He scrubbed a hand down his face, remembering the day, not so long ago, when he'd left the Harpy in bed. She had wanted comfort from him, and he had paid her instead. Left her. Made her feel this way?
He was utterly unworthy of affection.
Of course Elin regretted what they'd done.
He should return her to her world. She could live the life she planned.
He closed his eyes, shook his head. Elin had done more than shift the course of his life. She'd changed him, and it was no longer pain he was addicted to, but pleasure. Not just the best sex of his life, but her. Her very presence. He wouldn't be able to survive without her.
For better or worse, he had to keep her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
WHAT KIND OF weird world have I entered?
First, Elin knew she should be ashamed of herself. She'd slept with the man who'd once tossed her to the curb.
Hello. He also saved me from demons.
Whatever. The man had tensed up moments after the deed was done, dismissing her with a body language she'd had no trouble deciphering, making her feel utterly disposable.
Maybe it was as startling to him as it was to me, and he needed a moment to come to terms with what he was feeling.
Whatever! Rational thought sucked.
So, moving on.
Afterward, her roommates had pestered her for details about her overnight visit with Thane. That had been expected, but Elin had admitted to nothing. How could she answer the girls when she couldn't even answer herself? She was a mass of confusion.
What hadn't been expected? The way her customers treated her during her evening shift.
Men and women stared at her as if she had grown horns and a tail. But when she asked for drink orders, she was politely refused.
No, no, more than one patron had said. Let me get you a drink.
"I give up," she said, tossing her tray on the bar. "I can't figure out what's going on."
"It's the essentia," a voice said from beside her.
She pivoted and looked up, up, up at Xerxes. White hair shagged around a face she'd come to think of as hauntingly beautiful. His eyes glowed such a bright red she had trouble holding his stare. But, oh, the poor thing. He had more scars today. His cheek and neck were covered in short, straight, raised lines.
How had he gotten them?
Maybe it was the bond between them, but she now had a soft spot for the guy. Or, maybe it was the fact that he'd watched out for her, even when Thane hadn't wanted him to. A memory that no longer cut at her, she realized. She truly had forgiven Thane.
"The e-what-a?"
"Essentia is the Sent One equivalent of a beware-of-dog sign."
She looked down at herself, at the matronly uniform Thane now made the girls wear, with not an inch of skin exposed below their necks. "I don't see anything."
"Because you cannot see into the spirit realm. You are aglow with cerulean, Thane's color. And as pretty as it is, it's also dangerous--to others. Like an electric fence. A single touch can kill."
She had blue skin? Really? "I could literally fry people with a touch?" she demanded, sickened by the thought. Just this morning she'd given Bellorie a hug!
"No. You misunderstand. You won't. But Thane will. He considers you his. More so than this bar, even. If you are insulted, he will be angry. If you are harmed, he will be uncontrollable with fury."
Wait just a second. Thane 100 percent, no questions asked considered Elin his woman? Like, she wasn't just a fun bedtime buddy?
But...if that was true, why hadn't he told her how he felt? Or, hey, why hadn't he asked her if it was okay to use her skin as a coloring pad?
Maybe I should have stayed and talked to him like a big girl.
She just hadn't wanted to have to deal with the sting of rejection so soon after the most amazing climax(es) of her life--or before fury had time to bubble up.
Fury? Yes, she realized. If Thane wasn't so sexy and seductive, she could have resisted him and avoided all this drama. But noooo. He was, and she'd succumbed, and she. Did. Not. Like. It.
But what scalded most? Like a junkie, she just wanted more of him.
Gah! It was all Thane's fault.
Ridiculous logic, but she didn't care. She had been battling a million different emotions--upset, hope, anger, regret, sadness, happiness, yearning. Everything was trapped inside her, waiting for an outlet. Thane and his essentia now had a bull's-eye pinned to their backs.
"Where is Thane?" she demanded.
"Why?" Xerxes asked.
"He and I need to schedule a shouting match." She threw her apron on top of her tray. "Plus, I'm not staying down here while I'm glowing like toxic waste. Everyone's treating me like a china-doll-slash-grim-reaper."
