails into him. “We’re going to die. Or at least, I’m going to die.”
“No you’re not,” he growled.
“Sure I am, and so is Mel. You might make it out alive, though to be honest I doubt it. This is a suicidal mission, Seamus. You know it as well as I do. What I fail to understand is why you followed me into this nightmare. Bored much? Or was the sense of duty too much for you to push aside?” she teased.
She released her hold on him. His arms tightened around her and his heartbeat raced beneath her ear.
“No.”
“It doesn’t matter, you know? In the end, the result will the same. We’ll go mad. We’ll die. Perhaps, with a bit of luck, it’ll be something quick, though knowing the way Sloth operates, he’ll probably draw out our agony. He’ll make us suffer. It might be physical pain, but I doubt it. You know what Sloth’s strength is?” She threw back her head, enjoying the breeze as it caressed her.
“The mind,” Seamus said.
“Exactly. He’ll control it. He’ll play with it. He’ll make us believe things that are not there.”
“Do you mean he’ll fool us into believing we’ll never get out of this alive so that we’ll give up?”
“Exactly.”
Seamus’s frame shook with laughter, jostling her.
“What? Do you think it’s funny that we’re going to die in this dark abyss?” she said.
“No, I think it’s funny that you don’t realize that Sloth is already toying with you.”
“Oh, and of course, he’s not toying with you, is he?” She narrowed her eyes.
“He’s trying,” he admitted.
“But you are the mighty Guardian that can withstand everything.”
“No, not everything,” Seamus said.
He tensed. His fingers dug into her waist and his lips grazed her forehead. She froze for an instant before she yelped for him to release her, even though he wasn’t hurting her.
“Sorry.” His hold slackened a bit. “No, not everything, but I can withstand this particular gloomy mental challenge. He’s making you think dark thoughts, Kaila. He’s making you think that we’re not going to survive. He wants you hopeless and helpless so that you too will succumb to his sinful nature, but he doesn’t count with the fact that you have me here.”
“And what does that matter?”
“I can see in the darkness, remember?” he said.
“And?”
“And we’re almost at the bottom of this seemingly bottomless pit, babe.”
“We are?” Eager, she turned her head in an attempt to see something. “I don’t see anything.”
“Of course you don’t, babe,” Seamus drawled out the last word.
She squirmed in his grasp.
“Easy now,” he said.
“Don’t call me that.”
Seamus chuckled. The sound was deep and melodious and it caused her skin to tingle.
“Just trying to get your mind off of things, babe.”
She swore under her breath, which only caused him to laugh some more. Finally, his laugher died down and they lapsed into silence.
“How much longer?”
“Not much. I was wondering, I know you treat humans who have been victimized by Sloth, but what else did you find out before coming here?”
She shrugged. “Not much beyond what we already know. He’s dangerous. He enjoys toying with the mind, and no one really bothers about him, precisely because of that.”
“That’s all? What about his nest?”
“Researchers don’t seem to agree on anything when it comes to him. Some say his lair is made up of several layers were he bends the will of the visitor to his, other excursions have yielded nothing but a large, empty cavern.”
“Shit, and you went in here knowing that? Aware that there was nothing more substantial? He is deceitful. You knew that much. Why didn’t you ask me for help?” Seamus swore. “Never mind, I know why.”
She could hear his teeth grinding together.
“Do you know anything else about him?” she asked.
“No,” he admitted. “I’ve been trying to remember what we learned about him from school, but nothing extraordinary comes to mind. Missions to his lair are unheard of. He is too tricky. We prefer to fight against his Inferum on Earth or even between dimensions, but not here, never on his turf. Besides, his actions are slow. He doesn’t act as quickly as his siblings. The other Sins are always a priority over him.”
“Sloth has fooled everyone into seeing the world his way. He’s duped all of us,” she said.
“Yes, that much is clear. After all, when we were fighting—”
“You think that was Sloth? I mean, let’s be honest, we’re constantly arguing.”
“Yeah, but not like that, babe. We banter, we say some stupid things to each other, but we never—” He paused. Kaila could almost hear the wheels in his mind turning as he searched for the right words. “We’ve never argued like that. What we said back there—” He became quiet. “We were mean. I was mean. Like that night on the hill. Fuck, Kaila, I was terrified at what had happened. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to call you back. I wanted to go a
fter you, but I was scared.”
“And you thought you could make it disappear by ignoring me?”
