Belial sat straight up, his attention finally on her. Could it really be this easy? “You jest.”
“Nay,” she breathed, her voice scant more than a whisper. “But you must never let Valteri know of this!”
Stunned, he stared at her. “Does he really mean so much to you?”
She didn’t have to answer. He saw it clearly in her eyes.
Aye, he did.
What the hell?
“You are a fool, Arel.”
No one and nothing was worth one minute in Azmodea. Especially given what Grim had in store for her.
Her cheeks brightened in the darkness. “Is it a deal?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
She let out a relieved breath. “Thank you,” she whispered, rubbing the chills on her arms.
Belial opened his mouth to respond, then shut it.
How the fuck could he answer that?
Thank you?
For what?
Destroying her? Feeding her to one of the greatest monsters ever created?
Why?
Because she dared to love the unlovable?
He was completely flummoxed. Who would hand themselves over to their enemies to be led into hell?
To be raped?
His memories surged through him.
As did his rage. Better she suffer than you!
No one would weep if he suffered. No one would care at all.
But they would if she did.
Because she’s decent and doesn’t prey on others.
Because she cares.
Damn it all to hell.…
He leaned his head back and roared in fury. “I can’t do it!” Furious at all of them, he met her gaze. “You fucking little bitch! I have to tell you the truth.”
“Pardon?”
Growling, he rose up and grimaced, wanting to cut her throat, and knowing that not even he was that evil. “If I take you to Azmodea, they plan to breed you with the Malachai.”
Her jaw went slack. “Pardon?”
He paused to meet her astonished gaze. “You heard me, sunshine.”
“But what about the curse?”
Belial snorted. Then, before she could move, he pulled out a dagger and sliced her throat. “Fuck that, too.”
Ariel gasped and touched her stinging neck, but where blood should have been pouring, there was nothing save smooth skin.
She looked up at him in horror. “What is this?”
He replaced the dagger in his belt and shrugged nonchalantly.
Looking away as if the matter bored him, he sighed. “You’re still immortal, babe. Something not even I thought about until I was having a conversation with Death in hell.”
Flabbergasted, she gaped. “I don’t understand. I have hurt myself since I’ve been here. I have—”
“But you’ve never once bled.”
She opened her mouth to deny it, then clamped it shut. He was right. When her mare had thrown her in the snow, she’d only been bruised. No blood had fallen.
Why hadn’t she thought of that?
Because she wasn’t human.
Agony and hopelessness invaded her heart, her soul. Was there truly no way to save Valteri?
“You told me the curse could be broken.”
Belial snorted. “I never said those words. You told yourself that. I merely offered to barter. You drew your own conclusions and I let you. Nearly every word out of my mouth has been a lie of some sort, and you fell for each and every one. You, my Arel, are far too naïve.”
Stiffening at his insult, she narrowed her eyes. “Why are you telling me this now?”
Belial studied his hands. “I’m an evil bastard, but even I’m still capable of feelings. I’ve never minded claiming humans like Edred who bring their damnation on by their own actions, or even the ones who were stupid enough to fall to my temptations, but you…”
He ground his teeth and moved away.
She caught his hand and held him by her side. “What about me?”
Emotions played across his handsome face and she longed to call them by name, but their source eluded her.
Finally, he sighed again. “You’re the only truly altruistic creature I’ve ever seen. No matter how much I would love to hand you over to that bastard and bitch I serve, I can’t. Grim made me realize that. Even if it means my ass. I can’t let them do to you what they did to Seth. What they’ve done to so many.” He cursed himself under his breath. “I take back what I said. Valteri isn’t the biggest idiot ever born. I am.”
Stunned, she could do nothing save stare at him. Was this merely another of his lies to manipulate her? “And I’m supposed to believe you?”
He shrugged. “Believe what you will. Just leave me in peace.” With a grimace, he twisted his arm from her grip. “Go back to your husband, Arel.”
Disgusted with himself, Belial left her and walked to the other side of the keep.
How could he be so stupid? She’d handed herself over to him and he’d handed her right back.
I deserve what I get.
Sitting down on a fallen log, he leaned forward and hung his head in his hands. Perhaps it’d been the peaceful night that had weakened him. Ariel had caught him in a pensive mood and he’d confessed to her.
Damn him for his stupidity!
“You already are.”
He looked up to find Grim standing over him. “I’m in no mood to deal with you this night.”
Grim backhanded him.
Belial recoiled from the blow, his face burning. He changed to his demon form and lunged for Grim, but it did no good.
“I’ve always said that you were too tenderhearted for your missions. But Kadar wouldn’t listen. He liked your pranks too much. Thank you for finally proving to him what you really are.”
