Marked by Hades (11 page)

Chapter Nineteen

Justin leaped off the bed and steadied himself with a hand to the bedpost. “Tonight? As in, right now?”

Yvonne’s heart drummed so fast it stole her breath. Now. It was happening now. Her stomach clenched.

Justin faced her. “No. We—but we haven’t…” He stepped before her and whispered, “We haven’t bonded.”

It was better that way. She would have stopped things before they’d gone that far. Binding him to her wasn’t the answer, not when she was going to live in Hades. It was selfish enough to kiss him, furthering their link past a marking.

Selfish, sure, but she was so happy she’d tasted his lips. It was a memory she’d treasure wherever she ended up. No matter what she faced, she’d have that. It’d be her safe place when she needed an escape.

Clearing her throat, she stood tall. “What’s the plan?”

Hurt flashed over Justin’s features, but she had to steel herself from it. For how long they’d been kissing, he shouldn’t be so pale. He should be more rejuvenated than he was. Things were progressing fast.

“Justin, your neck,” Sadie whispered, touching her own. “I’m—I’m sorry.”

“What’s happening?” Dasha appeared in the doorway, breathless. “Is it Theo?”

Sadie put out her arm to keep Dasha behind her. “The demons will trade.”

Dasha gasped and looked at Justin, then Yvonne. Thankfully, the girl stayed quiet. Yvonne wasn’t sure she could handle any more stimuli. Despite the doubt creeping in, she needed to stay focused.

Yvonne shook her head and asked, “Where is it happening? When?”

Sadie held her focus on Justin two long breaths before facing her. “They’re waiting now.”

“With Theo?” Justin said.

“No. One went back to get him. Halena’s there, keeping an eye on them. I came to get—” Sadie glanced at the bed, and her shoulders slumped. “Um. I came to get Yvonne.”

“Shit!” Justin bashed his fist into the wall beside the bed. Drywall splintered.

Yvonne’s gut clenched and tears popped. She coughed through it and swiped at her eyes. Where was her leather? She needed it now more than ever. Protection from…whatever she was going to face.

“Let’s hurry, then.” She hustled to the closet in the bathroom and grabbed her leather.

After throwing it on in record time, she stormed through the room and out the open door before she changed her mind. Before she gave up her chance to do something right. Something noble. It would save Theo and, by doing that, save Justin.

That’s what counted.

“Yvonne, wait.” Sadie chased her down the stairs. “Halena said to give you this.” At the bottom of the stairs, she handed Yvonne a small cream-colored item.

She held it up and asked, “What is it?”

“Tracker. It goes on your back tooth.” Sadie glanced over her shoulder, then leaned in. “She’s not sure it’ll work in Hades, or that they won’t find it and remove it, but it’s worth a try. It’ll make it easier for us to find you.”

“If the room they stick me in isn’t charmed like the one Aggie had you in.”

Justin came into sight as he made it past the last two stairs. He’d hurried after them as they made their way outside, just quite a bit slower than Sadie and Yvonne.

“
Szép
.”

Sadie grabbed Yvonne’s hand. “Tell him.”

Surprise caught in Yvonne’s throat. How’d Sadie know Yvonne was going to tell Justin she loved him just before she’d barged in? Or was it just that obvious on her face?

Probably the latter. When it came to Justin, it was difficult hiding her feelings. And he’d said the words. He loved her. She felt it in his kisses and in the now-red, pulsing Mark on her shoulder.

What would the demons do to her when they saw the Mark? Now that it was red they’d know about the bloodlink.

“I’ll be in the car.” Sadie walked away with Dasha by her side. They leaned together, talking out the details. Dasha had proven herself strong. Loyal. Yvonne should take comfort in the possibility that Justin might get another Mate, maybe someone as nice as Dasha.

It still hurt like a knife to the windpipe, though.

She looked at her feet as she heard Justin approach. His breathing was labored, and she grabbed him by the forearms to keep him steady.

“I’m coming.”

“You’re not.” She shook her head. “I can’t have you there, Justin.”

“But—”

“Please. Just do as I ask. I can’t have them know how much I…care about you.”

“They’ll know by the Mark.”

