“Katarina—”
“Pandora is here,” a voice said over the speakers. A voice she recognized. It belonged to the white-haired warrior named Torin.
Pandora... “Your enemy-friend?” she asked.
“Mostly enemy now. Stay here.” Baden leaped up and, with his hands on her waist, placed her on the table. Then, he sprinted away.
Stay here? Please. Katarina followed him, as close as his shadow.
“Go back,” he spat, racing through hallways.
“Not a chance. And just so you know, if this dating thing is going to work with us, you must stop ordering me around.”
He pushed past the outer door. Stubborn to the bone, determined, she remained hot on his heels.
Sunlight. Summer heat. The chirp of crickets and the buzz of locusts. The scent of pine. Details hit her, painting a scene that should have delighted her. But the kennel loomed ahead and the black-haired bitch from the hotel—Miss Headbutt—held Gravy in her arms. The big pup struggled for freedom while Biscuit, who was still in the kennel, banged at the bars in an effort to reach his brother.
Pandora smiled as Baden roared her name.
“Not another step,” she said, placing a blade at the dog’s throat.
Katarina froze, horror flooding her. I’m helpless. Again. Supposed to sit back and do nothing while an innocent animal is endangered. “No! I won’t let you do this.” She jolted into motion. “Let Gravy go!”
Baden grabbed her wrist, preventing her from making any progress. Though she fought for release, she remained bound, the warrior far too strong to incapacitate.
“Give me Aleksander,” Pandora said, “and I’ll give you the dog.”
“An unacceptable trade. I’d rather you leave with this.” The words were pure evil—and they were spoken while Baden threw a dagger.
A second later, Pandora reeled back, the dog dropping from her arms, the blade buried hilt-deep in her eye.
13
“That’s an excellent point. Now, if I may present my rebuttal. Go fuck yourself.”
—Reyes, keeper of Pain
ONE SECOND BADEN had control of his temper, the next Destruction—utterly—ruled him. And yet, somehow, his thoughts remained his own, as if he and the beast were sharing his mind. No longer two separate beings but someone new.
Someone extremely pissed off.
His body grew...and grew...his skin stretching tight over enlarged muscles and elongated bones. An animalistic roar split his lips as his vision tunneled, a red haze spotlighting Pandora.
She’d threatened him. Threatened his woman and his dogs. She would pay in blood. The rules be damned.
The tips of his fingers burned, his claws sharpening. As he stomped toward her, she yanked out the dagger. A black river poured down her face. She stood to unsteady legs. He’d seen her in worse condition. Now he would see her dead.
Fangs extended past her bottom lip. She raced toward him, and they met in the middle, a tangle of fury. As they sliced and bit at each other like wild animals, they tumbled into the kennel with so much force the walls rattled and fell.
With a roar, he grabbed her by the hair and tossed her into a nearby BBQ. She rent the metal grill in two, clouds of charcoal forming around her. She hurled a larger shard at him. He plucked the piece from his chest as she raced over—shoved him into an outer wall of the fortress. Stone cracked, and dust plumed.
“I’ve got you.” Katarina’s gentle voice cut through his red haze, and though she spoke to the pups, he took comfort in it. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
A stray thought: I like her maternal instincts.
He had to remember to tell her, wanted so badly to pick up where they’d left off.
Pandora focused on her, the bloody dagger still clutched in her hand. Baden could almost hear the being in her mind: Kill the girl, she’s a threat.
Panting now, Baden stopped in his tracks. Katarina was crouched in front of the dogs and crab-walking backwards, keeping the pair behind her, her body acting as their shield. A courageous act.
Foolish girl! She could be hurt.
He flashed in front of her and swung a meaty fist into Pandora’s jaw.
Two other warriors arrived on the scene.
“What do you want us to do?” Maddox called. “Your wish, my command.”
In unison, Baden and Pandora focused on him.
Demon. Threat.
Friend. He’s my friend.
The worst kind of danger!
Body moving of its own accord, Baden approached Maddox, Pandora keeping pace at his side.
The warrior frowned at him. “What are you doing?”