The Dragon Legion Collection(44)

“You liked it once when I had no control over my desires.”

“That was before I was dead.”

Damien grunted as she squirmed, but still easily kept his hold on her. “What about Persephone?”

“She’s stuck here for a third of each year. That’s not an escape.” Petra knew he was hampered by his determination not to hurt her, but she had no such constraint.


“Hercules.”

“Please. Don’t compare yourself to epic heroes. They weren’t doomed to failure.”

Damien chuckled, surprising her. He looked like a daring renegade, the same one who had stolen her heart away. “The only way to know for sure is to try.”

“Not all the rules change just because you want them to.”

“You’re coming with me. We’ll argue about it later.”

“Because your son is in my womb, and you can’t take him without me?” Petra demanded. “Is that the only reason you’re taking me along? You thought you’d just come and get him, but leave me here, didn’t you?”

There was a beat of silence, which told Petra all she needed to know.

She was just as foolish as she’d been the first time she’d met Damien.

But that had just changed.





Chapter Two



Petra fought harder. Knowing the truth of his intentions meant she had no intention of going with Damien at all. “And what happens if we do get out of here?” she demanded. “What happens after our son is born? You’ll just abandon me again? I don’t think so!”

“He’s my son!” Damien protested.

“And mine!”

“But...”

Petra was so angry that she kicked Damien hard, right in the wound the hellhound had just given him. He roared in pain, stumbled, and his grip loosened enough for her to get her feet on the ground again.

Miserable, self-centered dragon!

Petra regained her balance quickly and kicked Damien harder, in exactly the same spot. He paled in pain as he fell to one knee, then she decked him. Damien swore as he fell back, even though Petra knew she hadn’t hurt him that much.

“You want your son? Then come and get him!” Petra spun and ran into the shadowy depths of the underworld. She was livid, but ran as fast as she could, wanting only to leave as much distance as possible between herself and the infuriating, sexy father of her child.

Oh, she hadn’t called Damien nearly enough names when he’d left her before. He was selfish, he was conceited, he was insensitive and indifferent to the desires of others, he was...

“Petra!” Damien roared from the gates.

She didn’t waste time looking back but kept running. Damien was taller, faster and he wasn’t nine months pregnant. He was also a dragon shape shifter. It was inevitable that he’d catch her, possibly also inevitable that he’d win his way, but she wanted to make him work as hard as possible for his victory.

Maybe she was getting even.

Or maybe she was the one who didn’t believe, now.

“No!” Damien bellowed suddenly. The dismay in his voice convinced Petra to look back. She laughed to see that Damien’s plan was falling apart before his eyes. Charon was calmly plying his pole to guide his ferry back across the river. He was already too far from the shore for Damien to jump and the River Acheron ran darkly between them. Damien stood on the bank and shook his fist at the departing boat.

“I paid you to wait!” he bellowed, but the ferryman continued on his way, deaf to Damien’s cries. Petra felt a twinge of sympathy when Damien’s shoulders sagged.

She knew her dragon would never accept defeat easily. He always mustered his resolve for another foray.

Which was why it had been so devastating when he’d left her forever.

Again, she expected the pale blue glow that announced his intention to shift, and again, she didn’t see it. Petra felt a whisper of concern.

Was something wrong?

Damien pivoted to glare into the underworld, his eyes blazing with fury. “This is your fault,” he said, flinging out his hands in frustration. “You could have just come along. You could have just cooperated, but every single thing has to be an argument.”

“You mean I could have trusted you. Again.” Petra spoke quietly, knowing Damien’s keen senses would allow him to hear her, even at such a distance. “Too bad your firestorm wasn’t with a stupid woman.”

Damien’s eyes flashed. He strode toward the gates, resolve giving him new power. Petra felt a thrill of anticipation. When they’d argued like this while alive, they’d made up with equal passion. She wondered whether he intended to win her agreement with a kiss and couldn’t wait for him to try. She stood her ground, telling herself that Damien’s kiss wouldn’t be half as marvelous as she remembered.

But she was going to find out.

As Damien approached the gates, Cerberus stirred, one head rousing to yawn.

Petra saw the dog sniff the air.

She heard it growl at Damien.

Damien growled back.

Petra turned to run, telling herself she didn’t want to see whatever happened next. She heard Damien swear, then the dog yelp. When she looked back, Damien had plunged under the gates of the underworld to pursue her and was closing fast. Cerberus stood on the other side, barking after Damien with all teeth bared.