He held out his hands to Katarina. “While Baden and Pandora beat each other into blood and pulp, you and I will chat, get to know each other better.”
“No.” Baden moved in front of her. “I told you. She’s mine. You won’t speak to her without me by her side.”
Hades waved his hand and Baden dropped to his knees, where he remained. “You’ll fight Pandora, as commanded.”
He bared his teeth as tension pulled his skin taut. Was he battling the compulsion to obey? Was Pandora? She bore the same pained look.
Katarina’s heart shuddered in her chest. She’d thought she’d had options. She didn’t. Not really. She could only trust Baden would keep his word to protect the hounds.
“I have a better idea,” she announced. “You will release Baden and Pandora from your control. Without hurting or killing them.”
Hades laughed. So did the men on the dais. Men who were killers. They had to be. They had dead eyes. Eyes that proclaimed: I take what I want, when I want, damn the consequences.
“Katarina,” Baden grated. “Don’t...”
“I’ll grant your request,” Hades said to her, ignoring Baden. “If you agree to live here with me—with your hellhounds.”
A line of hair stood up along the spine of both Roar and Werga.
“No,” she said. “You’ll agree to my terms because of this.” Smug, she tossed the coin at him.
He caught it without glancing away from her—and he smiled. “You found it.”
She gave a single nod. “I did.”
“Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news—oh, who am I kidding? I love it. Someone misinformed you, darling. Probably because I misinformed everyone who’s ever asked about the coin. It doesn’t buy you whatever you want. Not even a single wish.”
No. He was lying. He had to be lying, trying to trick her. To force her to back down.
Baden grabbed her hand, pulling her down beside him, hugging her and whispering, “The hounds will take you somewhere—anywhere—else. I’ll fight Pandora, and I’ll find you.”
“No. I’m not leaving you, and I’m not letting you hurt your...whatever Pandora is to you. But I also can’t enslave the dogs. I just can’t. They would rather die.”
“Katarina,” he said, his tone grave. “I’ll win. I’ll claim my reward. The safety of the hounds.”
Yes, but at what cost to his soul?
Sharp fingers tangled in her hair, yanking her to her feet. She cried out. Baden and the beast snarled in unison. The dogs growled.
She growled and twisted to bite Hades’s hand. Infecting him the way she’d been infected? Or did the link require conscious thought?
The king released her, stepping away from her.
She jumped to her feet, demanding, “What does the coin buy me?”
He rubbed the wound she’d caused. “A chance to fight and kill me and take my crown.”
Her stomach dropped. Fight Hades? How could she ever hope to beat him?
“Don’t you dare,” Baden shouted at the male. “You touch her, and I’ll kill you.”
“If only you could back up your threat with action,” Hades told him.
Roar and Werga moved to Katarina’s side, brushing her calves to claim her attention. She looked down and met Roar’s troubled gaze.
He rubbed his face against her biceps, his teeth scraping, cutting her skin, and a wave of dizziness hit her.
—We are now linked for the rest of our lives.— Anger roughened his tone. She’d gotten them into this mess, and they couldn’t kill her to get out of it.
Werga nuzzled her other arm before biting into her muscle. More dizziness...but it was accompanied by strength. Power. Animalistic, wild and savage. A burn at the ends of her fingers, worse than ever before. Little claws grew at the ends, and she couldn’t stop them. Inside her mouth, her teeth sharpened, cutting her gums.
“What’s happening?” Hades demanded.
“Did they just...link with her?” one of the warriors on the dais asked. “Willingly?”
—Hades tried to force a link before he slaughtered our ancestors. He soon learned it cannot be forced.—
She heard Roar’s voice so clearly now, as if he’d actually spoken the words, no filter between them.
“They did,” Hades said, emotionless. “Well, Miss Joelle. I accept the coin and your challenge. Weapons are lady’s choice. If your hounds enter the fray, my allies will behead Baden without hesitation. I adore the male, but I’ve learned to prioritize.”