"Take my word for it, Danger," she said in her thick Greek accent, as she joined them. "Go home and stay out of this mess."
He could tell by Danger's face that she was relieved to hear the Amazon say that. "So you don't believe it either?"
Ephani let out a profane curse. "Let's just say, I don't want to believe it."
"But?"
The Amazon shrugged. "I don't trust Acheron. I never have."
Danger laughed. "You don't trust any man."
Ephani's gaze went meaningfully to Alexion. "And neither should you, little sister. Take a bit of Amazon advice. Ride him into the ground all night long, then slide a blade between his ribs come morning."
Alexion arched a brow at that unexpected comment. "That's harsh."
"So is life." Ephani cocked her head as if she had suddenly realized what he was wearing. "You've got on a white coat."
"Awesome cognitive powers you have there."
She looked less than pleased by his dry tone. "Are you the destroyer?"
"No," he said without hesitation. "That title actually belongs to a woman. You can't miss her. She's tall, blond, and looks really pissed off ninety-five percent of the time."
That went over well... Ephani looked as if she could kill him.
"He's here to help us," Danger said before Ephani could do him any harm.
When Alexion didn't speak up, Danger turned toward him. "Aren't you, hon?"
He shrugged. "Ephani knows the truth. There's no real doubt in her mind. She'll choose wisely in the end."
Danger sighed in relief. She'd always liked the Amazon warrior and didn't want to see her hurt any more than she'd wanted Rafael killed.
Ephani's gaze narrowed dangerously. "Are you doing that Acheron mind-meld bullshit?"
"Yes," he said with a taunting grin, "and it's okay that you can't stand me. I'm not here to make friends."
She looked back at Danger. "Ditch him, little sister. Your man is a freak, and I need to go while I still have some powers left. I was here with Kyros and the others way too long." She pulled her sunglasses out of her pocket and put them on. "Take care, Danger."
"You too."
Ephani inclined her head before she left them.
Danger turned toward Alexion. "So how are you going to save anyone if you're antagonizing them?"
"I was only antagonizing Ephani who, as I said, isn't in any danger of being misled. It's the other ones who need me."
She only hoped he was right. Ephani's mistrust of Acheron, or any man for that matter, wasn't to be taken lightly. Her friend had been known to bite her nose off to spite her face on many occasions. She only hoped this wasn't one of them.
She sprinted up the stairs with Alexion right behind her.
Danger knocked on the door while Alexion stood back. It took a couple of minutes for Kyros to answer the door.
His gaze narrowed ominously as he saw them. "What are you doing here?"
"I want to talk to you," Alexion said.
"I've already said my piece."
"Yeah, but I haven't had mine with you. Why did you call and warn me about the Charonte?"
Kyros shrugged. "I was feeling sentimental. But the feeling has passed. I gave you one warning, there won't be another."
"Kyros-"
"Don't," he growled.
He started to close the door, but Alexion stopped him.
"Let me in the house, Kyros."
Kyros's face turned to stone. "You need to go home." He spoke each word slowly, with careful enunciation.
"I need to talk to you."
A tic started in Kyros's jaw. "You never did listen, farmboy." He shoved Alexion back with a curse. "Leave."
He slammed the door shut.
Before Danger realized what was happening, Alexion had kicked the door open. It rattled as it was flung back against the wall and torn free of the top hinges.
Kyros looked disgusted by the damage done to his house. "Don't make me kick your ass, Ias."
Out of nowhere, a maelstrom of power seemed to coalesce around Alexion. An invisible wind whipped at his coat and hair. It swirled around him, making the very air around him crackle with energy. Danger forced herself to stay calm in the midst of the chaos as she joined the men in the foyer.
The door slammed shut behind her and was instantly repaired.
Alexion's eyes glowed an eerie, supernatural green. "The days of your kicking my ass are long gone, Kyros. I'm the one who wields the power now."
"Actually, that's not entirely true, is it?"
Danger hissed as she heard Stryker's voice. The Daimon sauntered out of the parlor to join them. He stood beside Kyros and eyed the two of them with hatred.
The Daimon tsked. "It seems my Charonte idea was a complete waste of time. Tell me, what command did you use to quell Xirena?"
The air calmed as if Alexion were pulling the power back inside himself. "I didn't. Xirena likes me."
Stryker laughed even though he didn't look particularly amused. "I will give you credit, you are a resourceful bastard. But even resourceful bastards can die."
Alexion laughed at him. "I'm sure you would know."
Stryker turned toward Kyros. "Your friend is very arrogant for a man wielding borrowed powers. But you know the thing about that is when they're not your own they are limited."
Alexion snorted. "Even limited, they're greater than yours."
"Are they?"
A bad feeling went through Danger. Had all this been a setup? It was starting to feel like one. Maybe that was why Kyros had called to warn them. He'd probably known that if the Charonte failed, then Alexion would come seek him out for an explanation.
Stryker moved to stand just before Alexion. There wasn't even the smallest amount of fear in his eyes. He raked an amused glare over him. "It is a wonderful thing to stand at the right hand of power, isn't it?"
Alexion shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not complaining."
"No, but perhaps you should."
Before anyone realized what Stryker had planned, he plunged a dagger straight into Alexion's chest.
Alexion burst apart instantly.
Kyros cursed. "What the hell did you do to Ias?"
Danger rolled her eyes. "That was a waste of time."
True to her words, Alexion rematerialized before them. But just as he was coming into form, Stryker shoved his hand, which held a strange-looking plaster rock, into Alexion's chest. Stryker squeezed the rock, shattering it instantly, then jerked his hand out again.
Alexion gave him a droll stare as he came back into being. "You knew better than-"
She watched as a look of horror descended on his face. His breathing became ragged, labored.
"Alexion?" she asked, taking a step toward him.
He stumbled back as pain darkened his eyes.
He gave Stryker a disbelieving stare. "What did you do to me?" he gasped in an agonized tone.