Cronus stood beside the bed.
Without a word, Anya flashed to where her mother and father were in hiding, an island near Anya's Hawaiian home. Dysnomia was standing in front of the cage, frowning down at it.
"Sorry, Mom, but you don't need to watch it for me after all."
Pretty Dysnomia gasped at the intrusion, her dark hair swaying at her shoulders. She smiled when she realized it was Anya. "Hello, darling."
"I know what you're thinking. Two visits in one day when I swore to stay away from you to keep the Titans off your trail. But you're still safe, so don't worry, okay?" Anya kissed her soft cheek. "Tell Dad I said hi and that I'll visit again soon. Promise," she said and, grasping the artifact, flashed back to Lucien.
Cronus stood exactly where she'd left him.
She placed the Cage of Compulsion against the far wall. Anya had to admit, she was surprised when Cronus merely raised an eyebrow rather than attempting to take it.
"I have kept my end of the bargain," he told her.
Now she would keep hers. Suddenly nervous, Anya kissed the sleeping Lucien and flashed herself inside the cage. "I'm ready," she said, gripping the bars.
The god blinked in surprise and confusion. "You want to be locked away? Without the All-Key, you will not be able to escape and anyone who steps inside this room will be able to command you to their will."
"I know." But this way, if she lost her memory of Lucien when the key left her body, she wouldn't be able to run from him, hurting them both because of the bond between them. He would have time to win her heart again. "I love him."
Cronus stroked his beard in puzzlement. "Astounding. And unexpected from one such as you."
She let the "one such as you" slide. Loving Lucien was the best thing she'd ever done, and she'd do anything for him. "Let's get this over with." She gulped, pushed out a breath, then uttered the necessary words. "I, Anya, known across the ages as Anarchy, freely give Cronus, king of gods, the All-Key. I do this willingly and with no reservations."
Humming with anticipation, Cronus reached inside her with a ghostly hand, just as she had seen Lucien do to the dead all those many times. Her chest burned…burned…. A sharp ache erupted as he pulled his hand back, and then a bright amber light was pulsing in his palm. Anya's knees gave out and she collapsed. Closing his eyes, Cronus placed that light over his heart.
His smile of satisfaction was the last thing Anya saw before her entire world went black.
"LET ME OUT!"
Lucien had never felt so helpless. He simply didn't know what to do. Anya had been locked in the Cage of Compulsion for four days. Despite their bond, she had no idea who he was. She possessed only the memories of her time before accepting the key inside her body. Constantly she demanded he release her. But he didn't. He couldn't. She would leave; she might even try to kill him.
She'd threatened it often enough. And he could still sense her emotions, so he knew that she meant it. She, too, could still sense his emotions and asked him daily why he loved her. Always she asked with confusion, as if they were strangers and he should view her with revulsion. Certainly she seemed to view him with revulsion.
Like a chained, hungry animal, he paced the length of his bedroom. She'd given up the All-Key for him. He hated that she'd done so and wanted to spank her and hug her at the same time. She'd lost her memories, but at least she hadn't lost her strength. He liked to think it was because of their bond. She'd once given him strength and now he was returning the favor.
If only he could make her remember him.
"Let me out of here!" she shouted at him. "You have no right to keep me. How did you move me from Tartarus without my knowledge?"
He stopped and stared over at her, his chest tightening. He hated what she'd given up for him, yes, but more than that, he hated to see her suffering. "Anya. We are bonded. Why do you not remember me?"
"Bastard." She reached through the bars and scratched his chest, drawing blood. "Come near me and feel pain. You got me? The captain was bigger than you and I killed him without blinking."
He sank to the floor in front of the bars, the last few days playing through his mind. When he'd woken up in his bedroom, alive, once again merged with Death, he had been overjoyed. Then he had seen Anya sleeping in the cage. Then she'd woken up and looked at him as though he were a stranger. Cursing at him. Hating him.
Would nothing go right?
It seemed a pall had settled over all the warriors. He'd learned that Paris had returned from Greece a broken shell of a man. Paris refused to talk about it, though, so no one knew what had happened. The warrior would soon be leaving for the States to join Gideon as planned, but Lucien couldn't help feeling guilty that he was the one who'd told the others not to worry about Paris. With the delay, that haunted look, something had clearly gone wrong.
