Beyond the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #6)(64)

“The only thing Salvatore’s going to do is die,” he rasped. “Just like you.”

The torturous pain dug deeper, shredding through him with unnerving ease. Instinctively, Caine tried to shift, but Briggs’s power had taken command of him, refusing to allow his wolf to answer his call.

Laying his hands flat against the stone floor, Caine lowered his head and sucked in short, agonizing gasps of air. So this was it. He’d bet it all and lost.

Pathetic.

But a part of his pride wasn’t completely defeated.

He might never become the pureblooded Were he’d been promised, but he’d be damned if he was going to let the bastard have the satisfaction of killing him.

He’d do the nasty deed himself.

“Screw off, you Salvatore wannabe.”

With the last of his strength, Caine shoved against the stone floor, pushing himself to the side until he reached the edge of the pit.

Belatedly realizing his prey was attempting to elude his punishment, Briggs flowed forward, his hands outstretched.

“No.”

Caine managed a ragged smile. “See you in hell.”

One more shove and he was toppling over the edge and into the waiting abyss, the weightless sense of falling not nearly as terrifying as it should have been.

“Stupid prick,” Briggs shouted from above him, his face twisted with fury. “There’s nowhere you can hide from me.”

The threat would have been a whole lot scarier if Caine hadn’t been plunging through the darkness at a speed that threatened a crushing, if not outright lethal, landing. Always supposing the pit ever came to an end.

Perhaps Briggs had a straight connection to hell.

It would explain so much.

Expecting flames and brimstone and imps with pitchforks, Caine plummeted for what seemed to be an eternity. But it wasn’t the devil who met him at the bottom of the pit.

Instead it was stark, unyielding stone.

A blinding agony blasted through his body as his bones snapped and his insides turned to jelly. For a split second he had time to actually look death in the face, then a blessed darkness rose up to consume him.

Thank the gods.

The formal salon of Styx’s mansion was just as flamboyantly beautiful as the upper rooms.

With delicate furnishings that might very well have come from Versailles, and a Persian carpet that had obviously been woven to perfectly match the gold-and-ivory décor, there was a definite museum vibe to the place.

Across the room the crimson curtains were pulled aside to reveal the towering windows that stretched the length of one wall, overlooking a sunken garden bathed in moonlight. A lovely view, no doubt, but Harley barely noticed. Hell, if she didn’t notice the massive vampire dressed in leather who leaned against the marble fireplace, or her twin sister she’d thought dead for the past thirty years, a view wasn’t going to capture her attention. No matter how magnificent.

Pacing from one end of the long room to the other, Harley at last came to a halt at the sound of the front doorbell. Darcy tossed her a reassuring smile as she headed into the foyer. Harley caught the unmistakable scent of vampire and…human?

Somehow she thought a goddess would have her own unique scent.

Her confusion only deepened as Darcy returned with the two strangers.

Dante was easily recognizable as a vampire. Pale perfect features. Long black hair pulled into a tail at his nape. Silver eyes that flashed with a bad-boy glint. Yummy body dressed in white satin shirt and black Chinos.

But who would ever guess the tiny honey-haired woman with astonishing blue eyes and impish grin was a powerful goddess?

She waited in silence as Darcy urged Abby toward her while Dante sauntered toward the waiting Styx.

“Harley, this is Abby.” Darcy performed the introductions with a broad smile. “Abby, my sister.”

“You’re the Chalice?” Harley demanded before she could halt the words.

“I know.” With a grimace, Abby ran a hand down her casual sundress. “I’m always such a disappointment. You’d think that if I have to be a goddess, I would at least get a crown and scepter.”

Belatedly realizing just how rude she must sound, Harley blushed, but thankfully Darcy was swift to take charge of the awkward conversation.

“That’s what a queen’s supposed to have, although mine must still be in the mail,” she teased, obviously a BFF with the goddess. “You should have a halo or a glowy gown.”

Abby laughed. “Instead I have split ends and PMS.”

Darcy nodded her head in sympathetic understanding. “Thank you for coming. I hope my mate wasn’t too overbearing in his invitation?”

Abby glanced toward the two men who were strolling in their direction.

“I’m accustomed to vampires. If they aren’t being overbearing, then I know something’s truly wrong. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how much help I can be. This whole goddess gig is still new to me, and I spend most of my time just trying to avoid causing mass chaos.”

The two vampires moved to stand at the side of their mates, each wrapping a possessive arm around the women they so clearly adored.

Harley pretended she didn’t notice that she was standing by herself. Or that her heart was clenching with something perilously close to envy.

She didn’t need a man standing at her side, bristling and flashing fang if anyone came too close. She could take care of herself, thank you very much.