The Darkest Torment
Page 45

“That’s all right. One of my friends is a computer whiz. He’s hacking into your bank accounts and transferring the funds to ours. By morning, that coin will be the only one you have left. Oh, and he’s also finding the name and location of every girl in your employ. Each will be freed, and your guards will be fired. Literally.”
Aleksander paled. “The last time Pandora appeared, she told me you’d taken a shine to my wife. Do you really want to leave Katarina destitute?”
Baden unveiled a smile so icy it chilled the room. He wanted the woman, and he would have her, but their date wouldn’t change their future. Sex...release...and one day, goodbye. Callous of him? No. A kindness to her? Yes. Better he hit and run than allow the beast to one day decide she was a threat they couldn’t afford to let live—which just might happen.
As she’d stood in front of him, the sun stroking over the dark hue of her skin, a well of tenderness had bubbled up inside him. He’d hated it as much as he’d loved it. He had to remain sharp, focused on winning his game. He had to survive the war between kings and help his friends find Pandora’s box. And he had to do it all while controlling the beast.
Katarina could help with the latter, no question, but at what cost to her?
“I won’t leave her destitute,” he said. “When the time comes, I’ll give her your fortune. She’s earned it.”
Aleksander hurled obscenities at him. “She’s mine, demon-spawn. Mine!”
Baden battled...something dark. “I’m no longer a demon and have never been the spawn of one. I’m worse. And you can’t do anything to stop me.”
Far from cowed, Aleksander kicked at him. “One day, you’ll regret your dealings with me.”
An undeniable threat. Now he dies.
Yes. Yes. The blood they would taste...the screams they would hear...
Vibrating with anticipation, Baden closed the distance. Aleksander shrank back—bastard was cowed now, wasn’t he? Too late. Baden grabbed his uninjured arm and palmed a dagger, intending to cut off his remaining hand.
Aleksander attempted to push him away. His wrist was longer, Baden realized, with three metacarpals already peeking through his skin like little white twigs.
There was only one way such a phenomenon was possible. He wasn’t human.
Hades possessed the ability to immortalize certain humans, but then, so did several different artifacts. The coin... Baden still hadn’t learned much about it, the details sparse. To use the coin was—supposedly—to force Hades to perform a boon. But what were the limits? The consequences?
“Take my other hand if you want it.” Aleksander glared up at him. “You’ll never take my wife.”
“I already have.” The something dark grew hot...hotter...until it burned Baden’s chest, a poker pressing deep. “And if you say one more word about her, I’ll teach you how to make cell-to-table dick puree.” A threat he’d heard Paris make on more than one occasion.
The sharp scent of fear saturated the air. Delightful.
“Pandora,” Aleksander shouted. “Pandora!”
“She promised to help you, I know.” There were multiple cameras hidden throughout the space, and Torin had captured each of her flashes into the room.
He’d texted Baden every time, and Baden had joined him at the wall of monitors, waiting for her to attempt to free the human from his chains—chains that were attached to the wall with mystical bonds. They could be opened only one of two ways: a key made specifically for the lock, or the All-key, capable of opening any lock. A key Torin carried in his spirit.
The moment Pandora touched one of the links, she would become bound to the chains herself, unable to flash away. But she was smart, and she’d avoided all points of contact.
“Pandora!” Aleksander shouted again.
Movement at his right. Baden spun, at the same time jumping backward, barely missing Pandora’s swinging sword.
They faced off, glaring at each other.
“Trying to kill me?” Baden was dressed and ready for war. Dual pistols in holsters waited at his waist. His camo pants had multiple pockets, each filled with something deadly: daggers, extra cartridges, switchblades, throwing stars and even a vial of poison. “Tsk-tsk. Hades will be displeased.”
“Perhaps I meant to shave you. You’re looking a little stubbly.”
Well, then. Perhaps he would shave her, too. He pulled a switchblade, lethal silver glinting in the light cast from a single bulb hanging from the ceiling.
“This man belongs to me.” She pointed to Aleksander, as if Baden needed clarification. “He’s my point.”
“You want him? Take him.” He smiled at her. “I won’t lift a finger to stop you.”
She motioned to his blade. “You’ll just lift a weapon, I’m guessing.”
He held out his arms in a display of innocence. “I won’t. You have my word.”
She knew him, knew his word was as good as gold. She also knew he always planned ahead.
“Free him,” she said, “or I’ll take a page from your book and steal something else from you. Something new every day.”
“You may try.”
“Very well. Remember, you picked this path.” She smirked and vanished.
Aleksander smirked as well, feeling confident now that he thought he had an ally.
Baden smiled. “Try not to scream. Actually, scream all you like. I’ll enjoy it.”
* * *
Baden flashed outside Torin’s bedroom. He’d learned not to appear directly inside any room but his own. More often than not, a couple was inside having sex. Even in the living room. No one had boundaries anymore.
He knocked, his beastly strength cracking yet another door.
“If this isn’t a matter of life and death,” Torin called, “go away.”
His friend would probably regret the qualification. “It is.”
A grunt of irritation, a rustle of clothing and a patter of footsteps. Keeley opened the door, her tank top on backward, and her skirt tucked into her panties.
Oh, yes. Torin regretted.
Destruction cursed at her.
She looked Baden up and down, saying, “You’ve never looked better, but I’ve never hated you more.” She flipped him off as she shouldered her way past him, muttering, “Cock blocker’s not gonna like payback.”