"Other women would consider that a blessing."
Maybe she would, too. One day.
That day was not today.
"Thane," she prompted.
"He's not here, but he left orders for you. Follow me." A demand Xerxes clearly expected to be obeyed.
Suck it, she projected. "What kind of orders?"
He was grinning as he turned and stalked away. Sighing, Elin raced after him. She trailed him through the mass of customers jumping out of his way...who stared at her with that comical mix of awe and fear.
"You never answered my first question," she said to the wide expanse of Xerxes's back. "Where is Thane?"
"Demon slaying. Hunting a prince. Take your pick."
"Great, but that doesn't answer my question, either. I didn't ask what he was doing," she said, now worried for him. Ugh. Stop that. The warrior could take care of himself. Those demons were as good as dead.
"I could ask him for you."
"No. Don't bother." No need to distract him. Especially when she could ask him herself. "How long will the essentia last?"
"A few days."
"Oh. Okay. That's not so bad."
"But I'm sure you'll receive a new dose later today."
A shiver of anticipation caused goose bumps to break out over her entire body. Traitor! She wanted to deny that she'd let Thane back into her good graces--and her bed--but who was she kidding?
"Yeah, well." She cleared her throat. "Can humans see it? The glow, I mean."
"Not to my knowledge. Why?"
"Just curious."
They left the building, the sun setting, the air cool, and walked to a structure she'd never noticed before. It was to the right of the gym where she and the girls practiced, and heavily guarded, surrounded by huge, thick clouds.
"What is this place?" she asked, a bit uneasy. And exactly how many females had been escorted here? "Wait. Am I in trouble?"
"In trouble? You?" Xerxes rolled his eyes. "I have a feeling you could burn the place down, and the worst that would happen would be a spanking both you and Thane would enjoy. As for the place, you will find out." He nodded, and the guards posted at the only entrance moved aside.
He entered, and she stayed close to his heels, her booted feet thumping against a clear, glittery stone she'd only ever seen in Thane's bang-and-bail room. "Amazing."
"It's pure gold, which is usually only found in the upper level of the heavens. But this was a gift to Thane from the Most High," he explained.
"A gift for what?"
"Exemplary service. At one time, Thane fought a demon high lord and forty of his minions. The battle lasted thirty-two days. He refused to back down until he'd removed every horned head, saving a human family from destruction."
Wow. He was more stubborn than she'd realized. Fiercer, too. "Has there ever been a battle he hasn't won?"
"Yes. One."
He said no more.
She took the hint. Discussion over.
A maze of multiple hallways loomed ahead, not a single detail different no matter which way she glanced. There seemed to be a thousand doorways, with a thousand guards, all with the same face. A beautiful face, at that. Pale hair, black eyes. Blade-sharp cheekbones, and a prizefighter's chin
. How Xerxes knew where to go, she wasn't sure, but not once did he hesitate to make a turn.
Finally, he came to a doorway--like all the others--and stopped. He fired off a string of words in a language she didn't understand, and the guard stepped aside.
Her heart pounded as she followed him through the opening...into a bona fide treasure room. She gasped. This was something she might find in a king's castle. There were piles of gold and jewels. There was furniture--ancient but well built, with intricately carved designs. Some pieces were even gilded. Some were chiseled from ebony, some from ivory.
"You are to choose whatever you want," Xerxes instructed, and she gasped again.
Payment for services rendered? "No way." They'd talked about it, and Thane had agreed. No money would exchange hands.
"It's for your bedroom."
"My bedroom?" she asked, confused.
"Yes. The one next to Thane's. You are to decorate it as you see fit."
"I see." She wasn't sure whether she should rejoice or cry. Thane still wanted her, but he didn't want her to share his bedroom. They were to have sex, but no cuddles. "So this is like a royal IKEA, huh?"
"If I knew what that meant, I'm sure I would agree."
Do it. Ask what you really want to ask. "Has he ever done this for another woman?"