“Yes,” he whispered. “I couldn’t believe what had happened, and you didn’t say anything, so I thought I’d imagined everything.”
“Damn, Seamus.”
“What you don’t understand.” He laughed, coughed, and laughed again. “I loved you before that day.” His fingers dug into her as if he could make her understand by holding her closer. “I love you now. I love you every day. I always will, even if you hate me forever.”
“You don’t love me. You feel the mating pull and you think you care for me, but that’s not love. You hardly know me anymore.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because it’s the truth.”
“Goddammit, that’s your truth, not mine. Why won’t you ever listen to me? I just told you—”
“I know what you said. You said you loved me. That’s all fine and dandy, but do you really love me, or do you simply desire me?”
“Both,” he admitted.
Kaila laughed. The sound was forced. Could he tell? “Well, I only want to have sex with you, if I have to be honest.”
Bitterness filled her mouth at the blatant lie, but she couldn’t tell him the truth and risk having her heart broken. It was better like this.
“If you only want to fuck, then we can do it right here and right now.”
Chapter Fourteen
“What?” Kaila shrieked.
“You heard me. We’re almost on the ground. I say we do it now and get it out of our system, just like we’ve done before. Or don’t you remember the last few times?”
Memories of those times assailed her, and her laughter came out unnaturally high-pitched. “You’re joking, right?” she asked.
“No.”
His answer, though simple, shook her to the core. As if on cue, her nipples beaded and the space between her legs became wet. She turned her head away from him. A soft gray light came from the bottom of the pit. Around them, the etching of a stone wall appeared.
“So, what do you say, Kaila?”
Seamus caressed her thigh, his long fingers close to her sex. She pressed her legs together. Her clit tingled.
“Should we get this lust out of our system? It’s been four years since our last rendezvous. It’s about time for a renewal, babe,” he said.
She wiggled in his hold.
“Stop groping me and get us on firm ground. You know how well the get-it-out-of-our-system works.”
“It doesn’t,” he said. “We fuck and then you go back to pretending you hate me.”
His voice was husky, and her pussy throbbed in response.
“Exactly,” she said, staring at the ground. The cobblestone came into view.
“No harm in trying again, no?” His fingers dug into her ass, sending erotic alarm bells coursing through her, and her panties dampened further.
Seamus landed and gently deposited her on solid earth. She sent a prayer of thanks. Kaila scampered away from him, almost tripping in her haste. Her legs shook, though she didn’t know if out of nerves for Seamus’s proposition or from being in the same position for so long.
“I’m not going to fuck you, Seamus,” she stated.
“Why not?”
She glanced at him. He ran his fingers through his short hair. His bicep flexed and the assortment of tattoos on his arms beckoned her to come closer. Desire unfurled low in her belly, and she took a step in his direction. His blue eyes lighted up. She grasped her necklace. She needed to think about Mel. There was no time for this.
“Because it’s not appropriate,” she said.
He snorted.
“It’s never appropriate. Or was doing it in that classroom at the Academy appropriate? No, wait, perhaps you’re referring to that time at your office. Although my favorite is always when we do it in your bedroom.”
She forced herself to ignore him. She ran her hand over the rough bricks that composed the tower-like tunnel they were in. They were cool to the touch. She glanced up, but there were no stairs, only gray light that faded into impenetrable darkness. A yellow glow and a slight breeze came from a little further ahead. She set off in that direction. Torches bracketed on metal sconces gave off long shadows that danced to a diabolical rhythm. The odor of burning sulfur permeated the air. Seamus followed her closely.
“So, I say it’s appropriate when we deem it appropriate,” he continued.
She ignored him. She didn’t know what to say to his claims. Having sex with him was never a good idea, but there had been times when she’d been unable to control herself. She justified it by blaming it on the mating pull. Thinking and dreaming about Seamus for weeks and months drove her insane, and it was the only way to trick her system into forgetting him. After the deed, she always promised herself it wouldn’t happen again, but every time she saw him, it became more difficult.
“Look, a door.”
She jumped. She spun, but he was already making a beeline toward the wooden door that had materialized out of nowhere. Without taking any precautions, he thrust it open and stepped through. She drew her dagger and sprinted after him. She froze in the doorway. A large hearth in the center of the room and several iron-wrought candelabra hanging from above gave off a welcoming blaze. The bright blues and reds of three floor-to-ceiling tapestries caught her eye. They depicted men and women in different everyday chores. Sleeping, eating, and fornicating. To one side, plump, colorful cushions invited the weary to rest. On the other, a long table with food had been set. The rich gold of the dishes and glasses gleamed in the light, inviting newcomers to gaze upon the banquet. The smell of freshly baked bread and stewed meat reached her. Kaila’s stomach grumbled.