“I’ll lie and tell them you forced it on me.” Anything to keep him safe. “I won’t have them targeting you.”

“They target me anyway because of what I stand for.” He yanked her into his arms. “And I’ll slaughter every one of them I come across until I find you.”

He touched kisses to the top of her head and rubbed her back. “I love you, Yvonne. With all of me, I love you. And when you get back, we’re going to finish this. Bonded Mates.”

“That sounds perfect.” And highly unlikely.

Because Yvonne wasn’t going to ever come back. If she remembered where the Artifacts were hidden and told the demons, they’d kill her. Of that she was sure.

Chapter Twenty

“You promise to take care of him?” Yvonne shut the door and looked at Sadie over the hood of the car.

“Of course. And he’s right, you know. We’ll get you back. Once Theo’s healed, we’ll hit Hades with everything we have.”

Yvonne moved to the rear of the car. The deserted parking lot sent an eerie chill down her spine. Woods flanked both sides of the lot with a trailhead at the north end and the paved road leading in from the south.

And it was quiet. Not a sound of chirping nature or rustling of leaves.

Evil dwelled here. She felt it deep in her bones. Glancing around, she smoothed the front of her leather shirt. Being decked out in leather garb did nothing to keep the chill out, but it was what she felt most comfortable in.

“Sadie. You have to know that I won’t be me anymore if they crack through whatever’s going on in my brain. I’ll be what I was, and if you guys find me or I come back, you have to be careful. You shouldn’t trust me. What if I lead them to you…to Justin?”

Sadie grabbed her hand and brought her to a stop at the start of the trailhead. “You’ve got to hold on, Yvonne. Be strong. Fight.”

She smiled at her new friend. “I will.”

“Say it like you mean it!” Sadie grasped both of her shoulders. “You will return to Justin. You’re meant to. If you doubt that, even a hint of doubt, you ruin your chances. You’re strong. Your touch is lethal. Use that, damn it!”

She nodded, awed by Sadie’s emotions. Her aura always pulsed bright, but it was blazing now. Over these past weeks she’d become like a sister.

“I will hold on. For Justin.” Yvonne cupped her shoulder, knowing the Mark was beneath the leather. “For as long as I can.”

But she had felt the darkness within her. It lay in wait, though she would kill herself before she let it take her. From the sounds of what she’d done to Sadie, she wanted nothing to do with becoming a demon.

Then again, final death might be pretty unpleasant for a person who’d once chosen to become a demon. So which would be worse?

They stepped onto the trail and trudged onward in silence. That was okay with her. The less talking the better. She needed to steel herself for what lay ahead.

“I’m sorry,” Sadie whispered. “So sorry.”

“This is how it has to be. I nearly killed Theo by my actions months ago. Now I can rectify that.” At least that’s what she told herself. Fear and nerves threatened to crack her resolve, but she pushed them down. “He’ll live because of what I do.”

“And so will Justin.”

She dipped her head. “America will be protected again.” It was the right thing to do. Even the thought of Justin with another woman was tolerable because he’d be alive.

A clearing came into view beneath the light of the full moon, and a massive demon stood, feet shoulder-width apart, his arms crossed over his chest. At his feet lay a person.

“Theo!” Sadie gasped. Wings burst out of her back, and she soared into the air. A growl ripped free from her as she torpedoed forward.

Yvonne ran after her.
Stay strong. Keep moving.
She repeated the mantra until she was five feet before the giant. “I’m here. Release him.”

The bald demon eyed her with his coal eyes, starting at her face and slowly moving over her body. “Agares’s bitch finally returns.”

“Step away from Theophilus,” Halena ordered. She fisted both of her daggers, and her tense muscles rippled beneath the long sleeves she wore.

“Step with me, Dyre,” the demon growled through his fangs.

Yvonne raised her hands and complied. A line of demons formed a semicircle behind the giant leader, all watching, some with glowing eyes. Hisses and whispers tainted the crisp, pine-laced air.

With each step they took to the side, Sadie inched toward Theo. Yvonne had met the Gatekeeper only once, but he no longer was the bright-skinned, confident man she’d seen. He lay on his side, not moving, and she couldn’t tell if he was breathing.

Had they killed him?

