She swallowed hard and watched as Leander’s cool gaze flicked to her and then back to Luna. “What do you have in mind?” His query shattered her heart but strengthened her resolve. She hadn’t asked for this, but had been pulled into this war against her will. Maybe she should have taken Luna’s offer.
No. She couldn’t do that. No matter what Leander did, she’d done what she knew was right. Some might think her stupid, but she’d written those two books and had multiple dreams about Hades and the world he ruled over. No matter what the document said, there would be a loophole. Hades always won when it came to contracts. It was his strength. She would not risk her eternal soul in such a way.
Luna ignored Araminta as though she was of no import. And she supposed in the scheme of things she wasn’t. For the most part, she’d lived a lonely life. Her grandmother had loved her, but even she hadn’t understood Araminta’s need to write, to create stories and other worlds populated by the most amazing people.
“I could send her to Hades.” Luna’s suggestion had sweat beading on Araminta’s forehead. She had no desire to see that realm or its leader firsthand.
“Now what would be the point of that?” Leander’s soft-spoken words barely reached Araminta’s ears, and she strained to hear what he was saying. “She is mine. It is you who belong in Hell.”
He attacked so swiftly he was little more than a blur. He shot out his hand, but it was no longer his hand. It was a massive paw tipped with razor-sharp claws. He ripped through Luna’s chest and tore out her still-beating heart. Blood sprayed, the splatter covering Leander’s shirt and the wall, peppering the papers strewn on the floor.
Araminta slapped her hand over her mouth to smother her scream of horror. Luna slowly fell to her knees, her face pale and her eyes wide open. Her lips were parted as though she meant to say something. What that might be they would never know.
Luna’s body swayed and toppled to the side. Blood flowed from the open wound, soaking into the papers and carpet. The stain would never come out. Hysterical laughter bubbled up, threatening to erupt.
Then Leander tossed the heart onto the floor beside Luna’s body. Araminta dove for the garbage bucket, barely making it before she lost the remains of the large breakfast she’d eaten hours ago. The rock tumbled from her hand as she grabbed the rim for support. Her legs gave out and she dropped to her knees.
“Araminta.” She heard Leander’s concerned voice over the retching but shook her head. She couldn’t look at him right now. He’d ripped out a woman’s heart.
Was she next?
Araminta slowly raised her head and shuddered at the sight of Luna’s body lying in a pool of blood. “You killed her. You killed a famous romance author in my home.” Her voice rose with each word until she was almost screaming.
Leander shook his head. “She was a demon, not a human.” As if to prove his point, Luna’s body began to sizzle. Just like the demons back at the garage, her entire body shriveled and turned to ash. Even the bloodstains on the wall and carpet turned to ash.
“I’m not cleaning that up.” The absurdity of what she’d just said made her drop her head into her hands. She was losing her mind.
Leander walked to the window and shoved it open. A heavy wind blew in and gathered the dust from the floor and walls. It swirled around, almost forming the shape of a woman before being swept out the window. She didn’t know where the ashes went and didn’t care. They were out of her house. That was all that mattered.
He slammed the window shut and stared out into the late afternoon sky. Dark, ominous clouds were forming to the west. Araminta pushed to her feet. Not wanting to leave herself undefended, she grabbed her rock. Not that it would do much damage. She wasn’t sure she could even make herself hit Leander. Then the final words he’d said to Luna sank in, leaving her even more confused. Had he told the demon she was his?
“Araminta.” He strode toward her, stopping when she took a step back. Pain filled his eyes and his hands clenched at his sides. “I would not hurt you.”
She swallowed hard, hating the sour taste in her mouth. “I wasn’t sure there for a moment.”
He briefly closed his eyes and nodded. When he looked back at her, his eyes were gleaming. “Make no mistake. You belong to me. To us.” He held up his hand and it morphed into the powerful paw of a predator before her very eyes. “There is nothing either of us would not do to protect you.”
Wow. That was a lot for a girl to take in. But one question remained. “Why?”
He shook his head and canted it to one side as he studied her. “Why does the sun rise in the east? Why do the birds sing?” He placed his hand over his heart. “These things just are.” He took another step toward her. “You are in my heart, Araminta Davidson, and there is no removing you from it.”
He moved closer still and started to lower his head. She ducked out of the way at the last second. A low growl filled the air. He wasn’t happy.
“I have to brush my teeth.” She motioned to the wastebasket where the remains of her breakfast sat. No way was she kissing him after puking up her guts.
His scowl disappeared and he offered her a tender smile. “Go and see to yourself. I will take care of this.” He leaned down and brushed several kisses over her forehead.
Araminta turned and fled into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. “Oh God.” She rested her head against the cool mirror and took a deep, cleansing breath. Drawing back, she stared at herself. Her face was as pale as chalk, her eyes huge. Wisps of hair had escaped from her braid and hung around her face, framing it.
She grabbed her toothbrush and quickly got rid of the nasty taste in her mouth, replacing it with minty freshness. When she was done, she thought about brushing out her hair and washing her face but didn’t bother. It didn’t really matter what she looked like. They needed to talk and make a plan of action. Hades would be back and soon.
She emerged from the bathroom but didn’t go out to the kitchen where she could hear water running. Leander was actually cleaning up after her. That made him one special man. No, he wasn’t a man. She had to keep reminding herself of that. He was a mythical warrior, one with a mission.
Turning, she went into her bedroom. It was no longer the sanctuary it had been. A demon invasion had pretty much taken away any sense of safety she’d had. Percy perched on the end of bed and gave a low grumble when he saw her.
She sat next to him and he immediately climbed into her lap, offering her comfort in the only way he knew how. She cuddled him close and, for once, he allowed it. “What am I going to do, Percy?” He grumbled again in response, drawing a tiny laugh from her. “Maybe I should put you outside just in case.” She’d hate to see him killed or hurt in this fight.
He bumped his furry head against her chin, and she hugged his heavy body to her chest, needed the warmth and comfort. Her entire life was upside down and she had no idea what was going to happen next. Even if she survived she would never be the same again. She would be one of the few who knew that demons, curses and ancient gods were real.
“I envy the cat.” She jumped when Leander spoke. He stood in the doorway of her room, watching her with unreadable eyes. He’d removed his stained shirt, leaving him clad in only his leather pants and boots. As always, the sight of his broad, firmly muscled chest momentarily distracted her.
“Why?” She asked because she really wanted to know, plus she needed some time to compose herself.
Leander prowled toward her, his gait smooth and stealthy, like a lion on the hunt. Every nerve ending in her body fired at once, sending tingles racing over her skin.
“Because he is touching you and I am not.”