The Darkest King

by Gena Showalter

  So she could stab Lucifer, putting herself at even greater risk? No again. “You won’t.” Think. He would—

  Suddenly, glass shattered, a snarling Dawn busting through the window, her body flying through the air, colliding with Sunny and Lucifer. One of the hellhound’s heads chomped on Lucifer’s wrist, ripping his hand away from the unicorn. The other head chomped at the bastard’s face.

  Sunny dropped, and so did Lucifer’s knife. Without pausing to catch her breath or take stock, she grabbed the weapon’s hilt and jabbed the blade into the back of his knee. Finally, he toppled.

  “Look out!” William shouted, grabbing Sunny to fling her away from the danger zone. As she skidded across the floor, he reached for Dawn.

  Too late.

  Lucifer’s body burst into Hell flames—a natural defense mechanism. Those flames wouldn’t harm William. Because of his connection to Hades, he remained immune. But those flames would consume everyone and everything in their path, including Dawn, who whimpered as her fur scorched and flesh blistered.

  Lucifer rolled back, escaping William’s slashing blade. The blaze quickly spread over the floorboards, smoke thickening the air. Then he vanished.

  He had a choice. Pursue Lucifer, or save his girls?

  No contest. Moving as fast as inhumanly possible, he gathered Sunny, who grabbed Dawn while sobbing, “My poor plant-babies.” Next he flashed them outside, set them on the grass, then flashed back into the stable, grabbing the book and a potted plant. He flashed back to his girls.

  “My diary!” Sunny shouted.

  Damn it! He flashed back to the stable. As soon as he had the diary in hand, he flashed back, regathered his girls and his belongings, then flashed to his bedroom.

  30

  “What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is mine.”

  Sunny tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. As usual. Just not for the usual reasons. She’d lost her home and all of her clothes. William had jeopardized his own safety to ensure her well-being and save Dawn, because Sunny had been bested by a stupid illusion.

  Why hadn’t she seen the truth?

  William had deposited her and Dawn in his bedroom, cleaned and patched their wounds, then taken off, saying only, “Our trip to see the boys and their prisoner has been postponed. I will hunt Lucifer. You will doctor Dawn, and check my book for damage.”

  He had yet to return, but she wasn’t upset about his overnight abandonment. Not this time. How could she be? The man had saved her, Dawn, a plant and her diary. And when Lucifer had held a knife at her throat, William had radiated such rage and determination.

  He’s got it bad for me, and only me!

  She grinned as she walked to the desk, intending to study his book. Halfway there, her phone buzzed. Hopeful, she checked the screen and found a text from William.

  The Panty Melter: Be ready in one hour. We have received permission to flash into Hades’s palace. We have a meeting with the kings of Hell. There’s a dress and undergarments in the closet. Wear the first. Consider leaving the rest behind.

  She shivered and texted back: Two dates in two days??? (Go ahead and cross “the giving and accepting of space” off your list of skills, baby.)

  Studying would have to wait. Sunny showered and donned the lingerie William had left for her. The bra and granny panty set with all the colors of a rainbow were too pretty to leave behind. Plus, no thong! The dress looked like something a sexy Little Bo Peep would wear. A pink fit-and-flare to match her hair, with white lace on the shoulders, a bow between her breasts and ruffles that ended above her knees. The shoes resembled ballet slippers, with pink ribbons interwoven up her calves.

  She curled her hair, pinned back the sides and applied a light layer of makeup to complete the look. The end result? Adorable. But she looked twenty-years-old—if that—and so weak she’d be snapped in half by a halfway decent wind. No doubt William’s intention. She’d begun to understand how his mind worked. The man considered everything a weapon. The weaker she appeared, the more the kings would underestimate her.

  Their mistake! Sunny found a piece of plain paper and a clear glass from the minibar. A glass she filled with water to the halfway mark. She made a pallet on the floor, directly beneath the window, where sunshine streamed inside the room, golden and cheery. She laid the paper on the floor, in the middle of the brightest beam, then set the glass of water on the bottom edge. Just like that, a rainbow appeared on the paper.

