The Darkest Warrior (Lords of the Underworld 14)

What Sin had done--"gifting" his brother with Indifference--he'd considered a necessary evil. But there was no such thing as a necessary evil, was there? Only evil pretending to be good. Excuses, excuses.

Had he let the prophecy dictate his actions? Yes. Had he turned a supposition into a self-fulfilling prophecy? Perhaps.

Would he do it again? Unequivocally.

No other way to save us both.

Except, what if there had been another way? What if he could have spent these centuries with Puck, working together as planned?

No, no. Impossible. Puck's greatest weakness was also his greatest strength: his possessiveness. Despite what he'd claimed--that he would co-rule with Sin--he'd considered the Connacht clan his. The other clans, too. The entire realm, in fact. His, his, his.

Puck had tried to circumvent the prophecy by never sleeping with the same woman twice, never staking a claim, never risking falling in love, never stoking the desire to marry a loving queen. But one day, he would have caved.

The moment their father announced Puck's betrothal to the princess, Sin had seen his brother jolt, and he'd known the truth. Puck had just thought: she's mine.

I helped him let go of such foolish proclivities. I gave him peace. He knows no fear, impatience, guilt or failure.

And how had Puck thanked him? By bringing a group of immortals into Amaranthia to usurp him.

Did the wife love him?

As Sin passed a mirror, he caught sight of an image he hated above all others--the butterfly tattooed on his chest.

The mark of his demon. The mark of Paranoia.

Puck had no idea Sin was possessed. Sin hadn't known, either. Not at first. Not until the Red Queen had appeared to him a second time and explained what had happened to him.

In the neighboring realm, Sin's peace talks had been unfruitful. The other realm had not feared him, had laughed in his face, whatever suggestion he made. He'd hated the thought of returning to Puck a failure. Oh, the humiliation!

The night before he was to return home, the Red Queen had appeared to him for the first time and offered a solution: a bejeweled box containing the power necessary to make any realm fear him. All he had to do in return? Present his brother with a box of his own, on a night of her choosing.

Hoping to impress Puck with his skills--wanting Puck to have the same power--Sin accepted and opened the box. Moments later a black mist with red eyes had risen and jumped into his body.

The demon of Paranoia had possessed him, dominated him, and Sin had erupted into a maddened rage, slaughtering his own men.

Everything Puck had experienced during his possession, Sin had experienced weeks before. Horrifying darkness. Unending gloom. The total loss of control. But so worth it. The power! The fear he'd inspired in others! The Red Queen had not lied.

Now Sin gave a bitter laugh. He'd never meant to hurt Puck. Had only wanted to live in Amaranthia together, forever. If Puck no longer considered the Connacht crown his, and no longer yearned to unite the clans, then the prophecy would be voided and all would be well.

But after his possession, Puck hadn't cared about Sin.

Must kill him before he kills me.

No! Sin banged his fists into his temples. Never! "Be silent!"

What thoughts originated in his mind, and what thoughts came from the demon? He couldn't tell the difference anymore. Had he ever?

Kill Puck. Killpuck. KILLPUCK.

Spittle spraying from the corners of his mouth, Sin unleashed a stream of magic, causing a wall of sand to form in front of the mirror. In the center, an image of Puck and his entourage appeared. The group of five trekked through Sin's maze, so close to the end. Only one more challenge, and a door would open, leading to a Connacht outpost--a safety measure in case Sin himself ever got trapped.

A king had to plan for every eventuality.

Besides, a part of Sin--the boy he used to be, perhaps--had hoped Puck would find a way through.

There had to be a way to live together in harmony. Think! Sin had worked far more complicated puzzles in the past, and succeeded.

The problem was the prophecy. Which meant the solution was the prophecy, as well. Keep something from happening, and nothing could happen. Change one variable, change all variables.

The variable on which the entire prophecy hinged? The loving wife.

If Sin removed the Dune Raider from the picture...

Could he truly hurt his brother's female?