Belial tried to loosen the grip on his throat. “Release me!”
Grim tightened his hold even more. “I’ve come with a directive straight from your masters. Kill the Norman and bring them the Arel or you’ll be enslaved to me, personally.”
He dropped him.
Belial choked and coughed, his throat burning as if the very coals of Hephaestus’s forge were wedged in the base of his esophagus.
“Personally, I don’t care which you choose. Either way, I win. You were a fool, Belial. You had Kadar’s favor and you traded it for the blood of Michael!”
Belial reached for him, but he vanished.
Of course he vanished.
Leaning his head back against the ground, he listened to the gentle sounds of the night, the breeze drifting through leaves. So much for compassion.
No good deed goes unpunished.
What now? He ran through his accomplices.
It really was their ass or his.
Ethbert was gone. Mildred had been converted, and Edred had failed. All his pawns had been effectively neutralized.
Where did that leave him?
Between Kadar’s fist and Azura’s backhand.
Sighing, he knew he had no choice.
Betrayal as always.
“Sorry, Ariel. That’s life.”
For three days, Ariel stayed with Valteri while his fever raged. Since his injuries covered his back, they’d been forced to lay him on his stomach, which made it almost impossible to feed him.
She prayed for his recovery before starvation took his life.
Mildred stood at the table, mixing herbs and uttering her own prayers.
“Here, milady.” She handed Ariel a goblet. “This should break the fever.”
She hesitated.
Shame filled Mildred’s gaze as she realized why. “I swear I didn’t poison it.” The old woman took a drink of it to prove it was untainted before she handed it back to her.
“Sorry.”
Mildred patted her on the arm. “I understand your mistrust. I’ve earned it.”
Grateful that Mildred was still trying to make up for what she’d done, Ariel gently guided the drink into Valteri as best she could. But so very little of it actually made it inside him from this position. “Oh, Mildred, what are we to do?”
Sighing, Mildred shook her head. “I know not, Lady Ariel. I’ve tried to find some way to break the curse and heal him, but nothing has worked.”
A soft knock interrupted them.
“Enter,” Ariel called.
The door opened and Brother Edred stepped in. The bitter taste of hatred scalded her throat. “What brings you here?”
He swallowed, his fat jowls flopping.
Clearing his throat, he gave her a baleful look. “I’ve come to make peace. For days, I’ve fasted and prayed until a voice told me to come and apologize.”
She knew the source of that voice.
His conscience.
Or Belial playing some other game with all of them again.
“I made a mistake, milady. I falsely accused an innocent man and now he may die because of it.”
Ariel opened her mouth to order him from the room, but she paused. Over Brother Edred’s shoulder, she saw Thorn and Shadow. The smirk on Shadow’s face said that he might have had something to do with this rather than Belial.
Edred took a step and gulped. “Can you ever forgive me for what I’ve done?”
“It’s not me you need to win over, brother. It’s Lord Valteri and a much higher power. But if you wish to offer a prayer for milord and his recovery, then I’ll welcome it.”
With a sad smile, he moved to the bed and sank down on his knees.
While he prayed, she stepped out into the hall so that she could visit with her “brothers” and still watch him.
She narrowed her gaze on Shadow. “What did you do?”
He flashed one of his cockier grins. “I find that when someone believes in demons, they should occasionally meet a real one.”
Thorn rolled his eyes. “We’ve tried for centuries to do something with him. Believe it or not, this is him improved.”
She laughed at them. “Well, I welcome the change you wrought in the man and his stupidity. If only you could do that with more people.”
Shadow shrugged. “I do my best. Sadly, there’s just so damn many of them who need attitude adjustments.” He slid his gaze meaningfully over to Thorn.
“There’s nothing wrong with my attitude. ’Tis my company that’s insufferable most of the time.”
“Ouch! You bastard.”
Ariel shook her head at their bantering. She knew they were jesting, otherwise they’d be bleeding.
Letting out a sigh, she lowered her voice before she spoke again. “Have either of you seen Belial?”
They shook their heads.
“He … tried to cut my throat.”
Shadow gaped while Thorn’s gaze narrowed dangerously.
She held her hand up to calm them both. “It’s not what you think. I offered him my soul and he did it to show me that I’m still immortal.”
Thorn scowled. “What the bloody hell?”
“I know. Then he refused to take my soul. He said that he would rather face Kadar and Azura, and their wrath, than hand me over to them.”
Shadow snorted. “He’s an idiot. No offense, Ariel. You’re sweet and all that, but my mother will tear him apart.”
Thorn nodded in agreement. “My father isn’t known for his forgiveness. Especially when he wants something.”
“I know. That’s why I’m telling you this.”
