The Darkest Warrior (Lords of the Underworld 14)

A flash of outrage, quickly tamped down. "You were a child."

"And you are an immortal. Time is nothing to you. Would waiting two years have been such a hardship? Truly?"

Another clap of thunder. Lightning lit the sky, highlighting the beautiful face she loved...as a friend. A brother. The father she wished she'd had.

"I did wait, just not the way you preferred," he grated. "Or have you forgotten the night I found you in my apartment?"

A flush of shame heated her cheeks. "You know what I mean."

He spread his arms, all look at me now. "I haven't been with anyone since I got here."

"You've gone an entire week? What strength! What willpower! You must be so proud."

Silence stretched between them as he stared at her, hard, studying her. Then he scrubbed a hand down his face. "Why are we even arguing about this? Or are you afraid I'll walk away from your precious Puck before he's made king? Well, worry no more. I'll kill his brother and gift Puck with the Connacht crown. In return, he'll sever his bond to you, as agreed, and you'll realize I was right all along. You'll beg for my forgiveness. One day, I might even grant it."

Was he freaking kidding? "You'll forgive me?" With every word, her volume rose. "I don't want your forgiveness, William. I haven't done anything wrong."

"You've done everything wrong!"

She blinked, and William changed. Gone was the gentle teaser she knew and loved. In his place was the vengeful warrior who'd found her seconds after she'd married Puck. Wings of black smoke sprang from his back. The same smoke seemed to branch around his eyes, as if he'd somehow donned a mask. Those branches extended over his cheekbones, the perfect contrast to the lightning strikes that appeared under the surface of his skin.

She expected him to shout, to rant and rail. Eyes like wounds, he said, "You broke my heart, Gillian."

"No. No." I can't have hurt him. "I never wanted to cause you pain."

He was lethally quiet as he flashed to a tree a few feet away and slammed his fist into the trunk. Again and again, until half of the trunk split from the other.

Tears blurred her line of sight and streaked down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she babbled.

"You never even gave me a chance." Steps eating up the distance at an alarming rate, he approached her. "I told him I wouldn't touch you, and I always sometimes keep my word. But I never said I wouldn't kiss you."

Finally he was there, standing directly in front of her, swooping down to press his mouth against hers. His tongue thrust past her lips and teeth to stroke inside.

The kiss devastated her, but not the way he hoped. The kiss broke her heart. All she tasted was salt water from her tears.

She adored this man, but she could not bring herself to return the kiss. Not to give him closure, not even to say goodbye. Gillian could not, would not betray her husband in such a way.

With her palms flat against William's chest, she pushed him away. "Stop, Liam. Stop."

Her mind noted the slow pace of his heart--it wasn't racing with a passion too great to be denied.

Her tears continued to fall, a sob bubbling from her. His electric blues were not dazed as they studied her a second time--they were confused, and sad. So incredibly sad.

"Shh, shh," he said. He reached out to collect her tears with his thumbs. "It's going to be all right. Everything will be all right."

Would it? So much was unknown. So much was unfinished.

"I love you," he said.

"I know. I love you, too. That will never change." But what she felt...it had never been romantic love. Deep down, a part of her had always known it, but other parts of her had mistaken protectiveness and security with teenage infatuation, and desperation with lust.

Another sob escaped her. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"No, poppet. No. Don't be sorry. I lied before. You did nothing wrong."

A moment ago he wasn't sure he could forgive her. Now he was comforting her. "What changed?"

"I cannot do it. I cannot hurt you. You mean too much to me. And I..."

She waited for him to say more. He didn't. "Tell me," she pleaded.

He sighed, his warm breath fanning the crown of her head. "You are a terrible kisser. Like, seriously bad."

She barked out an unexpected laugh. "Right back at you, Ever Randy."

"I love you so much," he said, squeezing her. "More than I've ever loved another."

Hello, new tears.

He gently chucked her under the chin to guide her gaze back to his. What she saw? Tenderness. Understanding. Disappointment. "I've lived a long time. I've heard thousands of people--immortals and mortals alike--talk about the power of a single kiss. How one kiss can change you forever, ruining you for another lover. One kiss can teach you, calm you or incite you. Your kiss... I felt your love for him. I found it strangely...beautiful."

