The Darkest Whisper lotu-5

by Gena Showalter

  Can’t let the kid hurt Amun like that, Gideon thought, forcing himself to stand. He was unsteady, dizzy, hurting so badly there were tears in his eyes. He had to hunch over and grip his stomach to keep from vomiting. With his free hand, he grabbed his dagger and held it out in warning. But really, how was he going to stop someone he couldn’t grab?

  Anya stretched one arm toward the boy, who now crouched beside Amun, about to reach inside his throat. And do what? She stopped herself just before contact.

  “Don’t touch him,” she shouted. Tiny golden flames branched from her fingers, but they were muted, mere outlines. “I have power in this realm and the other. Touch him, and you’ll burn. Trust me. I won’t hesitate. I’ve done worse.”

  Puppy dog brown eyes implored her to understand, to allow him to act as he’d been commanded. Poor kid. His arm was shaking and remorse pulsed from him in powerful waves.

  “There are two liars in the room, I see,” Stefano said. “I don’t care what powers you have. That boy is the son of a necromancer, able to live and walk among the dead. He can enter each world at will and nothing and no one can touch him while he’s in the other.”

  “I sleep with a necromancer, you idiot. Lucien can walk among the dead himself.” Anya raised her chin, blue eyes tearing and flashing at the same time. “Plus, I’m Anarchy and I have no mercy. Your pet comes any closer and you’ll get to see me in action.”

  Knowing her as he did, Gideon knew when she was faking. The woman was operating on pure bravado. She would never be able to harm a child. At home, she constantly rubbed Ashlyn’s belly and cooed to the baby. Auntie Anya is gonna teach you to steal everything your little heart desires, she was fond of saying.

  Gideon reached out, unsteady, vision glazed, and circled his fingers around her hand. “I would find no joy in taking care of this,” he managed to squeeze past the lump in his throat.

  “I–I—yes.” Slowly the flames died, and Anya nodded. There was relief in her eyes. She bent and grabbed Lucien by the shoulders, dragging him away from the boy. Amun was still babbling, Stefano still demanding the kid somehow shut him up.

  As he wobbled on his feet, Gideon met the boy’s grim, determined stare. “I won’t make the warrior be quiet.”

  Though he spoke a lie, the boy seemed to understand what he meant and nodded. Fighting the weakness and pain beating through him, Gideon leaned down, placing his lips at Amun’s ear. And for the first time in centuries, he was able to offer reassurance without having to resort to the truth. “You’re all right. This is going to be fine. We’re all going to get out of this alive. Shh, shh now. Everything’s going to be all right.”

  Gradually the boom of Amun’s voice faded until he was merely muttering under his breath. He still clutched his head, his eyes closed, his body curled into a fetal ball. Back and forth he rocked.

  An arm wrapped around Gideon’s waist, and he turned. The swift action caused his stomach to roll and his vision to momentarily blacken before he saw who’d touched him. Anya. How much longer could he stay upright? How much longer could he act as though he was racer ready?

  Her strawberry scent wafted to his nose as she tugged him upright, and he nearly toppled. “I’ve been thinking. I’ll willingly go with the brat,” she said quietly. To keep Lucien from overhearing?

  “Yes,” Gideon said, even as he shook his head no. He experienced another stomach cramp, spots once again winking in his line of sight.

  She cupped his face, drew him to her as if she meant to kiss him, did kiss him lightly, then moved her lips to his ear, purring, “Out of this room, my strength might fully return. I could finally take Stefano out.”

  If Lucien awoke and discovered Anya missing…No, Gideon couldn’t allow his friend to suffer that kind of agony.

  When it came to Lucien, Gideon hadn’t quite shaken his guilt. From the onset of their possession, Lucien had been like a brother to him, taking him under his wing, talking Gideon down when he became too wild. Yet when the time had come to choose between Lucien and Sabin, Gideon had chosen Sabin because he’d believed, with all his heart, that the Hunters deserved to die for what they’d done to Baden, keeper of Distrust. Yet Lucien had desired peace. Gideon still believed that, but he also knew Lucien had deserved better from him.

