Growing new limbs might be possible. But only with the bands?

She wore a black tank, revealing the marks of Corruption on her arm.

In terms of humans they’d killed, they were even. Baden had six other points, not counting the points they shared for killing Lucifer’s minion. How many others did she have? And why did he feel no desire to slay her, despite her actions this day?

“Hello, Baden.” She flashed her teeth in a parody of a grin, reloaded and took aim. Aleksander was anchored to her waist, a rope tied to the end of the chain and wrapped around her wrist. A handicap. Perfect. “Your little trap failed, as you can see. I found the key in the rubble.”

“You have something that belongs to me,” Baden said as Destruction snarled.

“He’s mine!”

Baden launched a dagger, aiming for the rope.

Pandora must have thought he meant to kill the bastard rather than allow her to leave with him because she leaped, taking the hit in her thigh. She cringed, lifting her semiautomatic and firing off two more shots.

The bullets slammed into his torso, shredding his stomach. He leaked black goo and hemorrhaged strength.

“If he’s dead, he can’t tell us where to find the coin.” She kept her gun trained on Baden, her arm trembling as she leaked her own river of black.

Could she not bring herself to injure him further? She must feel the connection, too.

“He’ll never tell us,” Baden said. “And the coin isn’t why I want him.” He addressed the male. “Voice your divorce from Katarina.”

“Never,” Aleksander vowed.

Thinks to deny me?

Rage...

“The girl again.” Pandora shook her head with disgust. “Only the coin matters. It will force Hades to grant my greatest wish.”

Her certainty... “I know that, but how do you?”

“You’re not the only one with friends, Baddy Boy.”

His head canted to the side as he studied her. “You plan to use the coin to buy the kingdom for yourself, do you not?”

“Yes! Don’t you?”

“No.” But at least she was honest. “You’ve never been possessed. You don’t know the horrors of living with a demon.”

“I’m host to shadows and a being with memories I’ve never lived. I can handle demons.”

Wrong. You didn’t handle demons. You starved them.

“Besides, an army is an army,” she added. “I’ll never be helpless again!”

A sentiment he shared. To a point. “There are other ways. Pandy.”

She gave a violent shake of her head. “Leave now, and live. Stay, and we’ll fight to your next death.”

Destruction ran his hooves through his mind, ready to charge her. A threat was a threat, no matter the connection.

Katarina would disagree. As long as there’s breath, there’s hope.

“Do you truly want to forfeit freedom from the bands?” Hades could forgive a few bumps and bruises, but not a murder.

Eyes wild, she said, “The coin will buy my kingdom and my freedom. Perhaps I’ll spare you today and take you as my slave tomorrow.”

That was her grand plan? “You think Hades doesn’t already have kings under his control? I’ve seen them. You’ve seen them.” The warriors who’d tossed him across the throne room as if he were as light as a feather. “You might have a kingdom, but you sure as shit won’t have your freedom.”

“I will.” How desperate she sounded. “I can’t go on like this.”

Compassion nicked him, an emotion he’d rarely felt for this woman. He blamed Katarina. Her softer side must have rubbed off on him.

Aleksander smirked at him over Pandora’s shoulder, and the beast bang, banged against Baden’s skull in an effort to reach the male.

His temples throbbed. Focus. “I won’t let you—”

“Give me one night with him, and I’ll vow never to harm your human.”

Pandora’s words shut down his threat and even quieted Destruction. She’d just offered the one thing he couldn’t refuse. “I’ll give you one night.” A calculated risk. If she found the coin, she would gain another point. And even if she failed, the male would be away from Baden’s strict control.

“Tomorrow,” he added, “I will come for him.”

“Deal. But if you come for him early, ambushing me, I’ll turn my sights to the girl.”

“And I’ll ensure you remain an armless, legless husk.”

She snorted. “I like the thought of you in a cage of my own making. Perhaps I’ll spend the entire night creating traps for you.”

He smiled at her, pure challenge. “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”

“Until tomorrow then.” She vanished with Aleksander, who was still smirking. Fool. He thought because Pandora was a woman she would be easier to escape and less of a danger. Baden knew her well. She hurt her victims in ways that would haunt them for the rest of their days. The nymph had known it, and soon Aleksander would, too.

Return to Katarina. Stake a claim.

His smile turned to pure seduction as he flashed home.

19

“The bow chicka wow wow is a powerful thing. Use it or lose it.”

—Danika, the All-seeing Eye

KATARINA WALKED THROUGH her bedroom while running through her mental checklist. Overhead light and all lamps disabled. Check. Candles scented with vanilla and lavender placed throughout and lit. Check. The massage table set up and draped with a heated blanket. Check. Her body cleaned with vanilla soap and covered only by a cashmere robe. Check and mate.

The dogs slept peacefully in the bathroom. The masseuse was on standby, awaiting her call. All she lacked was Baden. Where was he?

She sat in the chair by the crackling hearth, lounging to appear sexy. But an hour later, she was on her feet, pacing, being sure to sway her hips. Just in case. If Baden stayed out all night, she’d...she’d...argh! She’d go to bed frustrated. And as payback, she would ensure he went to bed frustrated for a week. Whimper. Negative reinforcement would hurt them both.

Sighing, she strode to the window and stared out. One minute ticked into another, dark thoughts drifting through her mind, ruining her sensual mood. Here she was, determined to seduce Baden, while her brother...what? He was out there somewhere, probably high as a kite. Or maybe he’d overdosed and would never have a chance to get clean.