No Mercy (Dark-Hunter 18)

Nick scoffed. "We were handling it just fine. We didn't need your help."

"Really?" Ash arched his regal brow. "Let me clue you in on one of your powers, Nick. You can charge off the power of a demon. If you don't, they charge off you and grow in strength."

That took the cockiness right out of Nick. "What?"

"You are the Energizer Bunny for badasses." Acheron looked at Chi. "I thought you were training him?"

"We haven't gotten to that yet. He's a stubborn pupil who doesn't listen to me much."

Acheron let out a sound of deep disgust before he turned back to Nick. "And I thought teaching you to drive sucked." Then he mumbled under his breath. "Hardheaded..." the rest was in some language Sam couldn't understand.

Nick held up his hand. "Stop bitching and make yourself useful for once. Clean up my house."

Ash scoffed. "Do I look like a Merry Maid to you?"

"Yes, Bo-Peep. Chop chop. I have blood and entrails on my walls and it's staining the wallpaper."

Sam was stunned Ash let anyone talk to him like that.

Yet he seemed to take Nick's fit in stride. "I should have left you in the coma." He slammed his staff down and everything in the house went back to normal.

Nick licked at his fangs. "Thank you...Dick."

Ash ignored him as he moved to Sam.

She swallowed hard as Artemis and Apollo's words about him rang in her head. Acheron a whore...

In a weird way, she could see it. He did have the movements of a trained courtesan. Slow. Steady. A symphony of movement. Plus there was that unnatural sexual magnetism he put out. It was like a lion in the wild. Something so beautiful that you had an irresistible urge to pet it and yet you knew if you tried, it would tear off your arm.

Yeah, that was Acheron.

He picked up her hand and looked at her marked palm.

Dev moved to stand behind her.

Ash didn't speak for several long seconds. He met Sam's and then Dev's gazes. "How do you feel about this?"

Sam bit her lip. "I think it's more a question of how do you feel about it?"

Ash's hand actually trembled as he held hers. "I can't get your soul back, Sam. I can't. Artemis won't let me."

Her stomach hit the floor at his news. "You've done it for others."

He nodded. "I know, but things have changed and Artemis won't release anymore to me."

Fine, she didn't want to be human anyway. "Can't I be a Dark-Hunter and mated?"

Ash looked at Ethon and then Chi. "The rules were set in place for a reason. Artemis still owns you and she's a jealous goddess. If she finds out about this...you don't want to ever see her that angry. And honestly, I don't know what she'd do over this. But in the end, it's your decision. I can't make it for you."

Sam clenched her teeth. "You're sure you can't get my soul back?"

"I'm sure and I'm sorry."

Nick curled his lip at Ash. "You better be glad I'm a better friend to you than you ever were to me or I'd tell them exactly why you can't help her...Acheron. But I won't steal from you what you love. My mama raised me better."

Ash's swirling silver eyes blazed. "You know, Nick, but you don't understand. There's a big difference. You have no idea what the world is like when you're completely alone and unprotected in it. Pray to the gods that you never do. The one lesson I can't teach you...that neither Chi nor Takeshi can teach you is not to judge others so harshly. As you said, you're mama raised you better and you shame her memory every time you spit at me."

Nick bellowed in rage before he lunged for Ash.

Ash threw his arm out and held him back with an invisible force field. "One day, Cajun, you will have the power to destroy me. But that day isn't here yet." And with that, he vanished.

Nick was so angry, he shook from it. "You're all fools to blindly follow him when you don't know what he is."

Ethon shook his head. "You're wrong, Gautier. I know exactly what he is."

"Yeah?" Nick sneered. "And what is that?"

"My friend. That's all that matters to me."

Nick scoffed at him. "You're a fucking idiot, Stark. He was my friend too and he ruined me."

"For that I'm sorry. But until he betrays me, I owe him my loyalty." Ethon moved to stand by Sam. A sad smile hovered over his lips as he took her marked hand into his.

In that moment, she returned to the day she'd married Ioel. Ethon had been there then too. Standing by her side just as he was now.

He kissed the back of her knuckles. "I'm happy for you, little sister. If Artemis comes for you, call me. I will stand and I will fight for you anytime."

Because he loved her.

Sam's lips trembled at a truth he didn't want her to know but one she'd seen so clearly. He'd been in love with her since long before their deaths. He'd loved her so much that he was willing to say nothing about his feelings for her in order to keep from tainting her happiness. And it was a love she'd never been able to return to him.

He would never be more than a brother to her.

Life was unfair and as Acheron so often said, emotions had no brains. Ethon deserved someone who could return his love with the same passion that burned inside him and she hoped that one day he'd find her.

She squeezed his hand. "I love you, Ethon."

He swallowed. "Like a brother. I know." He held his hand out to Dev. "Take care of her, Bear. I'd say I'd kick your ass if you didn't, but she's a better fighter than I am."

Dev laughed. "Thanks, E."

Ethon inclined his head before he headed to the door. "Time to patrol. There are Daimons on the street and stupid humans willing to feed them. You coming, Chi?"

"I have Nick duty tonight."

"Then good luck. May the gods be with you and don't kill the lippy bastard." Ethon left them.

His gaze bitterly amused, Nick stepped forward. "Congratulations, Dev. Sam." To her amazement, he shook their hands.

And he was actually happy for them.

Chi smiled. "I'm so thrilled for you guys. And I hope Acheron is wrong and that Artemis is understanding about this." She turned to Nick. "You ready to start our lessons?"

He shook his head. "Not tonight. I have something else I need to take care of."

"Nick..." Her tone was thick with chiding. "You have to learn. You're still extremely vulnerable."

"Yeah, but a good friend once taught me that sometimes you have to put others first. Tonight is one of those."

Sam scowled at the odd note in Nick's voice as he teleported out and left them alone with Chi. "What are teaching him?"

Chi sighed. "Demonology."

That was impressive and a rare talent. "Does he have your powers?"

"No. His powers make mine look weak. But he has to understand why the others are coming for him." Chi pressed her lips together as she thought about something that troubled her. When she spoke, Sam heard the undercurrent in her voice. "The more I'm with him, the more he scares me. There are times when he's so kind and then something comes over him. Something so evil that it gives me chills." She shook her head. "Anyway, don't let me taint your night. You two have a lot to discuss and decide. Shoo! Go and enjoy. We can catch up later."

Sam inclined her head to her. "I love you, Chi."

"I love you, too, babe."

"You ready?" Dev asked her.

"For what?"

He teleported her to his room.

She cringed as a wave of nausea swept through her. "I really hate traveling that way. It does not like me."

"Sorry. I just couldn't wait to be alone with you and it was the quickest way to get here."

Sam bit her lip as she scanned his lush, scrumptious body. "I know how you feel."

He kissed her gently on the lips. "So what did Stryker want with you?"

"Information on his father and how to break their curse."

"Did you tell him?"

She nodded. "I told him the truth. There's no way to break their curse. And that his father, even after all that's happened, still cares about him."

Dev let out a low whistle. "I'll bet he didn't take that well."

Sam fell silent as she considered that. "He took it better than I thought, but I have a feeling this isn't over."

"How so?"

"The Daimons can still walk in daylight and we're their enemies. Sooner or later, they'll be coming for all the Dark-Hunters and Stryker seems too determined to give up. I think he's got something even more sinister brewing."

"And I hope you're wrong."

So did she. But her gut was kicking and it had never been wrong in the past. They'd won this battle.

The war was still on.