Gena Showalter - The Darkest Whisper

There was a pause as his lie was interpreted.

“No,” Anya gasped. Then, as if the denial wasn’t enough for her, she grabbed Gideon’s arms and shoved him to the ground. One kick, two, right in his stomach. Unable to stop himself, he vomited, over and over again, until there was nothing left. “See? He’s in no condition to talk. You’ll take me,” she said firmly, “or no one.”

“Bring them both,” Stefano said, glee in his tone, as if that’s what he’d wanted all along.

After a slight hesitation, the boy stepped into Anya’s body, disappearing from view. Maybe he had possessed her, because she walked from the room without complaint. Holy shit.

When the boy returned a short while later, Gideon held up his hand. “Don’t want to do it on my own.”

That earned him a relieved nod.

Gideon lumbered to his feet and, with a last backward glance, abandoned his friends.

Gwen was surprised to see her sisters in the media room—grrr, the entertainment room, but same thing, really—when she stepped inside. She was equally surprised that they didn’t spring from the couch and stab her.

Her gaze shifted to take in the rest of the attendees. Who would support her, and who wouldn’t? Ashlyn, Danika and Cameo were seated at the far table, two heads bent over scrolls, the yellow paper crackling, while one typed on a laptop. Ashlyn’s pretty face was scrunched in concentration. Danika was pale and sickly-looking. Cameo was scowling.

William, Kane and Maddox were missing, and she suspected they were in town, searching for any lingering Hunters. Across from the women, Aeron and Paris were playing pool while talking strategy, their bruises mostly faded. Well, Paris’s were mostly faded. It was hard to tell with Aeron, since his entire body was covered in tattoos.

“I’m telling you, I saw her,” Paris said.

“Wishful thinking or ambrosia-induced hallucinations,” Aeron replied. “When we fell, you were conscious. Did you see her again?”

“No. She probably hid.”

Aeron was merciless. “I’ve been gentle with you to this point, Paris, and that seems to have done no good. You have to let go of your grief. This morning we interrogated a few of the newest Hunters. They knew nothing about her. Afterward you summoned Cronus, asked him if she’d been sent back. And what did he say?”

Paling, Paris slammed his cue into one of the balls. “Without a body, her soul withered. Died.”

A tiny, scaled…thing was sliding around Aeron’s shoulders, stopping to pet the top of his head and kiss his cheek. Aeron reached up and gently scratched the fiend’s neck as though it was a treasured pet, as though touching it was natural, welcome. Not once did he falter in his conversation. “Would the god king lie to you?”

“Yes!”

“Why? He wants our help.”

“I don’t know,” Paris snarled.

“What is that thing?” Gwen asked, gaze still riveted on the creature winding itself around Aeron.

Sabin, who stood beside her in the doorway, burning her exposed skin with his presence, tempting her to forgive and forget and focus on the future, a future with him, smiled. “That’s Legion. She’s a demon—and a friend. Aeron would rather die than see her hurt, so please don’t try and take her out.”

That…thing was a girl? Doesn’t matter. You’ve got things to do . Gwen’s eyes were wide as she finished her study of the chamber’s occupants. Torin leaned a shoulder against the wall, as far away from everyone as he could get. He clutched a handheld monitor in his gloved hands, his attention riveted on the small screen.

He’d support her, she knew it. One thing she’d noticed about him, he placed his friends above his own welfare.

“Gonna pretend we’re not here?” Kaia stretched her arms over her head, preening like a kitten without a care.

Yes. No. “Hey.” Finally meeting her sisters’ gazes, she offered them a half smile and a wave. She’d spent the last hour thinking about what to say to them—if they were interested in listening to her. Nothing had come to her. An apology wouldn’t work because she wasn’t exactly sorry for what she’d done.

Taliyah stood, expression as blank as usual. Bristling, Sabin stepped in front of Gwen.

“Fine,” Taliyah said, ignoring him. “You’re not going to say anything about what happened, I’ll get us started.” A pause, then, “I’m proud of you.”

“Wh-what?” Gwen asked, her voice broken. That was so not what she’d expected to hear. She peeked around her warrior’s big bulk, her oldest sister once more coming into view. Taliyah was proud of her? Nothing could have surprised her more.

“You did what you had to do.” Taliyah closed the distance between them and tried to shove Sabin out of the way. “You were a Harpy in every sense of the word.”

Sabin didn’t budge.

The ice in Taliyah’s eyes would have frozen anyone else. “Let me hug my sister.”

“No.”

Gwen could see the stiff set of his shoulders, feel the tension in his back. “Sabin.”

“No,” he said, knowing what she wanted. “This could be a trick.” Then, to Taliyah, he added, “You’re not going to hurt her.”

Bianka and Kaia joined Taliyah, forming a half circle around the warrior. They could have attacked him, but somewhat to Gwen’s surprise, they didn’t.

“Seriously, let us hug our sister,” Kaia said stiffly. That she didn’t threaten to cause him bodily harm…a miracle. “Please.” The last was offered grudgingly.

“Please, Sabin,” Gwen said, flattening her palms against his shoulder blades.

He drew in a deep, shuddering breath, as if trying to sift through their scents for the truth. “No tricks. Or else.” He pivoted out of the way and they immediately swept past him.

Three sets of arms wound around Gwen.

“Like I said, I’m so unbelievably proud of you.”

“I’ve never seen anyone so fierce.”

“Color me shocked. You totally kicked my ass!”

Gwen was frozen, baffled to her core. “You’re not angry?”

“Hell, no,” Kaia said, then backtracked. “Well, maybe at first. But this morning, when we were plotting ways to kidnap you and have our revenge on Sabin, we saw you feeding from him. Made us realize he is your family now, and we stepped over the line. You don’t threaten a Harpy’s family, ever, and we knew better.”

Okay. Wow. Gwen’s gaze skidded to Sabin, who was watching her with fire in his dark eyes. He wanted to be with her, he’d said. He would give up the war for her. He wanted to put her first, make her the top priority in his life. He trusted her not to betray him. He loved her.

She wanted to believe him, so badly she wanted to believe him, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to. Not just because he’d locked her up, but because, as she’d lain in bed, recovering, she’d realized that she was now a weapon, the weapon he’d always wanted her to be. She’d proven herself in battle. He wouldn’t have to leave her behind anymore, wouldn’t have to worry about her. How better to get what he wanted from her than to seduce her, body and soul?

Did he truly love her? That’s what she wanted to know.

He claimed he wouldn’t care if he caught her embracing her father. Maybe that was the truth. But, if he loved her now, would he one day grow to resent her for who and what she was? Would his hatred of the Hunters and their leader extend to her? Would his friends turn on him for bringing an enemy into their house? Would her every word and action be suspect?

Those doubts weren’t swimming inside her head because of his demon. They were hers. All hers. And she didn’t know how to get rid of them, even though she desperately wanted to be with Sabin.