  A trick she’d learned as a child, the refraction of light providing a much-needed boost of energy.

  Next, she made a pallet on the floor, near the rainbow, and carried William’s book there. I will resist any urges to harm my man.

  I will.

  Could she resist, though? She’d have to. She couldn’t not study the book and doom William. Things were just getting good between them.

  Better to be free than trapped, as she knew firsthand. So, she must, must, must keep plowing ahead.

  Very well. As she settled into place, she had a perfect view of William’s bedroom. Or inner sanctum. A spacious master suite with more of Anya’s portraits hanging on the walls, mirrors on the ceiling, a video arcade in the corner, a freaking waterbed and a vending machine of booze. Gold star! She loved it all, even the bookshelves lined with more of the skulls in his collection, with little plaques to describe the former owners.

  The stepfather. Repeatedly raped his young stepdaughter. Pissed himself during his vivisection.

  Soon, they would add Lucifer’s skull to the mix.

  Focus. But, the more she studied the book, the more dizziness plagued her, screwing with her vision. On the plus side, symbols changed to words faster than usual. This time, she didn’t try to make sense out of what she was reading; she simply wrote down every word, hoping that would keep the whispers at bay.

  Kill him.

  No, no, no! Sweat beaded on her brow as she fought, fought so hard. But the urge to obey proved treacherous.

  The door opened and closed with a loud snick, startling her. William strode into the bedroom, wearing a black T-shirt and leathers. As gorgeous as ever.

  Energy poured off him, seeming to crackle in the air, and she began to calm. He took one look at her and did a double take. “Your hair.”

  Kill him. KILL HIM. Now!

  Nope. Not calm. Sunny tensed. Must fight this! Yes, yes. She plugged her claws into the floorboard, anchoring herself down, and breathed deeply. At some point, the dizziness did ease, along with the urge to kill him. The whispers did quiet.

  Then his words registered, and she frowned. “What’s wrong with my hair?”

  “It changed again.” Satisfaction oozed from him as he closed the distance and knelt beside her. He looked over her setup and nodded, impressed. “A makeshift rainbow.”

  “I wanted to be strong for our meeting with Hades.”

  “You look like...” He pinched a lock of her hair between his fingers, and she saw the strands were a pretty silver-white. Next rainbow, she bet the tresses turned black. Her favorite. “Sex. I like it.”

  His million-dollars-an-hour lips lifted in a slow, devastating smile. A savage punch of lust nailed her, her limbs trembling, her heart racing. In seconds, her panties got soaked.

  “Wh-what color are my eyes?” she asked.

  “Purple.” Ghosting his knuckles along her jawline, he said, “You are well, sundae?”

  “I am.” She leaned into his touch before motioning to her diary. “You’re about to be super happy. I decoded so much more of your book and wrote the passages in mine.”

  He picked up the diary, perused the pages and paled. Horror radiated from him.

  But, but...why horror? “I know the new paragraphs are ramblings about how foolish you were to dismiss Lilith, but progress is progress, right?” she rushed out.

  “You don’t know what you wro
te, do you?” he asked gently. He picked up his book next, straightened and walked to his dresser, where he locked both tomes in a drawer. What didn’t he want her to see? “Ready to go, sugar tush? Or would you rather have an orgasm or two before we leave?”

  She glanced at the locked dresser drawer and decided to break in as soon as they returned, then settled her gaze on the bed. Her stomach fluttered. Unfortunately, she suspected a couple of orgasms would only make her horniness worse. Kind of like an appetizer. She needed the full meal, but she couldn’t shake the fear that the desire to kill him would strengthen exponentially after sex, because their feelings for each other would strengthen.

  “Never mind,” he said before she could decide on an answer. “We’ll go.”

  Wait. What? She opened her mouth to ask, but he was frowning, no, scowling, his attention riveted on the bed, too. A shadow passed through his electric blues. He said, “We leave now.”

  Okay. What had just happened? What was she missing? “Am I going as eye candy or guard duty?”