Aeron and Reyes were in the States themselves, though no one had spoken with either and didn't know what was happening with them. Which, in turn, meant no one knew what had happened to Danika and her family. Lucien sighed. The other warriors were still searching for signs of the other Hydras. So far, no luck.
Lucien should be out there, searching with them. At the very least, he should be helping Paris recover from whatever had happened to him. That's the way things had always been. Something happened, and Lucien fixed it as best he could. But he couldn't leave Anya. Wouldn't. She was his life.
Unfortunately, he could not seem to fix her, either.
She remembered neither Maddox nor Ashlyn, though the couple visited her every day to thank her for what she'd done for them. She would listen, seem to soften for a heartbeat, but still her memories did not return. He'd even given her the lollipops she loved to no avail. What more could he do?
"I love you," he told her.
"Well, I hate you. Let me go!" The bars rattled as she shook them.
He dropped his head into his waiting hands. "You are not going to remember me, no matter what I do. Are you?"
"Go fuck yourself." She slammed her fist through the bars and into the back of his skull. "I will not be your slave. Do you hear me! I'm no one's slave."
With a heavy heart—and wanting to die all over again—he stood and unlocked the door.
At first, she simply stood there, looking at him. "Why are you so sad? Why are you freeing me?"
"I cannot bear to see you imprisoned."
"Why?" Not waiting for his answer, shaking her head and keeping as wide a berth as possible between them, she stalked from the cage and turned narrowed eyes on him. "What's wrong with me? Why do I hurt at the thought of leaving?"
Tears ran down his cheeks, and he scrubbed them away. He didn't dare hope. Not yet. "I am your mate."
"I have no mate." She marched toward him, fury in her crystalline eyes. Along the way, she swiped one of the daggers he'd set on the nightstand. "You're going to pay for locking me up."
Seeing her like that, a memory clicked into place. She'd once stood before him exactly like this, telling him about the cage. Whoever was inside had to do exactly as the owner commanded.
Even kill yourself? he'd asked.
Yes, she'd answered.
It was so simple, really. Scowling, she lunged at him. Careful not to hurt her, hopeful for the first time in days, he knocked the blade from her hand and grabbed her, flashing into the cage, then flashing himself out before she knew what was going on.
She screamed at him as he locked the door. "I'll kill you for this! What kind of sadistic mind game are you playing?" Her gaze snagged on his tattoo, which was pulsing black and red. She blinked as though mesmerized, lost some of her fury. "Pretty."
Maybe she was remembering. Hope intensifying, he gripped the bars and stared at her. "Sit down, Anya."
She fell on her ass and glared at him, resentment back in her eyes. It was working. She opened her mouth to yell, but he said, "Be silent, Anya."
Her lips pressed together. The resentment became utter fury.
If this failed…
"Remember me, Anya. Remember our time together. I command you to remember."
Her eyelids squeezed shut, and she gasped. Her features contorted, as if in pain. She fell to her back and curled into a ball, clutching at her temples.
"Anya!" he shouted, concerned, swinging open the door and crouching beside her.
A long while passed as she writhed, moaned and cursed, clawing at her head. He held her, muttering soothing words, hating himself. What have I done to her? The woman had given up everything for him.
Finally, though, she stilled. A fine glaze of sweat slicked her skin. Shadows had formed half-moons under her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I'll let you go, but don't expect me to forget you. We're bonded. I'll be on your trail, doing everything in my power to win and romance you. So prepare to see a lot of me. I love you too much to let you go."
"Like I'd ever allow you to let me go. You're mine. I love you, too, Flowers." Her dark lashes swept up, her eyes suddenly shining with love. "Gods, I'm so glad that you're alive."
Such astounding happiness skipped through him, he was shaking as he crushed her against his chest. "Anya, sweet Anya."
"I love you so much," she said.
He buried his head in her neck, inhaling her strawberry scent. "Thank the gods, Anya. I was dying inside every time you looked at me as if I were a stranger."
She kissed and nipped at his face, her hands tangling into his hair. "I thought I'd lost you."
"You gave up everything for me."
"Well, that's because you're the most important thing in my life."