Sighing, Shadow crossed his arms over his chest. “What was he thinking?”
“I don’t know.”
Suddenly, a deep, ragged breath drew Ariel’s attention back to the room and the bed.
“Oh my God!” She left them and went rushing back inside, past the kneeling friar.
Valteri shifted slightly on the mattress, and slowly opened his eyes.
Relief poured through her as she fell to her knees next to the bed. The friar got up and moved away.
Her heart hammered as she reached a shaking hand to touch Valteri’s fevered cheek.
“There you are, my precious.” Nothing had ever been more beautiful than the sight of his open, dual-colored eyes, with their lucid intelligence staring back at her.
She heard the door close.
Looking over, she realized Brother Edred and Mildred had both made a discreet exit.
Shadow and Thorn must have remained in the hall, as well.
Valteri tried to push himself up, but Ariel stopped him. “Please, don’t. You’ll hurt yourself.”
He dropped himself back to the mattress and released a weary sigh.
“How do you feel?”
He answered her with a pain-filled grimace. “Like my horse not only trampled me, but that he brought friends along this time to help.”
Smiling, she brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes.
“So, what happened to the bastards?”
Anger mixed with pain. She didn’t need Valteri to explain which bastards he asked about. “They were all beaten and banished, per your brother’s laws. And Brother Edred…”
Ariel paused, unsure how to tell him.
“You released him.” As a member of the clergy, he wasn’t supposed to be harmed.
Ariel wrinkled her nose. She hadn’t exactly followed King William’s dictates. “I surrendered his punishment to Thorn and Shadow. I’m told he’s had some rather unpleasant dreams and visitations from those he fears.”
He snorted at that, then reached out a hand and took hers. His weak grip brought a wave of guilt to her that she hadn’t done more.
“’Tis fine what you did, milady. My kingly brother would have been sorely vexed had you broken his law and harmed the friar—even for me. Never mind what my brother the bishop would have done.”
“Then you’re not angry?”
A light came to his eyes, and if Ariel didn’t know better, she’d swear he smiled. “I’m not angry. At least not at you.”
As Valteri returned to health, Ariel began to suspect that the curse was broken, as nothing else happened to him.
Nothing.
No more close calls. Not even a pimple.
Even Thorn and Shadow thought it odd that peace stayed with them.
If only they knew for certain.
Several times, she’d tried to consult Belial, but he refused to speak further on the matter. Which made her think that the curse must still be holding, otherwise he’d have left them.
Wouldn’t he?
And because he stayed, Thorn and Shadow seldom left her side.
Valteri’s back healed rather quickly, but even so he was in no condition for travel to London. And though she wished him far from her and any harm that her presence might incur, she also enjoyed their days together, grateful for every touch and glance he gave her.
Now Valteri sat before her in a large tub the servants had brought into their chambers and filled with steaming water.
As carefully as she could, she sponged his bruised back. Most of the cuts had healed, but fresh scars attested to the brutality of his attack.
Again, she found the incongruity so peculiar. “How is it that you bleed like this, but not in battle?”
He shrugged. “No idea. It’s just always been so.”
It made no sense to her that weapons couldn’t harm him, but that other items could.
Ariel traced one of the scars with her fingertip, her heart aching at how many times he’d been so abused in his life. She’d give anything to remove every such vicious scar and memory from him.
Running her hand down his back, she marveled at the velvety smooth texture over his hardened muscles. Chills sprang up beneath her caress and she smiled at his reaction.
“Careful, Ariel.” Valteri turned his head to look at her over his shoulder. “You’re tempting me beyond my endurance.”
Her smile widened. “You shouldn’t make such empty threats.”
“Empty threats?” He was aghast. “Madame, I assure you ’tis not empty.”
She cocked an eyebrow at his double meaning, and pleasure rippled in her stomach. Before she could move, he ran his hand under her hair and pulled her forward until his lips claimed hers.
Ariel moaned with pleasure, delighting in the feel of his soft mouth. She opened her lips and drew him in. Nothing had ever tasted finer, ever felt better.
His kiss deepening, he again pulled on her, and before she could protest, he had her in his lap in the tub. She stiffened with a cry of protest. “You’ve soaked me!”
One corner of his mouth turned up. “I thought you’d gladly hurl yourself into a lake for my attentions?”
Ariel laughed at his memory and thought about the night she’d uttered that statement. Her blood warmed. He’d changed so much since then, as had she. But she decided she liked the difference in his personality.
“Mayhap I’ve changed my mind.”
“Have you now?” His voice deepened with desire.
She opened her mouth to respond and once more he kissed her. Ariel wrapped her arms about his shoulders, sliding her hands down his spine. A thousand flames ignited in her stomach and her body throbbed. He felt so good in her arms.
