The Darkest King

by Gena Showalter

  Most unnatural magic wielders burned through whatever they absorbed. They had to kill someone with magic to acquire more. What William took, he kept...until he took too much and expelled it, making horsemen.

  With a wave, he utilized enough magic to torch a hole in the center of the room. Sparks crackled in the air, growing and spreading, creating a seven-by-seven-foot doorway that led to William’s palace. More specifically, a doorless, soundproof bunkroom underneath the palace.

  At the creation of the portal, the crowd nearly rioted.

  Pandora hefted the unconscious bolter over her shoulder and said, “Ladies first.” With a salute to William, she carted the human through the portal, into the bunkroom, where she stayed.

  “Be quiet, line up and walk through,” William commanded the others. Most cried and shook, but all obeyed.

  Yet again, Sunny was an exception. She stood her ground, radiating challenge.

  Her unwillingness to back down, even for a moment, threatened to put him in a lather. She deserved praise. And a spanking.

  When his son approached her, intending to...what? William shook his head, saying, “What’s the golden rule, Greenie?” His son despised the nickname, so of course he used it as frequently as possible.

  Green took a page from Panda’s book and flipped him off. “You sure you don’t need help with her?” He hiked a thumb in Sunny’s direction. “She seems feral.”

  “She is feral.” William strode over and shoved his son through the portal, fixated on his unicorn, the sole remaining occupant in the ballroom. So lovely. So powerful.

  I prefer meek, biddable females, remember? Then why was steam rising from his boiling blood, fogging his mind?

  Inner shake. “Desirous of another kiss, duna? Why else would you disobey a direct order?”

  She smirked. “How fitting. You deem your kisses a punishment, too.”

  Her come-hither voice swept over him, and he decided his must-haves were due for a change. Forget meek and biddable. Snarky and voice of a porn star now topped the list. Then her words registered, and he scowled, his ego taking another hit. Little witch.

  “I’ll go as your guest,” she said, “not your prisoner.”

  “As if you have a choice.”

  “Are you sure this is the hill you want to die upon? As a guest, I reward. As a captive, I punish.”

  Tone wry, he said, “I’ll risk it.”

  “Very well.” How did excitement and rage coat her words? “What does duna mean to you, anyway?”

  “Abyss of darkness.” The nickname served as a reminder for William. His friends might consider their women beacons of light, but he could not do the same. If Sunny proved to be the one, she would destroy him if he let her. “Would you prefer ‘My Little Horned Pony’?”

  “Horned—” Fluttering a hand over her heart, she stumbled back. “You know what I am.”

  “I do. Just as you know what I am. A ruthless killer with an agenda.”

  Now terror darkened her features. The sight threw him, an unexpected pang ripping through his gut. At least he didn’t have to wonder why she’d reacted so strongly. Last night he’d done his homework. Since the dawn of time, unicorns had been hunted. Poachers removed their horns to grind up and snort, to use as a magic wand or to sell. Collectors either killed and stuffed the unicorns for display, or kept them alive and caged.

  Most immortal species feared the magical beasts, since you never knew which side of their nature you’d get. The loving saint, or the hated sinner. Sometimes unicorns spread joy, other times fear. Sometimes they aided, sometimes they killed without remorse. Damn if William wasn’t intrigued by both.

  “You have no reason to fear me, Sunny.” Yet. “For fourteen days, I will be your protector. Poachers and collectors will be murdered on sight. I’ll put a sign on my door and everything.”

  Adopting a defensive stance, she said, “Why such a short time frame? What happens on day fifteen?”

  Perceptive female. “We’ll discuss it later.” After I’ve decided which path to walk with you, but before we have sex.

  Sex is now a forgone conclusion, then? He’d changed his mind too many times.

  “I don’t know how you survived my magic bullet,” she said, menace pulsing from her. “Unless you’re a cockroach-shifter?”

  He ran his tongue over his teeth. Did she hope to spur an attack, so she’d have an excuse to strike at him, or did she believe insulting him would sending him fleeing?