"No. You are the first. And, I'm sure, the last."
Well, there was that. So, scratch crying. Grinning, she wandered through the massive chamber. She traced her fingertips over pieces that belonged in a museum, wishing she knew their history. "Have you? Brought a woman here, I mean?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Haven't ever cared enough."
Stated so casually, it was kind of sad. "What's your story, Zerk? Love gone wrong? Betrayal? Heartbreak? Or have you simply not found the right girl?"
"Do you enjoy horror movies?" he asked, throwing her for a loop.
"No. They give me the creeps."
"Then you would not enjoy my story."
*
THANE SLICKED HIS SWORD across the demon's neck so deeply he severed its spine. Another fiend dived for him--this one from behind, the whoosh of air a dead giveaway--but he spun and slashed, and it died just like its friend.
Finally, after a long search and many battles with minions, he'd found the prince. The male perched on a swing in the center of a children's playground, merely watching him now, and Thane knew why. The creature was studying him, scrutinizing his habits as he took out more minions. He was smiling a big, white-toothed smile of glee.
The bright, warm day had tempted over fifteen little boys and girls to come play. They were everywhere. Demons were everywhere, in the spirit realm and thus unseen by the children and their parents. The danger unknown to them, but still very real.
Thane needed help. He couldn't fight the minions and protect the children and capture the prince--not that he would attempt to do the last without checking in with his leader. Lesson learned. But he also couldn't bring himself to summon his boys. Xerxes was guarding Elin, and Bjorn...wasn't yet right.
Zacharel, he projected. I've found the prince, but I can't leave him. He's with a horde of minions and they are surrounding a park filled with human children. He rattled off the location.
You were right to stay. The response was immediate. I'm on my way.
Thane spun left, right, felling a demon with each motion, his swords in constant swing, gliding gracefully through the air. There went a horn. And...bye-bye, arm. So long, wing.
A whoosh at his side. He turned, swords at the ready. Zacharel's dark hair and green gaze registered.
Thane glanced at the prince to gauge his reaction to one of the Elite Seven--but he was gone. And now, the demons were running away.
Cowards.
Zacharel looked him over, searching for injury, finding none. "That wasn't exactly the ending I was hoping for, but I suppose I should have expected it. How did you find him?"
"Took your advice. I've been working with Lucien on another task. He was in the area and wasn't busy, so I had him follow the spirit trail of evil."
"Lucien? Where is he now?"
"I'm not sure. My guess is, he was summoned to escort a human spirit to the hereafter." A summons he was physically unable to resist.
"And how long have you been fighting?"
"Here? No more than fifteen minutes." But there had been other battles, each leading to the park, where the prince had been waiting, oh, so casually.
"Fifteen minutes, and yet there are countless demon bodies littering the ground, floating on a sea of blood teeming with parts."
He shrugged. "I enjoy my job."
"Yes, I know. You did well." Zacharel patted him on the shoulder. "Just know, a demon prince will watch, study, wait, and attack in little ways to weaken and distract. Then, when he thinks you are at your lowest, he will swoop in and lay waste."
An insidious tactic.
Thane would have to stay on alert.
"Go home, rest," his boss continued. "You're of no use to me tired. I'll gather the rest of the Elite to hunt the prince's newest spirit trail. If we find him, you'll be needed."
He frowned. "I thought I wasn't to approach him."
"Not on your own, no. But we'll need all the help we can get when the time comes."
"I'll be ready." Thane spread his wings and shot into the sky, anticipation buzzing through him. For the first time, he had something--someone--to go home to. He couldn't wait to see Elin's things in his suite.
She was upset with him, and he couldn't blame her. Yesterday, she'd asked him a question--do you regret what happened--and he'd refused to answer. A mistake on his part. He should have talked to her. She would have understood. She would have helped him see the truth.
As it was, he'd had to discover it on his own in the light of the new day. He did not regret what had happened. How could he? In every way, she made him a better man. Rather, fear had colored his perception. He needed her, now and forever, and couldn't deal with the thought of losing her--ever.