  “Eye candy slash moral support slash lie detector. If anyone tells a falsehood, you are to use your favorite safe word—penis. And, sugar tush? I need you to trust me a little more, trust that I will not put you in danger and release me from my promise not to mention the medallion.”

  Ugh. Shockingly enough, she did trust him, so she nodded. In return, he gifted her with a blindingly bright smile, the perfect reward for her sacrifice.

  * * *

  After texting his self-appointed decorator, Anya, to request a replacement bed, William linked his fingers with Sunny’s and flashed to Hades’s throne room. He’d had too many women in the old bed, and the thought of making love to his lifemate there—

  Making love? Who are you?

  He popped his jaw. I’ll make like to her, not love. Not yet. Was there potential for love? Yes. Okay? Yes. Were his feelings for her greater than his fear of the curse? Absolutely. As proven by his actions these past few days.

  What he felt for her... He wasn’t sure how he’d ever believed someone else belonged with him. The more he learned about Sunny, the better she fit him. They had common interests. They both enjoyed winning, hating Lucifer and dishing punishments.

  With Sunny, William had discovered a new appreciation: receiving those punishments. If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t try to improve his behavior. The woman kept him guessing, too. He never knew what she’d do or say. The fact that she came alive for him alone roused his every possessive instinct. Her changing appearance intrigued him. He had his variety, but kept the woman he carved above all others.

  He could not give her up.

  A pang lanced him. As if he’d needed more proof that Sunny was his lifemate, he’d just discovered the curse had begun to affect her. In her diary, she’d written Kill William and William must die again and again. Yet, she’d no clue she’d done it.

  Even now, horror vibrated in his bones. He’d once thought he would lock her away if ever she reached this point, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. She hated captivity, and rightly so. He would not subject her to days...weeks...months of fear and pain. Which meant the curse was far more insidious than he’d ever realized. The more he cared for Sunny, the more her well-being mattered. At this rate, he might end up helping her end his life, just so she thrived.

  His self-preservation instincts protested. He wouldn’t help anyone end his life, and he wouldn’t let his feelings for Sunny affect his decisions. He must proceed full steam ahead, regardless of their feelings. Only then could they have a future together.

  A future... Yes. He wanted a future with her.

  He wanted forever.

  Therefore, he would take action to ensure he got it.

  They stopped outside Hades’s throne room, all alone. No guards stood before the closed doors. Interesting.

  No better time.

  He turned to Sunny. Realizing he’d taken her hand automatically, he brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them. “From this moment on, you are free. If you wish to leave me, I will understand. However, I’d like you to stay with me. In my bedroom.” A smart move? Probably not, considering the curse affected her. But he’d rather be with a willing Sunny and roll the dice.

  Her brand-spanking-new purple eyes shimmered with astonishment. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”

  “I am.” He nodded for emphasis.

  “I... You... You’re setting me free? Truly? I can leave right now, and you won’t stop me?”

  Pang. “Truly. So say yes, you’ll move in with me,” he all but pleaded, more strained by the second. If she said no... She couldn’t say no.

  She merely gaped at him. “We’re really doing this here? Now?”

  “We are.” He wanted the matter settled ASAP. “Say yes,” he repeated.

  “But...are you sure you want this? It’s a big step. An official step.”

  Still not a yes. Heart racing, he backed her into the double doors. “Not a big step. We’re already living together. If you fear I’ll be untrue, you can rest easy. I will not stray, I vow it. I will be by your side, protecting you at all costs.”

  She searched his face for several prolonged seconds, the suspense killing him. He nearly yanked her against him, just so he could bury his nose in her hair and draw in her incredible scent. Anything to feel closer to her.

  Then she said, “Yes. No. I don’t know! The curse...”

  So his worry had rubbed off on her. But that, he could combat. “Big risk, big reward, sundae. Take a chance on me. On us.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip, thoughtful. Finally, finally, finally she nodded. “All right. Yes. I will stay with you. And I will protect you at all costs, too.”

  Something akin to joy snuck up on him. He wanted everything she had to give. Right here, right now. If not for the meeting...