  “Time for you to leave your man,” Stefano announced. “Don’t worry, after I’m done with you I’ll let you return and tell him all about it.”

  “Come,” the boy said, standing. He motioned Anya over with a wave of his hand. “I will force you if I must.”

  Gideon had to stop her. But how? His strength was still draining, replaced by more and more pain. Soon he would be completely incapacitated, unable to rise on his own for hours, perhaps days.

  Too, the others couldn’t take much more. Would Stefano send in the troops, subduing the warriors by sheer force and separating them? Or did he have to leave the warriors in here to prevent their powers from returning, as Anya suspected? Didn’t matter, he supposed. There was only one way to buy time and figure out how to escape.

  “I don’t want you to take me instead. Don’t want you to question me,” Gideon said. “Stefano, tell the boy to take Anya and leave me.”

  There was a pause as his lie was interpreted.

  “No,” Anya gasped. Then, as if the denial wasn’t enough for her, she grabbed Gideon’s arms and shoved him to the ground. One kick, two, right in his stomach. Unable to stop himself, he vomited, over and over again, until there was nothing left. “See? He’s in no condition to talk. You’ll take me,” she said firmly, “or no one.”

  “Bring them both,” Stefano said, glee in his tone, as if that’s what he’d wanted all along.

  After a slight hesitation, the boy stepped into Anya’s body, disappearing from view. Maybe he had possessed her, because she walked from the room without complaint. Holy shit.

  When the boy returned a short while later, Gideon held up his hand. “Don’t want to do it on my own.”

  That earned him a relieved nod.

  Gideon lumbered to his feet and, with a last backward glance, abandoned his friends.

  CHAPTER 27

  Gwen was surprised to see her sisters in the media room—grrr, the entertainment room, but same thing, really—when she stepped inside. She was equally surprised that they didn’t spring from the couch and stab her.

  Her gaze shifted to take in the rest of the attendees. Who would support her, and who wouldn’t? Ashlyn, Danika and Cameo were seated at the far table, two heads bent over scrolls, the yellow paper crackling, while one typed on a laptop. Ashlyn’s pretty face was scrunched in concentration. Danika was pale and sickly-looking. Cameo was scowling.

  William, Kane and Maddox were missing, and she suspected they were in town, searching for any lingering Hunters. Across from the women, Aeron and Paris were playing pool while talking strategy, their bruises mostly faded. Well, Paris’s were mostly faded. It was hard to tell with Aeron, since his entire body was covered in tattoos.

  “I’m telling you, I saw her,” Paris said.

  “Wishful thinking or ambrosia-induced hallucinations,” Aeron replied. “When we fell, you were conscious. Did you see her again?”

  “No. She probably hid.”

  Aeron was merciless. “I’ve been gentle with you to this point, Paris, and that seems to have done no good. You have to let go of your grief. This morning we interrogated a few of the newest Hunters. They knew nothing about her. Afterward you summoned Cronus, asked him if she’d been sent back. And what did he say?”

  Paling, Paris slammed his cue into one of the balls. “Without a body, her soul withered. Died.”

  A tiny, scaled…thing was sliding around Aeron’s shoulders, stopping to pet the top of his head and kiss his cheek. Aeron reached up and gently scratched the fiend’s neck as though it was a treasured pet, as though touching it was natural, welcome. Not once did he falter in his conversation. “Would the god king lie to you?”

  “Yes!”

 
“Why? He wants our help.”

  “I don’t know,” Paris snarled.

  “What is that thing?” Gwen asked, gaze still riveted on the creature winding itself around Aeron.

  Sabin, who stood beside her in the doorway, burning her exposed skin with his presence, tempting her to forgive and forget and focus on the future, a future with him, smiled. “That’s Legion. She’s a demon—and a friend. Aeron would rather die than see her hurt, so please don’t try and take her out.”

  That…thing was a girl? Doesn’t matter. You’ve got things to do. Gwen’s eyes were wide as she finished her study of the chamber’s occupants. Torin leaned a shoulder against the wall, as far away from everyone as he could get. He clutched a handheld monitor in his gloved hands, his attention riveted on the small screen.