"William," she whispered, anguished. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know, poppet. I know." Still so gentle with her. "I'll recover. I always do," he said. "And don't go thinking I'm Puckillian's number one fan. I haven't changed my mind. I believe the bond is responsible for this, but I'm not going to--" He stiffened, frowned. "Hades is screaming at me. Danger. Death. Near."

Magic? she thought as a breeze blew past. Last time, Sin's magic had hit with wind.

The ground shook with so much force, Gillian stumbled to the side. She gasped, struggling to remain upright. Dread turned her blood to sludge as cracks formed in the dirt. More pits?

Puck! Peanut!

Gillian ran, pumping her arms and legs as quickly as possible. Must reach them! As she cleared the trees, her gaze found Puck. He was doing everything in his power to calm a frightened, bucking Peanut while also watching for Gillian's return. The moment he spotted her, relief brightened his expression...until his gaze dropped to her lips. He scowled.

Not what you think, hubby. Okay, it was. But she hadn't participated.

Halfway there...so close, but not close enough.

When they reached a safe place, she would explain what had happened. Except, between one step and the next, the ground--just--vanished. Unlike before, there were no pieces left to stand upon, and Gillian tumbled through the air.

39

"Gillian!" Puck shouted, already using magic to cast a vine from somewhere above in a desperate attempt to catch her. The ground had dematerialized, there one moment, gone the next, taking Gillian with it.

Indifference howled, incensed by Puck's panic. How could a day that began so beautifully end up like this?

He also cast vines to the others--Peanut, Pandora and William--using up what remained of his magic. Galen's wings had saved him. The other chimeras had sensed something wrong and scattered just before the land loss.

Had Puck caught Gillian and William? He couldn't see the pair; thick gray clouds had replaced the forest.

He must have caught her. He hadn't died, so he knew she hadn't died.

"'Go on a mission for Daddy,' Hades said." Scowling, Pandora planted her booted feet on thorns, allowing her to stand rather than dangle. "'It'll be fun,' he said."

"If Gillian and William are down there, I'll find them." Galen angled his body and dipped beneath the clouds.

Only moments ago, Puck had been furious with Gillian. Her lips had been red and appeared bee-stung, just as they looked after he kissed her. Only, he

hadn't been with her.

Betrayed by my own wife!

Indifference had beckoned at him like a siren's song. Want nothing, need nothing. If he summoned ice, the jealousy and rage would dissipate. His feelings of betrayal would vanish. But Puck had resisted. He wasn't a coward, and he wouldn't run from his emotions any longer.

He would feel, and he would deal. But oh, he'd wanted to shake Gillian, had wanted to kiss her so hotly he would be forever branded on her lips. Him, not some other male. And he would. Soon. Then he'd wanted to remove William's head with a single strike.

He'd thought, Consider the kiss a goodbye, lass. You'll kiss me, and no other.

Then he'd realized there was no one more honest than Gillian. She wouldn't cheat on her husband, ever. William might have kissed her, but guaranteed she hadn't kissed him back.

"I'm here, I'm safe." Her beautiful face appeared above the clouds, the thorns providing the perfect hand and foot rails as she climbed to a position level with Puck's.

Relief tore through him. But, when he noticed the blood dripping down her arms, he worried all over again. "You're injured?"

"Got stabbed by a few thorns, but I'm fine. William, too. He has a lot more vine to climb." The color drained from her cheeks when she spotted a flailing Peanut. The vine wrapped around the animal's middle, the thorns buried deep in his belly. "You used magic to save him. Thank you, Puck."

"For you, I will do anything."

"It's okay, baby," she called. "You need to calm down."

Peanut panicked further. The more he thrashed, the more he bled. He had to be in great pain, with no idea why. But, if he didn't stop, he might cause the vine to snap.

"You're only hurting yourself worse." Desperation threaded Gillian's voice. "Calm down. Please."

"The vines are anchored to a piece of land above us," Puck said. "I'm not sure how far we'll have to climb, but there is a destination to reach. Once we're at the top, we can hoist Peanut to safety."

"Why not go down?" Pandora asked.

"There's no way we can safely lower Peanut to the ground." The strained words came from William as he broke through the clouds.

Though the chimera had never liked the male, he settled when William traced a fingertip between his eyes. No, Peanut didn't just settle; he slept, his body going lax.