He squeezed her tightly and flashed onto the bed with her still in his arms. Somehow, some way, he would find a way to restore her powers. Maybe putting her back inside the cage and commanding her to regain them would work. If not…"I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."
Grinning, she wound her legs around his waist. "That was always my plan. Now, catch me up on what's been happening."
He, too, grinned. Never, in all of his life, had he been so happy. He told her what he knew about his friends. "William escaped the mountain and has healed. He followed us here and wants his book. I have not allowed him inside the fortress, but he calls me every day."
Her eyes narrowed. "Oh, I'll give him the book, as promised. Later. I might rip out a few pages first, but accidents happen."
"He has apologized countless times and his sorrow seems genuine. Mostly, I just want him gone, and he won't leave until he speaks with you."
"Later. Right now, you're going to make love to me."
Lucien's grin widened as he slowly stripped her, savoring the sight of her luscious curves and creamy skin. "You're going to wed me, yes?"
"Oh, yes."
"Good. I know the perfect spot for our honeymoon."
"The paradise where you almost died?" Her hands worked desperately at his clothing.
"No. Paradise is right here." He slid two fingers deep inside her.
Moaning, she arched her hips into him. "Then where?"
"There are three more artifacts to find. Most of the warriors are out searching for them. Except for Reyes, who went in search of Aeron and Danika." In and out he pumped. "Are you up for another treasure hunt?"
"Always." She rolled him over and impaled herself on his shaft. Both of them groaned at the heady pleasure. "But I've already found the only treasure I'll ever need. And speaking of treasures, what are we going to do with the cage?"
"Keep it. Now that you remember me, there are a few things I'd like to do to you inside it."
"Mmm, me like. And maybe later we can try and help my dad regain his memory. He and my mom deserve a little happiness after all they've endured."
"A noble idea."
"Enough talking. I believe you had some plans for me…."
He was grinning happily as he worked them both over the edge.
Lords of the Underworld Glossary of Characters and Terms
Aeron—Keeper of Wrath
All-Seeing Eye—Godly artifact with the power to see into heaven and hell
Amun—Keeper of Secrets
Anya—(Minor) Goddess of Anarchy
Ashlyn Darrow—Human female with supernatural ability
Baden—Keeper of Distrust (deceased)
Cage of Compulsion—Godly artifact with the power to enslave anyone trapped inside
Cameo—Keeper of Misery; only female warrior
Cloak of Invisibility—Godly artifact with the power to shield its wearer from prying eyes
Cronus—King of the Titans
Danika Ford—Human female, target of the Titans
Dean Stefano—Hunter; right-hand man of Galen
dimOuniak—Pandora's box
Dr. Frederick McIntosh—Vice President of the World Institute of Parapsychology
Dysnomia—Greek, Goddess of Lawlessness
Galen—Keeper of Hope
Gideon—Keeper of Lies
Gilly—Human female, friend of Danika
Ginger Ford—Sister of Danika
Greeks—Former rulers of Olympus, now imprisoned in Tartarus
Hera—Queen of the Greeks
Hunters—Mortal enemies of the Lords of the Underworld
Hydra—Multiheaded serpent with poisonous fangs
Kane—Keeper of Disaster
Legion—Demon minion, friend of Aeron
Lords of the Underworld—Exiled warriors to the Greek gods; now house demons inside them
Lucien—Keeper of Death; leader of the Budapest warriors
Maddox—Keeper of Violence
Mallory Ford—Grandmother of Danika
Pandora—Immortal warrior, once guardian of dimOuniak (deceased)
Paring Rod—Godly artifact, power unknown
Paris—Keeper of Promiscuity
Reyes—Keeper of Pain
Sabin—Keeper of Doubt; leader of the Greek warriors
Sienna Blackstone—Female Hunter
Strider—Keeper of Defeat
Tartarus—Greek, God of Confinement; also the immortal prison on Mount Olympus
Themis—Titan, Goddess of Justice
Tinka Ford—Mother of Danika
Titans—Current rulers of Olympus
Torin—Keeper of Disease
William—Immortal, friend of Anya
Zeus—King of the Greeks
ISBN: 978-1-4268-1767-0
THE DARKEST KISS
Copyright © 2008 by Gena Showalter
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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