“Because I am—”

“Because there will always be danger in the world. Making decisions based on fear only leads to regrets.”

“You need me,” he snapped. “With me at your side, you won’t have to be afraid.”

Oops. She’d poked the bear. Well, why not keep poking?

She stood, gathered cleaning supplies, stripped him of his soiled clothing and thoroughly washed him. “You want me to need you. There’s a difference. I don’t need you, and I’ll never need you. Dependency isn’t my thing. But I do desire you as fervently as you desire me.”

He didn’t erupt again, as part of her expected. He softened, saying, “For the first time in forever, I have hope for the future. At least, I think I have hope. It’s been so long since I felt the emotion, I can’t be sure.” He rubbed his chest. “Whatever it is, you are at the center.”

How sad was that? And how freaking sweet? She pointed to the wall, saying, “Biscuit, Gravy. To your own beds now, my loves.”

They hopped off the mattress without pause and trotted to the pillows she’d stacked against the wall. After praising them for their obedience, she shimmied under the covers and stretched out beside Baden, careful of his injuries.

“We’re talking about staying together, being together, but we’ve only ever been on one date. Which isn’t fair—to me! I deserve to be wooed.”

He draped his arm over her middle, pulling her closer. “I’ve never wooed a woman.”

“Has a woman ever wooed you?”

“Many have tried.”

“Okay. I’ll bite.” Perhaps literally, if she wasn’t careful. “How did they try to woo you?”

“By sneaking into my home and waiting for me...naked in my bed.”

Ha! “Please, pekný. I’m not that easy. Be naked in my living room, working a vacuum, and then we’ll talk.”

His raspy chuckle fanned warm, minty breath over her temples.

Screw being gentle because of his injuries. He was tough, and such toughness should come with a perk.

She traced her tongue around his nipple. “I’m in your bed... Perhaps I should get naked now.”

His eyes flared with want. “You should,” he said. The phone vibrated in his pocket, against her belly, but he paid it no heed. “Right now.”

“First...” She took possession of the cell and checked the screen. Well, well. “Torin says William is demanding every demon-possessed warrior strike at Puck, without actually hurting Puck.” A pause. “Who’s Puck?” Would she ever learn all the players in this game?

“Puck married William’s...potential soul mate? He’s a satyr. Half goat,” he added when she stared in confusion.

Goat? Seriously? “Could be worse for the girl, I suppose.” But not by much, and suddenly Katarina was very glad her man simply shared his body with another presence.

“Gilly isn’t the problem with this situation. William’s focus is divided, making him an easy target. Lucifer will see this as the perfect opportunity to strike.”

“William seems like the kind of guy who can handle himself, whatever the obstacles.”

“If he’s hurt... Hades loves his son. He will—” Baden frowned, suddenly pensive. Then he shook his head, as if dislodging the thought that had given him pause. “William’s own sons will be distracted, too, putting many of my allies in jeopardy at once.”

“William, who looks about thirty years old, has kids old enough to fight in a war?”

The smile he directed at her held a touch of indulgence. “They’re old enough to destroy the world. They are the horsemen of the apocalypse.”

Mind scramble! “Forget about naked vacuuming. If you want to woo me, write a book detailing who our enemies are, who our allies are, every immortal race, their strengths and weaknesses.”

He nodded. “This I will do. For your protection.”

“Because I need you, blah, blah, blah.”

He ignored her, adding, “I’m afraid I can’t forget about naked vacuuming. Anything that brings you pleasure, I will do.”

A waterfall of warmth...so sweet... She leaned into him—only to halt when his phone buzzed a second time. A warrior was always on call. Sighing, she checked the screen. “Torin the cock blocker says you haven’t checked in today, and he’s seconds away from sending in the cavalry.”

“I’ve been busy.” Baden’s hot gaze stroked her with delicious intent. “I’d like to be even busier.”

Her nipples tightened, and her stomach clenched. “I’d like that, too, but not until we’ve sent him proof-of-life photos. I won’t risk pop-in visitors while I’m rocking your world.” She stood and snapped a few thousand pictures of him. “Make nice with the camera...good, good...now make hate with the camera. Yes! Just like that. Now make babies with the camera...”

He regarded her with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

She selected her favorite photo—one of him making hate with the camera—and texted it to Torin with a message: Baden is ATD (at the doctor’s) and if he’s feeling better later he might throw a BYOT party (bring your own teeth) TTYL (talk to you louder)

Send.

“What did you tell him?” Baden demanded.

“The truth.”

The phone rang a second later, and Torin’s picture popped up on the screen. Gorgeous white-haired immortal! Baden reached for the phone, but she backed away from the bed and answered for him, saying, “This better be important. You’re interrupting my good time at Baden’s expense.”

Torin’s chuckle crackled over the line. “You might be worse than my Keeley.”

The Red Queen. Katarina missed the silly woman. “How is she?”

“All healed up. I’m calling to tell Baden we’re going to help William. We owe him.”

She repeated the words to Baden while twirling a lock of hair around her finger. “I don’t understand how you can war with the goat-man...thing without actually hurting him.”

“Easy,” Torin said. “We go through his closest friends and family.”

What! “That’s horrible. They’re innocent and—”

Baden snatched the phone away from her. “You have too much to do already, Tor. The box, the Morning Star. Lucifer.”