The Darkest Touch

He stiffened and jerked his attention away from her. “As for random facts about me. My porn name is Dr. Miles Long. I would rather eat the Nephilim I captured than raisins. Sorry, Keys, but raisins are the result of nature taking a shit.”

Ha! “My porn name is Ivanna Longone. And if you aren’t careful, I will raise up an army of raisins and we will eat you.”

“That might actually be fun. For me.” His grin returned, lighting his entire face. “I’m good with computers, can hack into anything, and over the centuries I have killed more people than I can count. At one time,” he admitted hesitantly, “I lived for it. Loved it.”

“You still love it.” She remembered how expertly he’d handled the spiders. “But only on the battlefield.”

“And when it comes to the protection of my friends.”

A familiar jealousy surged, stronger than before. To be on the receiving end of that protection...not just for a time or two, but always, her future as important to him as his own...would there ever be anything sweeter?

“Do they feel the same about you?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“That must be nice.”

“Better than.”

“Is there a chance they would like me?” Gah! The neediness practically dripping from her tone was humiliating.

She would have snatched back the words, but he flicked a glance at her, his expression troubled, even pained. “Princess, they are going to go bat-crap crazy for you.”

* * *

THEY TRAVELED THROUGH three more realms, and Keeley began to suspect they were being followed. She said nothing to Torin. There was no reason to send him on a rampage until she had proof. And he would rampage. His mood had darkened more with every day that had passed. He’d even resorted to doing what he’d promised in the cave: never looking at her and never talking to her.

The first realm had been a land of total sensory deprivation. Darkness and silence. Getting through it had been painful, both physically and mentally. The second had been nothing more than a mountain of ice they’d had to climb, and since Torin had refused to cuddle, the cold had been just as bad as the darkness. The one they were in currently boasted multiple fields of ambrosia and poppy—narcotics for immortals—and at every turn they had to dodge immortal drug lords determined to protect their stash.

Torin’s protective streak had returned at least, a nice change to his disregard and silence.

She liked to think he used the quiet to battle the intensity of his feelings for her as well as his desperate need to claim her and that, in the end, his desire would win. But the fantasy only carried her so far, and a light mist began to dog their every step.

This morning, he’d wandered off to hunt breakfast. For himself. Only himself. He’d made that very clear. He no longer fixed her meals or made her pallets, hoping she would stop trying to seduce him.

Well, it was working!

A twig snapped. A warrior she’d never before seen strode into camp, his head high, his shoulders back. May not have seen him, but I know him. He was one of the prisoners from the Realm of Wailing Tears. His lollipop scent proclaimed his identity before he ever spoke a word.

“Galen,” she said with a smile of greeting.

He was as tall as Torin and almost as muscled. He had pale, curling hair and eyes as blue as a morning sky. Such an angelic appearance. His wings had been removed and were in the process of growing back, small nubbins covered in soft white down stretching over his shoulders.

A memory prodded her. After the Unspoken Ones had taken over the Realm of Wailing Tears, they’d done everything in their power to get to Galen. The thought of losing him had irritated Keeley; she’d come to like his arrogance and vigor. So she’d taunted the Unspoken Ones through the bars of her cell until one had marched over with every intention of silencing her. Only, she had silenced the creature, using a shiv to open him up from nose to navel, guts spilling everywhere.

That’s right. That’s why she’d killed her first Unspoken One, garnering the wrath of the brother.

“How’d you get here?” she asked. She knew a little about his history. Best friends with Torin and the other Lords...until he revealed their plan to steal and open Pandora’s box to Zeus.

When all the warriors were cast to earth, a long bloody war erupted between Galen and the Lords. One still going strong.

Well, he might be Torin’s enemy, but he isn’t mine.

Take that, warrior!

“Been shadowing you,” Galen admitted. “And I’m not the only one. There are three demon-possessed crazies out for your blood. Torin’s, too. But they didn’t make it through the last doorway. You’re welcome.”

“You stopped them?”

“Violently. Couldn’t let them near my girl.”

She beamed at him. “That’s so sweet. Thank you.”

He nodded in acknowledgement.

“Hungry?” She offered up a handful of dried poppy seeds. The hard work required to steal them should have made them taste sweeter, but Torin’s lack of attention had left a bitter coat on her tongue.

Galen shook his head. “I don’t have long. Torin caught my tracks and is hot on my trail. I just wanted to say thank you for distracting the Unspoken Ones when they came to my cell.”

“My pleasure. Honestly.” Why couldn’t she be attracted to him? He was beautiful, fierce and a bad boy to the max.

But he wasn’t Torin. Stubborn, disdainful, poisonous Torin.