  He planted a swift kiss on her lips—can’t resist her—and stepped back. “We’ll talk more when we return home. You ready to speak with my father?”

  Confident nod. “Let’s do it.”

  With his free hand, he gripped the hilt of a bone dagger. Then, he kicked open the doors. Side by side, he and Sunny strode inside the throne room.

  “Oh, my... Wow.” She gawked, whispering, “Is this heaven? Because this feels like the beefcake edition of heaven.”

  William popped his jaw. Even when he’d been on a date, he’d never hesitated to admire another woman. As Sunny gaped at the nine kings, each male perched upon Hades’s dais, she mimed wiping away drool.

  I deserve this, I really do. Oh, to go back and kick his own ass.

  “Don’t worry, Ever Randy,” she said, squeezing his hand. “I’ll be going home with you. Sure, I might picture Rathbone’s face, but—”

  He growled, and she laughed. Tease!

  Hades sat upon a throne of skulls, an adorable black cat perched in his lap. He stroked her fur Dr. Evil–style, maintaining an emotionless expression—something he did with everyone but William. Until now.

  His joy drained away, as if a plug had been pulled. Hades wanted nothing to do with him. Had written him off, same as he’d done to Lucifer. A fate William had never thought he’d have to endure.

  A part of him would die because of Axel? You nailed it, Hades, but you are at fault, not a prophecy.

  Sunny lifted their joined hands and nuzzled the back of his against her cheek. A gesture of comfort, support and love.

  Did the most exquisite female in the worlds love him? The thought excited him more than sex ever had. A true shock.

  Suddenly he had the strength he needed to focus on the other kings, ignoring Hades.

  There was Rathbone, of course, the greatest shape-shifter ever born. Achilles the First, who inspired terror in everyone he met. Everyone but William and apparently Sunny. Nero, who refused to use a title. Baron the Widow Maker, who collected women
like other males collected baseball cards and was once William’s hero. Gabriel the Maddened One, whose sanity came and went. Long ago, he’d trained William in the art of sword making. Falon the Forgotten, who had the ability to possess anyone, at any time. And did, often. He’d possessed William several times, as a joke. Lastly, Hunter the Scourge and Bastian the Uninvited, brothers whose mere presence caused certain living things to die slowly.

  He’d always admired these males. Like Hades, they wielded extreme power.

  He cast his gaze throughout the rest of the room. It boasted golden walls, a diamond floor and stained-glass windows. Another deception on Hades’s part. The lack of “evil” decorations tended to put people at ease. A grave mistake, usually their last.

  “Who’s the girl?” Baron asked, his deep voice echoing.

  “Hello to you. Hi, Rathbone.” Sunny waved so sweetly she made William think of an innocent Little Bo Peep surrounded by big, bad wolves.

  When he’d first seen his warrioress in such a dainty outfit, with her sexpot silver-white hair mussed, her purple eyes bright, he’d hardened painfully, as if he’d overdosed on a shit-ton of Viagra.

  He was still hard as steel.

  “I’m Sunny Lane. I—”

  “Belong to me. She’s mine,” William interjected. Claiming her puffed his chest with pride. “A slight to her is a slight to me.”

  “And he’s mine, in case anyone was wondering. Oh! Look at the pretty kitty!” Wrenching from his hold, she bounded toward Hades without a care.

  Each of the kings braced, resting a hand on a weapon. William flashed in front of her, acting as her shield. She crashed into his back and would have ricocheted backward if he hadn’t wound an arm around her waist, holding her steady.

  Her breasts smashed into a spot beneath his shoulder blades, so wonderfully soft.

  “She merely wishes to pet the cat.” His voice, though husky with desire, deepened with authority as he added, “Let her.”

  Sunny didn’t wait for permission. She stepped around William and crouched down to pet the cat. “Hello, pretty baby. What’s your name? Since people are dumb and suspicious of black cats, I bet it’s something ferocious like Venom or Killer.” With a wide, toothy grin, she claimed the animal. Again, without permission. “Why don’t I call you Love Bug?”