With a tight groan, Valteri lifted the hem of her wet kirtle to remove it from her body and ran his hands over her bare buttocks and hips. Fire ran through her veins. His wet caresses sent shivers over her and her body demanded him.
Ariel gasped and adjusted her legs until she straddled him.
Her heart pounded in her ears as her lower body came into contact with his. Valteri sucked his breath between his teeth, and closed his eyes as he slid himself inside her.
Ariel smiled at his reaction, reveling in her power over him. She buried her lips in his neck, tasting the salty stubble of his throat, and pressed herself closer to him and rode him.
He dropped her kirtle to the floor, where it landed with a splat. Ariel laughed at the sound, but her humor fled as he touched her breast. Leaning her head back, she bit her lip as his mouth played upon her, and the throbbing increased. She held his head in her hands and moaned with pleasure.
Ariel gripped the sides of the tub, her body afire as he thrust against her. Her breathing labored, she looked into his eyes and the love that shone there sent another wave of chills over her.
He dipped his hands in the water and caressed her lower hips. “Stay with me, Ariel,” he whispered, leaning forward until he kissed the flesh just below her ear. His warm breath on her neck sent shivers streaming down her arms. “I know I have no right to ask, but I can’t let you go.”
Ariel closed her eyes against the agony his plea brought.
He moved his hips against hers and she clenched her teeth at the searing pleasure that overshadowed her sadness. She wanted him, longed for his presence.
How could she deny his request when ’twas her own fondest desire that she stay by his side?
She couldn’t. “I shall stay with you, milord. No matter what comes on the morrow, I will remain by your side and not force you to leave.”
Valteri pulled back, his body rigid. “Ariel?” He blinked as if he couldn’t believe he’d heard her correctly.
She laid her hand against his cheek. “You heard me, Lord Valteri fitzJaden.”
Cocking his head, he gave her a suspicious look.
She smoothed his furrowed brow with her fingers. “But you must promise that you’ll stay and never leave.”
“On that, you have my word. Forever.” He pulled her back into his arms and crushed her with a fierce hug until she was forced to cry out. “Milord, please!”
Suddenly, he rose from the tub.
Oblivious to the water dripping from them, he carried her to the bed and laid her on it. Ariel stared up at him, her heart pounding.
His hair cascading over her like a wet cloak, Valteri pulled her legs around his waist and again slid inside her.
She trembled, needing him, afraid that tomorrow would tear them apart.
But she’d given her pledge, and she intended to stand by it. She held him close to her heart.
All her worries fled and she concentrated on the smell of his sweet skin, the taste of his flesh.
Over and over, he thrust against her, and she raised her hips to meet him. Her body tingled and throbbed and before she could beg for more, she found her release.
Crying out, she tightened her hold on his arms.
With two more thrusts, he joined her. His breathing labored, he collapsed on top of her.
Ariel moaned in satisfaction, her body still pulsing. Running her hand over his back, she smiled.
Valteri nibbled her neck, his teeth raising chills along her body. “I love you, Ariel,” he whispered, then nibbled her earlobe.
Cold terror seized her and Ariel stiffened at his words. He pulled back and stared down at her. “Does that displease you?”
Tears gathering in her eyes, she shook her head. “Nay.”
How could it?
But why had he uttered those words out loud?
Inside, she had a bad feeling that by saying that to her, he’d just invoked the curse.
Invoked something evil to come for them both.
Ethbert reined his horse at the castle site, his anger charged by the half-finished wall before him. A wall that further reminded him of the Norman pestilence feeding on his people.
It was time they rid themselves of the rats.
He’d gathered Saxons all the way from his sister’s home to Ravenswood. Good Saxon men chased from their lands and fields by the Norman filth.
While not as large an army as he’d have liked, they were still numerous enough to finish the task ahead of them.
To annihilate the filth entrenched here.
Ethbert scanned their dour faces and he thought of what the Normans had put them through.
What the Normans had robbed them of.
Safety. Home. Peace.
Loved ones.
Suddenly, an image of his sister’s sweet, innocent face swept before his eyes. His stomach tightened in grief and rage. She’d died because of them.
Norman dogs had taken her home, killed her husband, then their leader had forced her to live as his concubine. Raped and degraded by her position, she’d severed the veins in her wrists.
Fucking bastards!
They’d taken everything from him.
Ethbert tightened his grip on his reins. He hadn’t been able to rescue his sister, but he vowed to save Ariel.
He refused to see her meet his sister’s fate.
Come the morrow, he’d take the Norman’s head and use it to decorate his home just as his ancestors had done!