The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld #3)(34)

"Yes." Ashlyn looked at her through the thick shield of her lashes. "In fact, say hello to the next generation of demon. Maddox and I are having a baby." Practically purring with contentment, she rubbed her slightly bulging belly. "I can't wait!"

"Oh, Ash. Congratulations." Danika was genuinely happy for her friend, and wanted only the best for her. "You're sure Maddox will..."

"He'll be an amazing father," Ashlyn said confidently.

If I don't help bring him down. She closed her eyes against the new complication. Hurting Maddox would hurt Ashlyn, one of the sweetest people she'd ever met. And what about the baby? What would Hunters do to the innocent child of a demon?

"What's wrong? The color in your cheeks is fading."

"Headache," she lied, rubbing her temples.

"Oh, you poor thing. You've been through a lot these past few months. This, however, I can fix. You once flew into town to get me some Tylenol, and now I get to do the same for you." Ashlyn gave her another tight squeeze. "Actually, there's some in the kitchen - Maddox stocks it by the truckload these days just in case - so I'll be right back."

The bed bounced and footsteps sounded. Hinges squeaked. I'm in deep. So deep. Destroying Ashlyn's life was not a possibility she'd considered, and the thought of doing so sickened her.

But Danika had no opportunity to think of a way to meet her objective and prevent Ashlyn's downfall. The bedroom door swung open a second time, slapping into the wall. Her eyelids pried apart as a warrior she didn't recognize stepped inside the bedroom. He was tall and muscled like all the others. Yet while they had appeared harsh, savage, he had an all-American face, square jaw and puppy-dog brown eyes.

She jumped to her feet, wet hair dripping down her arms. "Who are you? What do you want? Where's Reyes?"

"I'm Sabin," he said, and she'd never heard a more cocky man. He punted the door shut behind him but didn't move any closer to her. "I came to ask you some questions. And I don't have any clue where Reyes is."

"Well, you can leave." Her fingers itched to grab one of the daggers. Steady, hold your ground. No reason to reveal her secret. Not yet. You've been trained. You know what to do if he attacks: go for the throat, eyes and groin. In that order.

Rather than leave, Sabin pressed his back against the door and folded his massive arms over his middle. He was a handsome man, in a rough sort of way. Women probably melted for him. She'd rather cut out his heart. "You're one of them."

He stepped toward her, caught himself and backed off. Why? "One of who?"

She was surprised by his calmness. His gaze was sharp enough to slice her in half. "The demons."

"Did Reyes tell you we were demons?"

"Yes."

Dark eyes gleamed with menace. "I doubt he'd be such a naughty boy. Want to know what I think? You recently spent some time with Hunters. I bet they told you."

"So?"

"So. Interesting that you don't have to ask me who and what the Hunters are, or what their purpose is."

Damn it! She raised her chin all the higher. "Again, Reyes told me." And he told you never to repeat what he'd said. Grr! I will not feel guilty for ratting him out to his friend. And this demon will not make me feel guilty for having been kidnapped by Hunters.

"What did they ask you to do to us, hmm? Tell me and I might let you live."

Her blood instantly chilled, ice chips crystallizing in her veins. Surely she paled. "They asked me to kill you," she said, sticking to the truth as much as possible. Less chance of slipping up that way.

His anger softened into surprise, as though he hadn't expected her to admit such a thing. "Do you plan to try?"

Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits. "Depends on what I learn about my family."

Expression unchanging, he withdrew a dagger and a rag from his pocket. Slowly he began polishing the sharp sliver with practiced strokes. "I won't allow anyone to hurt my friends. Ever."

Acid burned in her chest. "And I won't allow anyone to hurt my family." Please, let them be all right. "Is the weapon supposed to scare me?" Well, it worked. Bastard. Not that she'd back down. "You'll have to try harder than that." Please don't.

"You're on their radar now, you know?" he said casually, as if she hadn't spoken. "The Hunters will never leave you alone. And if you betray them to help us, which I doubt you're willing to do, they'll hunt and torture you. If there's anything left of you after I'm done, that is."

"So I'm screwed either way?" She laughed, another of those ugly sounds. The happiness she'd felt at seeing Ashlyn already seemed a distant memory. "News flash. I had already figured that out, moron."

His lips twitched. In amusement? Irritation? "You should know that the Hunters' torturing will seem like child's play compared to what I'll do to you if you so much as look as if you're going to fight my friends. They aren't evil, they aren't the source of the world's problems and they deserve to be happy."

"The Darkest Pleasure"

Something in his flat tone struck her. "And you don't?"

Again, he ignored her. Reyes and company were masters at evasion, she was coming to realize. They answered those questions they wanted to and discarded everything else as if it had never been uttered.