  He’d support her, she knew it. One thing she’d noticed about him, he placed his friends above his own welfare.

  “Gonna pretend we’re not here?” Kaia stretched her arms over her head, preening like a kitten without a care.

  Yes. No. “Hey.” Finally meeting her sisters’ gazes, she offered them a half smile and a wave. She’d spent the last hour thinking about what to say to them—if they were interested in listening to her. Nothing had come to her. An apology wouldn’t work because she wasn’t exactly sorry for what she’d done.

  Taliyah stood, expression as blank as usual. Bristling, Sabin stepped in front of Gwen.

  “Fine,” Taliyah said, ignoring him. “You’re not going to say anything about what happened, I’ll get us started.” A pause, then, “I’m proud of you.”

  “Wh-what?” Gwen asked, her voice broken. That was so not what she’d expected to hear. She peeked around her warrior’s big bulk, her oldest sister once more coming into view. Taliyah was proud of her? Nothing could have surprised her more.

  “You did what you had to do.” Taliyah closed the distance between them and tried to shove Sabin out of the way. “You were a Harpy in every sense of the word.”

  Sabin didn’t budge.

  The ice in Taliyah’s eyes would have frozen anyone else. “Let me hug my sister.”

  “No.”

  Gwen could see the stiff set of his shoulders, feel the tension in his back. “Sabin.”

  “No,” he said, knowing what she wanted. “This could be a trick.” Then, to Taliyah, he added, “You’re not going to hurt her.”

  Bianka and Kaia joined Taliyah, forming a half circle around the warrior. They could have attacked him, but somewhat to Gwen’s surprise, they didn’t.

  “Seriously, let us hug our sister,” Kaia said stiffly. That she didn’t threaten to cause him bodily harm…a miracle. “Please.” The last was offered grudgingly.

  “Please, Sabin,” Gwen said, flattening her palms against his shoulder blades.

  He drew in a deep, shuddering breath, as if trying to sift through their scents for the truth. “No tricks. Or else.” He pivoted out of the way and they immediately swept past him.

  Three sets of arms wound around Gwen.

  “Like I said, I’m so unbelievably proud of you.”

  “I’ve never seen anyone so fierce.”

  “Color me shocked. You totally kicked my ass!”

  Gwen was frozen, baffled to her core. “You’re not angry?”

  “Hell, no,” Kaia said, then backtracked. “Well, maybe at first. But this morning, when we were plotting ways to kidnap you and have our revenge on Sabin, we saw you feeding from him. Made us realize he is your family now, and we stepped over the line. You don’t threaten a Harpy’s family, ever, and we knew better.”

  Okay. Wow. Gwen’s gaze skidded to Sabin, who was watching her with fire in his dark eyes. He wanted to be with her, he’d said. He would give up the war for her. He wanted to put her first, make her the top priority in his life. He trusted her not to betray him. He loved her.

  She wanted to believe him, so badly she wanted to believe him, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to. Not just because he’d locked her up, but because, as she’d lain in bed, recovering, she’d realized that she was now a weapon, the weapon he’d always wanted her to be. She’d proven herself in battle. He wouldn’t have to leave her behind anymore, wouldn’t have to worry about her. How better to get what he wanted from her than to seduce her, body and soul?

  Did he truly love her? That’s what she wanted to know.

  He claimed he wouldn’t care if he caught her embracing her father. Maybe that was the truth. But, if he loved her now, would he one day grow to resent her for who and what she was? Would his hatred of the Hunters and their leader extend to her? Would his friends turn on him for bringing an enemy into their house? Would her every word and action be suspect?

  Those doubts weren’t swimming inside her head because of his demon. They were hers. All hers. And she didn’t know how to get rid of them, even though she desperately wanted to be with Sabin.

  When she’d seen him in town, bloody and lethal, her heart had truly stopped—absolute proof it belonged to him. What a fierce picture he’d presented. Any woman would be proud to have such a strong, competent man at her side. She’d wanted to be that woman. Then and always. She lacked the confidence to grab on to the dream, though. Which was funny if you thought about it. Physically, she’d never been stronger.

