The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld #3)(80)

She was shaking her head in denial.

"We're extracting you," he said flatly. "It's for your protection. My sources tell me the one called Aeron is nearly insane with bloodlust for you. We don't want you hurt. Unlike the Lords, we want to protect you."

Extracting her? "Wait. You want to take me out of the fortress?"

"As soon as possible."

No. In the morning, she and Reyes were traveling to Oklahoma. "No, I can't. You can't. I - "

"You have no choice, Danika. We're gearing to enter even now. While they place no value on human life, we do. We want you safe."

What? They were going to break into the fortress? There would undoubtedly be a battle, blood and death. She tried not to panic, though ice began to crystallize in her veins and a loud ringing blasted in her ears. "If you think I'm working for them, why did you call? Why are you warning me? Wanting to help me?"

"Anyone can make a mistake. They probably lied to you, convinced you they would leave your family alone if you would only stay with them, maybe help them with something. Maybe even help take us down."

Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound emerged. Everything he said made sense.

"Will you be ready?" he asked.

There could be no more stalling, no more straddling the fence, unsure of who to help and who to bring down. To her surprise, she didn't have to think about it. What he said made sense, but it didn't feel right. Sometime in the past few days, her anger toward Reyes had faded completely. Hate had been replaced by...something else. She didn't know what emotion lurked inside her, just that it was somehow at once both soft and almost violent. She would trust him to help her find her family, which meant cutting her safety net, the Hunters.

"The Darkest Pleasure"

"Yes," she lied.

"Smart girl." Stefano's relief was almost palpable. "How many Lords are inside the fortress?"

"All of them," she said, lying again. This morning, most of the men had taken off. Had Stefano seen them leave? Or had the warriors simply disappeared as Lucien had done on several occasions?

If Stefano knew the truth, he'd see the seizing of the fortress as easy. Keep lying. He might not know. She plopped onto the toilet lid, legs suddenly too weak to hold her up. She leaned forward, elbows digging into her knees. One hand continued to hold the phone to her ear, the other rubbed her temple to ward off the sudden ache. "They're heavily armed. You shouldn't risk entering the fortress. Why don't I sneak out and come to you?" She could tell Reyes where they would be waiting, and he could...take care of things.

"You aren't trained for that sort of thing. It's better if we handle this."

What could she do? What could she say to stop this?

"Think you can reach the roof without detection?"

"I - I - " Shit! "Maybe. What time should I be there?"

"One hour."

Dear God. One hour. Could Reyes contact Lucien in time? Could Lucien bring the others here? Sickness rolled through her. "I'll do my best," she said, trying desperately not to tip him off. Her voice was weak, barely audible.

"Don't disappoint me, Danika. Need I remind you what's at stake?" Stefano disconnected, and Danika closed the phone. She didn't straighten, couldn't; she was too busy trying to breathe. God, there was so much to do, and failure could cost Reyes his freedom - or his life.

"Interesting conversation."

The harsh statement assaulted her ears, and she jolted. All the blood drained from her face. Reyes stood in the now-open doorway, his expression unreadable. He leaned against the frame, one arm behind his back in a deceptively casual pose. He wore a pair of jeans he hadn't bothered to fasten. His chest was bare, the injuries and scabs gone.

"It isn't what you think. I swear."

One of his brows shot into his hairline. "So you weren't talking to a Hunter?"

She jumped up, mouth floundering open and closed.

Reyes's gaze immediately jerked from her. The arm behind his back shot forward and a second later a T-shirt was flying toward her. "Dress. Lucien is here. He wants to talk with you."

She caught the material and hastily tugged it over her head, shielding her nakedness. Her vision was blocked for less than a second, but by the time she refocused, Reyes was no longer standing in the doorway.

The shirt ended at her knees, but she still felt exposed as she raced into the bedroom. Cool air kissed her legs. "Reyes, I was helping you! You have to believe me."

She stopped short when she spied Lucien. The warrior was fully dressed, and his clothing was stained with blood. Reyes now stood beside him. Both men were staring at her expectantly.

"Look," she rushed out. "I'm supposed to learn everything I can about you. I've been trying. I admit it. The Hunters who captured me and asked me to spy for them are led by a man named Stefano. Dean Stefano. He was going to help me find and protect my family. To do that, I thought you had to be destroyed. But when I got here, I just couldn't do it. I've spoken to Stefano only twice since I've been here, but I've never given him any useful information."

"Is that all?" Reyes asked, surprisingly calm.

She nodded.

"Very well. Let's move on to another subject, then. I told Lucien what you told me, that there are other beings possessed as we are. Is there anything else you know about them?"