  “If you mean cock-shifter, then yes. That is what I am.” As casually as possible, he asked, “So you’ll offer no apology for your actions last night?” Not even the pretense of one?

  “I probably should apologize,” she grumbled. “I mean, immortals usually regenerate exact replicas of lost body parts, but you...your face... My bad.” She exaggerated a wince.

  I’m hot as fire, damn it.

  “People apologize for accidents or regrets,” she said. “I meant to shoot you, so I’m not remorseful.” She pointed at the dead codebreaker. “Do you plan to apologize to Harry?”

  He offered a negligent shrug. “Professor Willy needed to teach an unforgettable lesson to his class. Harry volunteered.”

  “And when did you speak with Harry?”

  “After I recovered from my face swap with the floor.” He’d returned to the hotel, intending to sneak into Sunny’s room and teach her a lesson. Never mess with William King. But, he’d spotted this Harry guy in the bar, spiking a woman’s drink. Rape was a crime he avenged swiftly and without exception, so, he’d rushed to intervene, stealing the woman away and locking her in her room, alone. Not killing Harry then and there had been the true challenge. But, William ultimately decided to punish Harry in front of the other codebreakers, proving he wasn’t some closeted white knight they could manage. “His T-shirt offended me.”

  “You mean the T-shirt covered in smiley faces?”

  “You hate it, too?” All right, enough banter. Ticktock. William prowled closer, saying, “Don’t worry, duna. Your punishment is an all-night tongue-lashing.”

  Intrigue lit those amber eyes, and he did a double take. She liked the idea?

  He shot harder than stone. Shit! He liked it, too.

  Before she had a chance to respond, making his desire worse, he grated, “I have a message for you. Are you listening?”

  Sunny pasted on a brittle smile and gave a royal wave. “Today’s your lucky day. I remembered to wear my listening ears. Do continue.”

  Smart-ass. The closer he came, the faster she breathed, her breasts rising and falling. She wants me; she just doesn’t want to want me. Satisfaction stirred in the marrow of his bones.

  Finally, he stood a whisper away. He inhaled her maddeningly sweet scent and drank in those sparkling eyes, so like liquid gold. Awe nearly dropped him to his knees.

  “Well,” she prompted, a little irritated and a lot anticipatory. “Let’s hear the message.”

  Yes. Let’s. Voice low and smoky, he said, “You tried to kill me. Therefore, you owe me a life-debt, and I will collect. From now on, you are my property. Every breath you take is my gift to you. Meaning, yes. I own you, body and soul.”

  As she sputtered, William’s darkest instincts went to war with his lightest. Punish. Possess. Protect.

  He would. Nothing would stop him. Oh, the things he would do to this woman...

  6

  “My humbleness is one of my greatest attributes.”

  A thousand thoughts jumbled together, creating a quagmire of confusion in Sunny’s mind. Only one remained untangled and crystal clear. William King did, in fact, light her wick. Her body craved his, hunger gnawing at her.

  Had he aided Lucifer all those centuries ago? She didn’t know anymore.

  Did he truly own a coded book and require a translator? Yes. That, she believed. At the start of the worksho
p, Jaybird and Cash had droned on and on about William, a “hot piece of beefcake with photos of a unique code.” But why protect the codebreakers for only two weeks?

  The exact same time frame as mating season.

  Her instincts pinged. Something’s fishy here. If he desperately needed the book decoded, why not give her the time she needed to succeed?

  For that question and a thousand other reasons, she would not be trusting William with her life, even for two short weeks. Why should she? The man considered her a dark abyss. He defied her magic and wielded his own. And let’s not forget his propensity for murdering people sporting novelty tees.

  “I’m not going with you, William,” she said. “My acquaint—friend is still missing. I’d hoped she’d be here. Alas.” She pressed her lips into a thin line, going quiet. Her chin trembled. I am near tears?

  No, never. And there was no reason to share her secrets with a man, any man, especially one who tied her insides into knots...and turned her into lust on legs.

