The Darkest Captive (Lords of the Underworld 14.5)

As Galen ushered Legion through the tunnel, his life flashed before his eyes, different memories playing through his mind.

--The time of his “birth.” Zeus, supreme sovereign of Greek gods, created a host of warriors to act as his personal guard. Men and women willing to destroy anyone who threatened their leader.

--Zeus deciding to entrust one guard—Pandora—with a mysterious box made of bone, causing jealousy to spread through the ranks like wildfire.

Galen had questioned the king about the decision. He’d never forgotten the response. Should I place my most treasured possession in your hands? You, the most disappointing of my children. Do you think your hesitation to render a deathblow has gone unnoticed?

Back then, he’d wondered why they killed rather than incarcerated. Why waste a life? Wasn’t redemption possible?

Now he knew better. Be the one to slay, or get slain. There was no middle ground.

--Galen deciding to prove his worth by stealing and opening the box, and inviting his friends to participate.

--Entertaining second thoughts, wondering how could they betray Pandora so blatantly.

--Asking the other warriors to stand down. They’d refused.

--In a snit, and confessing the plan to Zeus.

But the warning had come too late. Maddox had already opened the box, unleashing a horde of demons upon an unsuspecting world.

As punishment, Zeus forced each Lord to host a single demon. Except for Galen, of course, since he’d instigated the entire mess.

--Being kicked from the heavens, the other Lords banding together to shun Galen.

--The demons devouring Galen’s good sense.

He’d created an army of humans hell-bent on annihilating “evil” immortals.

--Finding and caring for Fox, a five-year-old orphan with an ability he’d hoped to one day exploit, then falling in love with her somewhere along the way.

--Finding out he had a daughter by blood. Gwendolyn, a beautiful Harpy who’d married Sabin, demon keeper of Doubt.

Guilt pricked the back of his neck. He’d treated Gwen like garbage, knowing a connection to him often equated to a death sentence.

--Meeting Legion and calling a cease fire with the Lords, ending their centuries’ old feud. He even had an open-ish invitation to crash at their place whenever needed.

Wait. Why was he reliving these things? Am I dying?

The tremors in his limbs intensified, and he stumbled. If not for Legion, he would have toppled. Though she looked delicate, she had enough strength to keep him upright.

“Maybe we should rest?” she said, panting.

He spit out another mouthful of blood before grunting a denial.

She readjusted the backpack’s strap, the weight of it only adding to their burden. Again he tried to claim it. Again she refused. Very well.

The faint squeak of rotted wood echoed as different soldiers descended the steps. Great! The army had followed them into the tunnel.

Up ahead, a spear of azure light sliced through the air. The fabric of time and space peeled back to reveal a doorway into another realm. Fox stood on the other side, tall and slender with jet-black hair and arresting features. She wore a halter top and black leather pants, and clutched a dagger in each hand; she looked every inch the bad ass. No woman fought dirtier, or impressed Galen more.

Relief provided a final surge of strength. He pumped his legs faster…faster.

Fox spotted Legion and cursed. The two had met once before, after Galen had kidnapped Legion’s friend Ashlyn—wife to Maddox, keeper of Violence. Legion had offered herself in trade. At the time, she’d feared Galen and hated Fox. The feeling had been mutual for Fox, who abhorred weakness of any kind.

Galen usually abhorred weakness, too. But. When it came to Legion, nothing mattered but the woman herself.

“Hurry.” Fox waved him on while peering over his shoulder. “They’re gaining on you.”

A tremor pitched Legion against him. She attempted a backward glance, but Galen pushed past the spike of pain—too much, too much, breathe—and flared his broken wings, blocking her view. No reason to frighten her further. At the same time, he gathered her closer and pressed her face into the hollow of his neck.

Sips protested the close proximity, scratching the hell out of Galen’s pec.

“Behave, young man,” Legion muttered. “I mean, young boy. I mean, young raccoon. Galen is trying to save us.”

Trying? No. Succeeding? Yes.