“Kaila, come eat.”
Seamus stuffed some cheese in his mouth, swallowed, and took a hearty swig of ale. She sucked in a quick breath. She shook her head slowly, hoping to dissipate the sudden impulse to eat.
“Seamus, no. We don’t know if that’s poisonous.”
She rushed to his side. Her hands were clammy as she attempted to wrestle a chicken leg from him.
“Who cares? You said we were all going to die. We might as well do it with our stomachs full.”
He nimbly averted her and took a bite out of some venison. Sauce dripped down his chin and he moaned in appreciation. Her pussy clenched at the primal sound. She bit on her lip.
“Aren’t you hungry?” he asked between mouthfuls. “I’m starving.”
She stared, mesmerized at his glistening naked torso and ripped abdomen. Her fingers itched to explore each and every one of the ink drawings on his skin. From the Guardian symbol, down to the etchings of the Sins, across the large tree on his side. Her gaze slid lower. His pants hung snug against his chiseled hips, tapering toward the prize between his legs.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this hungry,” he said.
She blinked and glanced at the detailed tapestry to her left. In it, some men and women appeared to be eating behind a table, oblivious to others fornicating atop piles of food strewn on the ground. The light flickered and she squinted to catch the detail in the background. She gasped. Decaying skeletons amassed, their postures mirroring the living. Her pulse raced.
“Seamus,” she pleaded. “I’m not sure this is good. Sloth is probably laying this out for us. Maybe the food is diseased. Please.”
A keening pain started in her chest. The image of the Dream Catcher gobbling him materialized in her mind. Her mouth dried. She couldn’t contemplate the idea of a dead Seamus again.
“Seamus, stop,” she begged.
He paid her no heed, but drank some wine, moaning in appreciation at the flavor. Kaila tugged at her ponytail. Her throat constricted and she gasped for air. Fuck. She couldn’t take it anymore. She sheathed her dagger. A primal scream tore through her as she swept her arm across the table. Plates clattered. Glass shattered into a thousand pieces. The bowl of meat flew across the air and splattered against
the wall with an unpleasant smack. The fruit rolled in all directions, like colorful marbles in a game. The jug of wine lay cracked on the table, the deep red liquid trickling over the edge and forming a puddle that resembled blood. Panting, Kaila gripped the wood for support. Black spots danced before her.
“What’d you do that for?” Seamus asked.
Her eyes widened as she observed him calmly settle on the floor and resume feasting. Kaila threw herself at him. He swore and tried to shrug her off, but she refused to let go. She dragged her nails across his arm, leaving a blazing crimson trail. Gripping his hand, she bit into the tender side. Seamus howled and dropped the piece of chicken he’d been holding onto. She cried out as he pulled her hair.
“Kaila,” he warned.
“You can’t eat that.” She slapped him as he attempted to grab a nearby apple.
With a roar, he pushed her off him and pinned her to the floor. They grappled for a brief instant, but he was stronger than her and quickly held her hands above her head in a punishing grip. Kaila kicked her legs from under him. He assessed her hungrily, indifferent to her effort.
“What shall I eat then?” he whispered.
His voice was a low rumble, both menacing and enticing. Slowly, his gaze drifted over her body, leaving behind a heated path of need. Her breath quickened as her nerve endings stirred. She closed her eyes, attempting to fight the light-headed desire that was building within her.
“Sloth,” she choked out.
Seamus ground his cock against her. Kaila ceased the struggle. It had been too long. A moan lodged at the back of her throat, and she spread her legs, eager to accommodate him. He rubbed against her again. Her pussy clenched.
“Seamus, I’ll have sex with you,” she said without a breath.
He cocked his head to the side like an inquisitive puppy. His eyes narrowed and his lips curled into a slow sensual smile of victory. Her breath caught.
“I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist.”
His mouth descended over hers. Hard, punishing, and unforgiving. His tongue thrust into her, sucking, nipping, and tangling with hers until she lost her bearings. His passion consumed her and her world narrowed to him. She arched against him. Her fists clenched and unclenched. He tugged on her bottom lip, biting hard. Surprised, she squealed. The bitter taste of blood landed on her tongue.
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