  Already Sunny burned and quaked, her body starved for pleasure. And cuddles! Oh, what she wouldn’t give for the after-sex cuddles so many people took for granted. When you had no one and nothing, the smallest bit of affection made the biggest difference to your mind-set. But she couldn’t enjoy a man unless she felt safe. So. Yeah. She’d never enjoyed a man. But she wanted to. Badly.

  “I’ll send my best tracker to find her,” William promised.

  So he could bag and tag another unicorn? “No, thanks.” Sable can take care of herself. No doubt she got spooked, ran and plans to hole up until the coast is clear.

  Besides, Sable had lived thousands of years without Sunny. She could survive a couple weeks more, yes?

  Daisy! Sunny didn’t know. She could use William’s help. William...who’d dressed as a living lollipop today. His pink T-shirt read Save the Boobies and stretched taut across his chest and biceps. Black leather pants molded to powerful legs. With his dark hair in disarray and a night’s worth of beard scruff on his jaw, he sent her heart into overdrive.

  “Lookit. Part of me is sorry I caused you pain,” she said, and she meant it. “The other part of me will never be sorry.” Yep. She meant that, too. Dual natured and all that jazz. “You provoked me, and also, I have a legit beef with your family.”

  He did that annoying brow lift thing and slowly circled her, his stride graceful but predatory. “Are you saying I asked for it?”

  “No. I’m saying you begged for it. Shoot me, then,” she mocked, following his movements. She peered into his electric blues as his wicked scent filled her nose, and his delicious heat enveloped her. Her defenses began to crumple.

  All night she’d tossed and turned, worried about Sable and hyperfocused on William, glad he’d survived the gunshot and shockingly eager for his return. Even though he’d basically vowed revenge.

  She’d wondered how she would react to the sight of him. Now she knew. Breathless. Racing heart. Puckered nipples. Aching core.

  How did he react to the sight of her?

  Sunny dragged her gaze down his broad chest and gasped. A massive erection strained his fly. A rush of feminine power flooded her, leaving her dazed and light-headed. He might consider her a dark abyss, but he craved her, too.

  “Sunny.” He snapped his fingers in front of her face. “My cock is a work of art, I know, but you must combat your fascination and concentrate on the matter at hand.”

  A flush warmed her cheeks. “If you don’t want people mentally measuring your cockscomb—” the use of a flower in this particular situation, with this particular male, made the flush a thousand degrees hotter “—don’t put it on display.”

  “Cockscomb?” He belted out a sensual laugh, amusement transforming his features from darkly sardonic to sinfully angelic. “I haven’t put anything on display...yet.”

  Sunny’s heart raced faster. She didn’t give jack-sage about that “yet.” Only here and now mattered.

  “With its immense length and gargantuan girth,” he said, “my cockscomb cannot be hidden at full salute.”

  Her panties all but disintegrated. “Men! You’re all obsessed with your genitals.”

  “Women! You’re all obsessed with my genitals.”

  Argh! He had a comeback for everything, didn’t he? She scowled. “News flash. A penis doesn’t make you special.”

  “Counterpoint. This penis makes me very special.”

  If she shifted into a unicorn and stabbed him with her horn, no one would blame her.

  “Just out of curiosity,” he said, canting his head to the side, “if you were a car, what kind would you be?”

  Daisy! Why did he have to remind her of their first meeting, when she’d asked about pizza? It made him seem nice and normal, and she didn’t have the strength to resist. “I’d be a food truck, because I serve what you order. And you? Wait. I’ll guess. You’d be a Viper, because you’re a snake.”

  “Wrong. I’d be a tank, because I mow down any obstacles in my way.”

  Why, why, why did she find his answer so sexy?

  Inhale, exhale. She glanced at the portal. A glittery veil of dappled air. The muscly bald man stood front and center, watching her. Ready to act if Sunny struck at William? The hard-core brunette corralled the freaked-out codebreakers.

  Not yet ready to decide whether to go or fight to stay, she stalled, asking, “Who are your friends?”

