Devil May Cry (Dark-Hunter 11)

She frowned. "Couple?"

He pointed to the one on his shoulders, then dipped his hand down to his groin.

"Ah." Kat laughed. "You're awful."

"Yes, but while I know I can hold my own against most creatures, Ash is one I know for a fact can hand me my ass in a box Therefore, I try to stay on his good side as much as possible."

She wasn't sure she bought that statement. "You're not really afraid of him, are you?"

"Definitely not afraid. Just highly respectful. I thank the Fates for what they did to him by making him live as a human being for a while. Had they not, can you imagine what the universe would be like? Think of the power he and Apollymi command. Now put the ego of a typical god on it."

Yeah, it was the stuff of nightmares.

But it also begged the question of whether or not that was what had made Acheron the way he was. It was a question Kat had pondered a lot. "Yet you have a conscience. I can't imagine you running over people to get what you want."

"I'm not the same creature now that I was when I had my godhood. When I was a young, I was angry and bitter over what my father had done to us and, as a god, I had a lot to prove. Not to mention living as a human has a very sobering way of altering your perspective on many things."

Kat's stomach shrank at the tone of his voice. Her gaze fell to the scar on his neck. She reached up to touch it and thought about how much pain that wound must have caused him. She had to bite her lip to keep from apologizing to him for taking his powers.

She'd been so young and stupid herself. Like most children, she'd been blind to her mother's faults. She'd only wanted to please Artemis and make her happy. How was she to know one mistake would hurt someone else so badly and alter the history of the world?

If only she could take his powers from her mother and return them to him, but Artemis would never allow her to do that. If she tried, she'd lose her mother forever, and even in spite of Artemis's faults, Kat loved her. She would never do anything to hurt her mother.

Sin took Kat's hand from his neck and placed a light kiss on her palm. Even so, there was a wild look in his eyes. He was allowing her near him, but he could turn on her any moment. It was scary and titillating.

"We still have to find my brother," he reminded her.

Kat nodded. "All right. I think it best if I go alone. I'll go see if my grandmother can help with the sfora." And if she's in a receiving mood. For something like this, they wanted Apollymi to be happy and helpful. Otherwise, it would be a waste of time to visit and would most likely result in her refusing to help them at all.

Kat stepped away from Sin, but before she could flash out of the room, he laid a hand on her arm.

"Thank you, Katra. I appreciate the help."

She didn't know why, but those few words made her heart soar. "You're welcome."

He inclined his head before he gave a tender squeeze. "And I haven't forgotten your gift to me. Thank you again."

She stepped forward and laid a gentle kiss to his cheek. "I'll be back soon."

Artemis hesitated as she neared her bedroom. She chewed her thumbnail in indecision. Maybe she should just go to Zeus's temple for a while and think of something on her own ...

"What did you do?"

She jumped at the sound of Acheron's voice coming from behind her. "l thought you were in bed," she snapped. "I had to go to the bathroom."

"Oh."

His swirling silver eyes were piercing as he glared at her.

"What have you done, Artie? And don't say, 'Nothing.' I know by the way you're acting that it's going to seriously piss me off."

She hated when he could read her so easily. How did he do that?

But she refused to be the one on the defensive. So she did what she always did. She went on the offense. "Well, it's your own fault."

He rolled his eyes at her. "Of course it is. Everything's always my fault. So what did I do now?"

She narrowed her gaze at him in anger, but there was still a par! of her that was terrified of him. Most of all she was terrified of what he was going to do when she told him what she needed ... and mostly why she needed it.

"You have to promise me two things before I tell you." A tic worked in his jaw. "What?"

She took a step back to put more distance between them. "First that you won't kill me. Ever. And the second that you'll stay here another week."

Ash hesitated. This had to be even worse than he suspected for her to want to make such a bargain with him. His gut knotted in anger. He could feel his eyes turning red and his cheeks growing warm. But she wouldn't care about that.

And he knew her well enough to know that if he didn't give her what she wanted, she'd never tell him whatever it was that had her so nervous.

"Okay. Fine."

"Say the words, Acheron. I want to know you are bound by them."

He cursed before he spoke between clenched teeth. "Fine. I promise I won't kill you, and-"

"Ever. "

Ash took a deep breath before he said, "Ever." Gods, how he'd like to choke her.

"And you'll stay here for another week ... unless I need you to do something for me."

That made his blood run cold. "Do what?"

"Say it, Acheron, and then I'll tell you."

Oh yeah, this was going to infuriate him. He only hoped he could keep his word. If not, he'd perish from it right alongside her. "All right. I won't leave here for another week, unless you need me to do something."

She let out a long, relieved breath. "Good. Now you stand right there."

Okay ... He did and wondered what the hell was wrong with her ... besides the fact that she was selfish and cold.