Grunts and groans quickly brought him back to reality. A spray of blood. A tooth flew through the air like a discarded piece of candy.
Baden used furniture to blockade the door.
“Give me the necklace,” Taliyah commanded.
“You don’t need it, bitch,” the nymph piped up.
“Neither do you, whore.” Neeka punted her in the stomach. “You’re about to die.”
“I’ve been assured I’m not dying for another year, at least!” The nymph again. “You have no idea what I’ve had to endure. I’d rather die than give it up.”
“Well, I’m here to oblige you.” The redhead offered an aloof grin as she slashed with fingers tipped by metal claws. Unable to grow real ones? “It’s to be the next prize at the Harpy Games.”
The nymph was good, but she couldn’t hold out against three highly skilled Harpies much longer. Not many could.
Destruction longed to dance in their blood, but even he recognized the unlikelihood of emerging unscathed.
He flashed to the center of the circle, an advocate for the nymph, taking the next blows in her place. Claws to the neck. A fist to the kidney. A boot to the stomach.
Sharp lances of pain were merely kindling for fury. It sparked. It grew and spread. It consumed him. He aimed his semiautomatic, quickly putting a bullet between the redhead’s eyes.
She’d wake up...in a few days.
He focused on Taliyah and fired off another shot. Expecting it, she dove out of the way.
Claws sprouted from the ends of his fingers, and he lost his grip on the weapon. A weapon he didn’t actually need.
The shadows were rising...
Neeka yanked Taliyah toward the door as Destruction fed Baden a stream of information. The shadows were the offspring of Corruption. If left unchecked, their darkness would infect a host, directing his—or her—thoughts and actions.
With a single touch, that darkness—like a virus—would infect these Harpies, too, and begin to direct their thoughts and actions.
The wreaths, like armor, kept Baden immune.
The Harpies grabbed the redhead and dragged her out of range. The shadows watched and writhed, eager for combat.
Taliyah glared at him. “I want that necklace, Red.”
“Hades will have it within the hour. If you ask nicely, perhaps he’ll gift it to you.”
“You’re not understanding me. Give it to him, and I’ll make you regret it. A lot.”
He had many regrets. He didn’t think this would be one of them.
The shadows hissed, and even moved toward her. She hauled her comrades into the hall and kicked the door shut. The last thing he saw was her scowl.
The shadows returned to their marks.
A glass vase crashed into his head. As the pieces tinkled to the floor, he spun to glare at the nymph. Her eyes widened with horror when he remained standing.
He showed her the semiautomatic then the dagger. “One way or another, I’m leaving with the necklace. Let’s do this the easy way. Hand it over.”
Clearly, the line he walked between good and evil had thinned more with every task. He’d thought he’d maintained a strict code: no killing women or innocents, ever. She was both, and still he’d threatened her.
At least he’d offered her an out.
What would Katarina do?
Anger contorted the nymph’s features, only to evaporate like morning dew. She smiled and batted her lashes at him. “Why don’t you steal my virtue instead? You’ll enjoy it more, I promise.”
An offer to slake his need and clear his head, but he wasn’t the least bit tempted. He wanted the human. Wanted his hands on her, and only her. Wanted her hands on him, and only him. Wanted nothing between them. No clothes, no pain. If he couldn’t have the latter, he would settle for the former.
Somehow, she’d bewitched him.
In this situation, she would charm her way to triumph. The problem was, he lacked any sort of charisma. What he did have? The truth.
“Give me the necklace. I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if I must.”
“Or you could walk away,” the nymph said.
“Last chance.” He gave both weapons a shake. “My woman will reward me for allowing you to live. I want my reward. But if I fail to give the necklace to Hades, I’ll be punished and another warrior will be sent to you.”
“I’ll hide before—”
“Wouldn’t matter. Pandora would find you.”
“Pandora?” The nymph shuddered, her cheeks paling. “Here. Take the necklace and go!”