  “My sister, Pandora, and my son Green.” The ease of his admission surprised her.

  So did the connection. William had a son? The two looked nothing alike. Although, they did possess a similar blurry aura. Difference was, Green’s aura had specks of emerald and black, a strange mix of life and death.

  “I’ve always wanted a sibling,” she admitted. A ready-made friend who had to love her. Someone who would listen to her complain about her problems and offer advice. Right now, Sunny had Sable. But. Before the conference, she hadn’t seen the unicorn in over one hundred and seventy-five years. Before that, she hadn’t seen her for three centuries.

  The lack of companionship bothered her. Unicorns were pack-minded creatures, far stronger together than apart. The bigger the pack, the easier it was to control their dark sides.

  “Sunny,” William said, then sighed with impatience. Gah! She’d gotten lost in her head again. A dangerous habit to indulge. “This is your last chance to enter the portal of your own volition.”

  Or what? He’d throw her over his shoulder fireman-style? Shiver.

  She looked at the portal...then William. The portal. William. To escape or not to escape? Maybe, by helping William with his book, she’d have opportunities to learn more about his family, discover their greatest weaknesses, hideouts and fears, and finally execute Lucifer. But, again, she’d be a prisoner.

  And what about Sable? Was the other unicorn truly okay? “You know what I am,” Sunny said, lifting her chin. “What if you decide to steal my horn?” I’ll stop him. Yes, but what if he locked her up, forever? I’ll escape. If she had to fight her way free, she would. He’d never be able to stop her.

  “Keep your horn to yourself, and we won’t have any problems,” he said, his derisive tone a real teeth-grinder. “Come to my palace, decode my book, and I’ll escort you to Lucifer’s home. You wish to kill him, yes?”

  She sucked in a breath. Her greatest desire! But had William spoken a truth or a lie? With him, she couldn’t tell. “If you truly are at war with your brother, I’ll be doing you two favors. Decoding your book and killing your brother. How is that fair to me?”

  “Ex-brother. If you break the curse in the two-week time frame, I’ll give you anything you want. Absolutely anything.”

  Her heart leaped. “What about the other codebreakers? Will you let them go unharmed if I can decode your book?”

  “I will, yes.” He gave the assurance with zero hesitation and one h
undred percent confidence, as if he’d just made a blood oath, and she thought, hoped, he’d meant it.

  “All right. Show me a photo of the book.”

  He went still, his intent expression bordering on psychotic. Then he held out a hand. Did she detect a slight tremor? A second later, a photograph appeared over his palm.

  She lifted and studied the image. An open book, with two yellowed pages visible. They were frayed at the edges and littered with odd symbols she’d never before seen. But...the code remained unbroken.

  Truly a first for Sunny, and she frowned. No matter the complexity of a code, cipher or encryption, her magic always unlocked the truth. Why not now?

  Maybe she wasn’t the one William needed. And that was fine. Whatever. So why do I want to beat the one who is? “I got nothing. Either I’m not the one you seek, or I need to see the original pages.”

  His mood changed in an instant, a toxic mix of disappointment, frustration and fury crackling in his irises. “You’ll work with photographs or nothing.”

  “Oh. Okay. In that case, I’ll go with nothing.”

  “You’ll go with whatever I tell you,” he bellowed. As his voice echoed from the walls, he blanched. He inhaled sharply, exhaled slowly. More calmly, he asked, “Do you have the skill to decipher it or not?”

  Realization: the code, whatever it was, didn’t mean a great deal to him—it meant everything to him. “Maybe. Probably,” she admitted, stuffing the photo into her pocket. “Without the original pages, it’ll take more time.” A lot more.

  “My offer hasn’t changed. Two weeks, in exchange for a trip to Lucifer’s home. Succeed, and you can name your prize.” He waved to the portal, somehow making the action more menacing than his gun.

  “My offer hasn’t changed, either. Despite our agreed-upon give-and-take, I’ll still be a prisoner, so, I will punish you.”

  He shrugged. Shrugged! He does not fear my wrath...yet.

  But he would.