I'll romance her. Send her another note. She'll forgive me.
She has to forgive me.
He reached the club and went straight to the suite. He looked for a notepad and pencil and frowned. Nothing had changed. There were no feminine pillows or books strewn across the coffee table. Bjorn and Xerxes were in the sitting room, talking over each other.
"--illogical little baggage," Xerxes grumbled.
"Calling her names now?" Bjorn tsked. "That's likely to get you staked."
"Worth it," the warrior replied in a singsong voice.
"Where is Elin?" Thane asked, and both men faced him.
They were very obviously trying not to grin.
"I'm almost embarrassed for you," Xerxes said. "A female is your first thought, not your best friends."
"I am embarrassed for him," Bjorn said. "Thane, my man, I'd rather see you in a pink dress and heels than whipped like this."
"Just wait until it's your turn." They'd crumble like Elin's cookies.
Xerxes propped his feet on the new coffee table. One without broken legs. "You've met me, right? I'm un-whippable."
Thane rolled his eyes. "The girl?"
"Not...here," Xerxes said.
What did that mean? Frown deepening, Thane stalked into the room he'd emptied and cleaned for the girl. He'd even taken out the walls and put new ones in. But Elin had failed to fill it with the furniture of her choosing.
"She's in her room," Bjorn offered helpfully. "The one with the other barmaids."
"This is her room," he gritted.
Xerxes finally gave up the battle to hide his mirth and smiled. "I'll let you convince her of that. The only things she took from the treasure room were armbands. Five of them. Because, I quote, 'the Multiple Scorgasms will look so freaking awesome with matching Wonder Woman bangles.'"
Should have known she'd fight me on this. New plan: make amends first, then uproot her. "Did she say anything?"
; "Only that she would discuss her reasons for declining with you, and only you."
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
ELIN WAS LOST in the most amazingly erotic dream one moment, Thane slowly stripping her and kissing every inch of skin as he exposed it, and a nightmare the next, where Thane was actually looming over her fury shining in his eyes.
"Get up," he snapped. Then more gently added, "Please."
She jolted upright, discombobulated for several seconds. Little details began to crystalize. Nightmare Thane was real. Sunlight slanted through the window to illuminate him like a rock star onstage at a sold-out concert. The girls were wide-awake and watching him unabashedly from their bunks.
"Is something wrong?" Elin asked, smoothing the hair from her face.
"You aren't where you belong," he said, and leaned down to scoop her up fireman-style, draping her over his strong shoulder. "I know I handled things poorly after...just after, and I'm sorry. But you have to admit I wasn't in my right mind. You had just ridden the intelligence right out of me."
No way. No way he'd just said that.
"I do not regret what happened," he said.
"He-man in the house!" Savy called. "Whooo, whooo."
"What, what," Octavia sang. "Bonka's about to get her a little some-some, ya'll."
Can't laugh. As her man straightened, she beat at his back. "Thane No Middle Name Downfall. Put me down this instant!"
He strode out of the room. The last thing she saw was Bellorie giggling as if she'd just downed an entire keg of beer.
"You wanted to be lovers. We are lovers. You wanted all of me, I gave you all of me. Good and bad. You wanted space, I gave you space. Now, we do what I want."
Caveman Thane was a major turn-on. Maybe it was the heat in his voice. Or the tight coil of muscle pressed against her, but Elin practically burst into flames. Just. Like. That.
"I see you like this idea," he said, and, oh, the cocky bugger sounded smug. "Your temperature rose ten degrees in less than a second."
Stupid Phoenix trait. "So what? What are you going to do about it?"
He stepped into the waiting elevator. When the doors closed, he smoothed her down the hard length of his body. A full-frontal assault ensued, his erection catching between her legs for several sublime moments.
With his arms banded around her waist, he said, "We will discuss my plans after you tell me why you aren't in your new room."
"Well," she hedged, toying with the collar of his robe. "For starters, I'm mad at you."
"This, I know," he said. "But I apologized, and you accepted."
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