No other way, the voice inside his head whispered. A dark voice. Beguiling. Otherwise he'll kill you, or you'll kill him. Is that what you want?

No, no. Of course not.

Very well, then. It was decided. The girl had to die.

First problem: Puck and Gillian were bonded. If she died, Puck would die. Maybe Sin would capture her instead and lock her in the dungeon, where she could spend the rest of eternity.

Would Puck be willing to bargain for her safety?

Sin would have only two demands. (1) Puck forgave him. (2) Puck loved him again.

Option two. Sin killed the wife--and Puck. He could marry his princess at last; she would love him, then. She would have to. The Oracles had said so. Sin would unite the clans on his own.

Thought I wanted to avoid this?

Fool! Once he fulfilled the prophecy, all of his problems would go away.

So. It was decided. He would kill the wife--and his brother.

Though a pang ripped through his chest, Sin exited his room and called for his guards. Determination directed his steps. It was time. Past time to end the war with Puck. One way or another.

The guards would accompany him and serve as a shield as Sin tracked the Oracle. Hopefully she hadn't found and warned Puck of Sin's intentions--yet. If she had, well, he would deal.

Two of his men marched around the corner, but neither would meet his gaze.

"King Sin," one said, shifting nervously. "How may we help you, O Great One?"

Nervous? They've betrayed me in some way. Will probably try to kill me on our journey, while I least expect it.

Change of plan. Sin would go alone.

As he came upon the soldiers, he withdrew his short swords. Without a pause in his step, he removed their heads. "Betray me now."

*

Hades lounged atop his throne, his arms rested on his middle, his legs extended in front of him, his ankles crossed. A deceptively casual pose. His men were gone, dismissed for the day. The other kings had returned to their kingdoms, protecting their subjects from Lucifer's wrath and the increasingly violent war taking place in the underworld. But Hades wasn't alone.

His gaze bored into his favorite mirror. Siobhan, the goddess of Many Futures, was trapped inside, her hatred for him emanating from the glass. She had the ability to look into forthcoming days, weeks, years and see the different paths a person could take. She then had a choice: to show the outcomes, or not to show them. So far, she'd shown Hades nothing of importance.

Had she lived in Amaranthia, she would have been touted as an Oracle.

Once, as a teenager, she'd asked Hades to marry her. Told him they were fated. Of course, Hades had rejected her. Wed? Him? Laughable! Wed a child? Never! He might be a man without a moral compass, but even he had a line.

Although, this particular teenager had then proceeded to coldheartedly murder all of Hades's lovers. Past, present and--apparently--future. So, like any rational male, he'd arranged for her to be cursed in the mirror until she learned her lesson: do not mess with Hades.

"You're still learning, obviously," he said.

So badly he wanted to know what was coming for him. Would William save Amaranthia--and himself?

Hades had sent Rathbone and Pandora to help, only to add Galen as a last-minute tagalong. If an air evac was needed, wings would come in handy. Besides, the keeper of Jealousy and False Hope would do anything for the woman he desired...and Hades had her tucked away where the warrior couldn't reach her without permission.

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; Do as I say, and visits are encouraged. Betray me, and watch as I seduce the one you desire.

For the right to see Legion, Galen would do anything to keep William safe. Even kill the girl, Gillian, if such an action proved necessary.

Even still, Hades should have gone himself. Instead, he'd returned home to quell another rebellion spurred by Lucifer.

Now Hades couldn't enter Amaranthia. The shield stopped his every single attempt. He needed Rathbone, but couldn't communicate with the warrior, only William, and William had no idea where Rathbone was. William had even flashed back to the last location he'd seen the male, but Rathbone, Cameron and Winter had already moved on.

"You must know I'm the type of man who will gather your family and loved ones and murder them right in front of you," he said. "If this is what you want, continue showing me nothing. I'm happy to oblige. Or, perhaps you still consider me your fated male? Perhaps you'd object to watching me plow through a battalion of females."