At last, they slipped through the mystical doorway, entering one of his many private realms. His favorite. A fortress built to withstand any natural or supernatural disaster.

The moment the portal closed, blocking out the soldiers, Legion’s safety guaranteed, Galen collapsed, welcoming the cloud of darkness that swallowed him whole.

Chapter Four

Legion watched, wide-eyed, as Fox dragged Galen into a spacious bedroom. With teeth gritted and tendons bulging in her neck, the other woman managed to heft the big brute onto a bed. Shaking now, she cut away his clothes to study his wounds. For some reason, he had stacks of paper underneath his shirt and leathers. Fox muttered curses about fool men endangering themselves for a quick roll in the hay and peeled away one blood-splattered sheet after another.

Close the distance. Help the man who helped you. Come on! But Legion stood rooted in place, quaking violently, clutching Sips to her chest, her mind whirling. Why had Galen saved her? There was no man more calculating or self-serving, so he must have a reason. Right? And yes, okay, his letters claimed he wanted her sexually, but physical desire wasn’t a good enough reason to risk his life.

Although, to be fair, she could have died blissed-out the night Galen took her virginity. The sex had been hot and charged and good. Nothing like the travesty she’d suffered in hell.

Warning! Avoid! Memories of torture would put her in a fugue state.

Galen’s agonized roar echoed from the walls, and she jolted, stumbling back. What if he… died?

She gulped. Once, she would have paid good money to witness his demise. Well, maybe not good money, but a pretty penny. Well, maybe not a pretty penny, either. Money bought jewels, and Legion loved jewels. Now? Their brief romp had prime real estate in her portfolio of wise decisions. Suddenly the idea of never seeing him again, never hearing his voice gutted her.

No. He would survive. He would!

Minutes later—an eternity—Galen mumbled questions about the realm’s security.

Fox snapped, “Don’t worry about an invasion. Worry about my temper. I told you not to leave the house. Someone put a contract on your life and—”

“Multiple someones,” he replied, the words slurred. “A usual occurrence. Did you find out who?”

“Yes. You can thank Cronus 2.0. The bastard cloned himself before his death.”

Galen heaved a sigh and slurred a response.

Legion thought he said: “Contact Sienna. And do not hurt my guest.”

Even now, wracked with pain, he sought to secure her safety? A tear escaped, sliding down her cheek.

“Legion. Honey.” Two names, two words—both innocent—and yet Fox had somehow turned them into curses. Her slate gray gaze shot to Legion and narrowed, though she still spoke directly to Galen. “Whatever her name, I don’t trust her.”

“You don’t…trust anyone.” His breaths turned shallow, more labored.

“Har har,” Fox said, her tone as dry as the desert. “Why do you care about her? Tell me! Help me understand, because I want, I need, to kill her.”

Yes, Galen. Tell us!

And maybe I should run before Fox makes good on her threat?

He replied, forcing Legion to translate: “For the first time in my existence, I have a purpose. I am fulfilled, satisfied, and content… when I get inside her.”

Either he didn’t mind making such a confession with Legion in the room, or he’d lost sight of everything but Fox and his pain.

“Gee. Thanks, Dad,”

Fox said. “Happy to know I’ve never added value to your life, and you care more about the girl with the magic—”

“Enough. Do not hurt… her, even with… words.” He closed his eyes, his head lolling to the side.

Fox straightened and stalked closer to Legion. Concern darkened the other woman’s eyes, while tension wove over her angular features.

The same tension plagued Legion, seeming to turn her limbs into boulders. She couldn’t move. Hurry! Before Fox strikes. But Galen’s friend…lover?... never attacked. She simply said, “If you enter this room, I’ll make sure you leave it in a body bag.” That said, she slammed the door in Legion’s face.

Freedom beckoned. She could leave the home without having to fight her way out. Fox wouldn’t know, or care. Galen wouldn’t know, either, though he would care. But, in his condition, he could do nothing to stop her.