“He lives,” the demon said as if reading her mind. Maybe he could, she didn’t know their powers. “Barely.” The corner of his lips quirked up in a half smile.

“Deal’s off if he’s dead,” Halena said.

“Watch. When his Mate touches him, his skin will lighten. That will assure you he lives.”

Sadie had mentioned that before, but to see it…

Sadie knelt beside Theo and rested her hand on his cheek. A ring of light emanated from it, and a wave of relief washed over Yvonne.

Justin would live.

The demon offered her his hand, and even his fingernails were black. Wait, those were claws. Just barely longer than human nails, but the lethal tips promised much pain if they met skin.

“Take it,” he ordered.

She jumped at the intensity of his rough, commanding voice. Slowly, she peeled a glove off. Sure. She’d take his hand.

His grin widened, black eyes narrowing.

One step forward, and she rested her hand in his.

In a move so fast, he whirled her around and slammed her back to his front, snaking his arm across her neck. A sharp prick stung her side, just below her ribs.

She looked down to see a blade pressed against her, the tip easily slicing through the leather barrier.

“Surprise.” He bit her earlobe. “Your wicked touch doesn’t work on me.”

“No!” Justin’s voice ricocheted off the surrounding trees.

She frantically scanned the area. No. He couldn’t be here. She needed to keep her wits about her if she was going to do this. If she saw him, she’d break. Please no—

He burst through the last line of trees from the path she and Sadie had walked together.

Her heart calmed. He already looked stronger and had more color in his cheeks. That’s when she noticed Sadie held both her hands to Theo’s bare chest, leaning over him, whispering. They were trying to heal him fast to save her, weren’t they?

“Good. I was hoping he’d show.” The demon licked Yvonne’s cheek and plunged the dagger home. “See you in hell.”

Her world went black.

…

Intense pain ripped through Justin’s body sent him stumbling. He planted his hands out in front of him to break his fall, and the forest floor shredded his flesh. Flopping onto his back, he jammed his fists to his closed eyes.

The demon had stabbed Yvonne.

Killed her.

He felt her absence immediately. Intensely.

And in a swirl of black smoke, the demon vanished with her. But not before Justin saw the smile claiming his face as he’d licked her cheek.

Justin would rip every limb from that demon’s body.

“Shit!” he yelled.

“Justin!” Halena skidded to his side. “
Merde
.”

“I’m fine.” He actually felt better than he had in weeks, but then he saw why.

Sadie leaned over Theo, hands planted on his chest. Justin scrambled to his feet with Halena’s help, and they hurried to Sadie and Theo.

“Help me!” Sadie looked up, tears streaming down her face.

Justin scanned the area but didn’t see any more demons. A fair trade? Demons never worked that way. There had to be a catch.

Unless they had everything they needed to wreak the havoc they wanted. Maybe they had enough of the Artifacts to overthrow Lucifer?

Shit
.

“You good?” Halena asked him as she stepped away.

“Good. Get him.” He nodded to Theo.

Halena and Sadie hoisted Theo to his feet. His legs moved, but his eyes didn’t open.

More like they couldn’t open. They were gone.

Blood dribbled from his mouth, too. Probably no tongue, either. Damn those demons. Fury heated Justin’s blood to a raging boil. Those monsters now had his Mate.

And he had let it happen.

He had to. For Theo, for himself, and for the country under Theo’s protection. Guilt racked his chest. Sadie’s wings curled around Theo, and everywhere the feathers touched, sparks of light danced across his skin. She was rejuvenating him. Exactly what Yvonne had done for Justin, only fifty times more intense since Sadie was Theo’s lifeline.
Literally
.

For the Gatekeepers, prolonged separation from their Mates killed them, but their touch revived them like a power pack. No wonder Justin’s energy was returning so quickly.

“Did you hear anything about where they were taking her?” he asked.

“No.” Halena gasped as she stumbled forward, working to stabilize Theo’s massive weight. “Hurry. We must get him home.”

Justin looked at the spot where Yvonne and the demon had been standing. Empty and quiet. It reeked of death. Yvonne’s death. He couldn’t feel her anymore. Nothing. Just a void.

No! She’s alive.

No matter what it took, he’d get her back. Then he would mate her and never let her go again.