How many men had she bitten?

Alek lay before her. He was still alive, but that would change at any moment. Or maybe not—he’d regrown the hand Baden had removed. He wasn’t human, and had never been. When she’d bitten him—again and again—she’d sampled the power in his veins. Dark power.

He reached for her, his hand juddering. “Help.” He was missing a leg and his torso was split open, what was left of his intestines spilled out beside him.

“The coin.” How she spoke past the lump in her throat, she didn’t know. “Where is it?”

“Help,” he repeated. “Please.”

“Tell me what I want to know, and I’ll help you.” Just not the way he probably hoped.

A tear trickled down his cheek. “My mother was...fallen angel. My father...human... I was going to die one day...she forced me to kill her...to take the coin and...hide it inside my...body.”

His body. The coin was still in there, perhaps even acting as life support. Which meant, if she removed it, he would lose his life, his only bargaining chip and his new kingdom all at once.

“Help.” He choked on a gurgle of blood. “P-promised.”

“You’re right. I did.” Steeling herself for what needed to be done—no other way—she dug inside his chest cavity, searching for the coin. “Don’t worry. Your pain will end.”

He fought her with what little strength he had left. Too little too late.

In a chamber of his heart, she encountered something hard, cold and round. She had to tug to remove it, breaking a few of his ribs, but his protests ceased, and his head lolled to the side.

He was dead. Once and for all. She felt no relief.

She stared down at her bloody palm, at the quarter-size piece of gold Alek had killed and died to possess. How could something so small and pretty cause so much trouble?

She couldn’t allow anyone else to find it or use it and perhaps aid Lucifer. Or Hades. Not even Baden. He’d grown to like Hades, and even she had to admit he was the lesser of two evils. The beast was trainable; Lucifer, who wanted Baden to embrace darkness, was not.

The problem was, Hades had once eradicated hellhounds. He couldn’t be allowed to take another shot at them.

Maybe...maybe she could use the coin to protect the dogs? But what if he punished Baden for her daring?

Then again, if she used the coin to save Baden, severing his tie to the king, Hades could punish the hounds.

If she wished for immortality, she might be strong enough to protect both Baden and the hounds. She might not.

Every option presented a major risk. She needed time to think, to consider all the pros and cons.

A paw scratched at her thigh. One of the dogs sat in front of her, his dark eyes intelligent, stormy—and locked on her. He had long, thick scars on his muzzle. One of his ears was missing. His speckled fur was matted with blood and fleas.

—I am Roar.—

“I’m Katarina,” she replied softly.

—The pups are mine. I am father. Werga is mother. We...thank you.—

The appreciation was unexpected and unnecessary. “They are wonderful—” If she said “dogs” would he take offense? “Pups.” As he’d called them. “I loved every minute I spent with them.”

—Agree they are wonderful, but they have done the unthinkable. Drank your blood and shared theirs with you.—

They had...yes, they sure had. She remembered tasting pennies when she’d awoken from their bite. But...what would that mean for them? Would they be punished? “The fault is mine. Any repercussions are mine to endure.”

—They knew our rules. You did not. No links. Kill what you taste. No survivors. No witnesses. Ever.— His mouth pulled back in a scowl, revealing his fangs. They were a lot bigger than hers. —The three of you are linked and will remain so...until death.—

“My death, I’m guessing.” Her dry tone clearly surprised him, but she’d had one too many death threats lately. This was just more of the same.

—No, girl. You misunderstand. Your death would bring theirs.—

What!

“Katarina!” Baden’s voice sawed through the tension.

She spun as new growls rang out, her heart seeming to soar and drop at the same time as she stuffed the coin in her pocket. “Don’t hurt him,” she shouted. “Please. He means you no harm.”

—He is yours?—

“He is.”

—He smells of another pack. A pack we thought long dead.—

Biscuit and Gravy had mentioned the fact that Baden smelled like Hades. And if Hades smelled like another pack... Was Hades connected to hellhounds?

Maybe. But if the male were, in fact, bonded to them, he would have died when they’d died. Yes? Unless...had he found a way to sever the bond?

To her shock, the dogs remained in place, simply watching Baden as he stalked across the sea of carnage to reach her.

His hair stuck out in spikes. His skin was bleached of color, but his eyes were brighter than ever, a frothing mix of fury and concern.

“Are you all right? You’re bleeding. Why are you bleeding? And you’re fucking crying?” He wiped his thumbs over her cheeks, collecting her tears. “What have they done to you?” He whipped his attention to Roar. “I’ll kill you in ways you’ve never imagined.”

The promise earned him another chorus of growls.

Katarina gripped his forearms and forced his attention to return to her. “I’m fine.” For now. “The blood I’m wearing belongs to others. Alek is dead.” She motioned to what remained of her tormentor’s body. “See for yourself.”

Baden glanced down at the motionless husk, silent for a moment. He withdrew a dagger, crouched down and sliced through Alek’s neck, until the head detached. “Now the bastard can’t regenerate.” He straightened. “But why the tears?”

“My family,” she told him, then turned to Roar. “Spare my man. He had no part in my dealings with the pups.”

“I will do the sparing. But only if I’m assured the hounds will never attack you.” Baden stepped in front of her, her sword and her shield, but she was far past the need. She moved to his side, where she belonged.

—The pups can no longer exist without you— Roar scowled at her. —Which means you’re stuck with the rest of us. We’ll stay with you, and we’ll guard you. Your man is safe from us.—