  “I’m gonna hate leaving you,” Bianka said, releasing her, and stepped back.

  “Well…” Now for the hard part. “Then why try? I need you to stay here, at the fortress, and help Torin guard it and the humans.”

  “And where will you be going?” Taliyah released her, too, pale eyes studying Gwen’s face. At least they hadn’t denied her request.

  She squared her shoulders, determination rushing through her. “That’s actually why I called this meeting. Could I have everyone’s attention please?” She clapped her hands, waiting for the room’s other occupants to turn their gazes her way. “Sabin and I will be going to Chicago to find his missing friends. They’ve gone silent, and we think something is wrong.”

  At that, Sabin blinked. That was his only reaction. She knew he was waiting for information from Torin, but she figured it was better to be en route while they waited than stuck here, ineffective.

  “I’m so glad you’re going,” Ashlyn said. “I don’t know if anyone told you, but Aeron, Cameo and, yeah, your sister Kaia, took me into town this morning. I heard some things.”

  Uh-oh. There was gonna be some trouble in the fortress. “You shouldn’t have gone into town. Your man will be ticked if he finds out.” She’d seen Maddox with the pregnant woman only a few times, but once had been enough to assure her of his fierce need to protect.

  Ashlyn waved a hand through the air. “He knew about it. He can’t take me himself because I can’t hear conversations when he’s with me, so the compromise was to let me go with guards. He knew I’d just sneak out later otherwise. Anyway, some of the Hunters were headed to Chicago, as well. They were afraid of you, unsure of what you could do to them.”

  Hunters, afraid of her. They’d feared her while she’d been trapped in that pyramid, but there had been nothing she could truly do to them. No longer was she helpless. The thought made her smile. Sabin, too, practically glowed with pride.

  Her stomach quivered at the sight, and breath heated in her lungs. When he looked at her like that, she could almost believe he truly loved her and would do anything for her. Mind on the task at hand. “What about the prisoners?”

  “Still locked up.” Facing her, Paris rested his cue on the floor and leaned against it. He was paler than usual, lines of stress around his eyes. “Aeron and I, multitaskers that we are, have taken over their…care.”

  “Me helping,” Legion the female demon piped up.

  Care. Aka torture. Had Sabin interrogated them? She knew he liked to do so, yet he’d barely left her side since that battle. “The children…”

  “Like I mentioned earlier, they’ve already been separated and moved to nicer quarters. They’re scared and haven’t used wh
atever powers they have. Yet. So we’re unsure what we’re dealing with. But we’ll get it out of the adults, don’t worry,” Sabin said.

  Paris nodded with grim determination. “I’ll do it when we get back. I’m going with you.”

  Sabin and Aeron shared a heavy look.

  “You’re staying here,” Sabin corrected. “All of you are. We need as many warriors here as we can get. We don’t know how many Hunters remained behind.”

  “More than that, Torin saw Galen in town,” Cameo said. “We haven’t yet caught sight of him, which could mean he’s hiding, planning to strike again.”

  Sabin approached Gwen’s side and banded a strong arm around her waist. She didn’t protest. Though her mind was unsure about him, her body knew she belonged with him. His lemon scent wafted to her nose, a drug she’d become addicted to. “But you, Paris…your new favorite thing to do puts everyone at risk. You’ll stay here and get yourself cleaned up.”

  Paris opened his mouth to protest.

  “Torin can take care of our travel arrangements,” Sabin continued, cutting him off. Up and down, he caressed her arm, perhaps not even aware of what he was doing.

  “You’ll have to fly commercial,” Torin said, “since the boys have the jet we always charter in the States with them.”

  “What if we’re spotted by Hunters? And how will we get our weapons past security?” If they were caught with even one blade, they’d be questioned—a waste of time—and arrested.

  “I have ways.” Sabin kissed her temple. “Trust me. I’ve been doing this for a long time. We won’t be spotted.”

  “Bring Reyes and the others home safely.” Danika’s fingers twined, as if she were saying a prayer. “Please.”

  “Please,” Ashlyn echoed.

  “And don’t forget Anya,” Kaia said. “No telling what kind of trouble she’s stirred up.”