The Darkest Assassin: A Lords of the Underworld Novella Page 3

  His eyes narrowed to tiny slits. With zero hesitation, he told her, “You welcomed the demon and now complain about its influence? No. Nothing will help. The men you killed were beloved. They had families and friends eager for their return.”

  She flinched, a heavy weight settling on her shoulders. “You know I’ll defend myself?”

  “I do,” he said with a slight incline of his chin.

  For whatever reason, the action spurred him into dropping his gaze to her small but pert breasts…where it remained.

  She arched a brow at him, not that he noticed, and fought a new wave of shivers, his stare more potent than a caress. “Let me know when you’re done staring. Okay, sport?”

  “I will.” He shocked her. He didn’t offer any more, and he didn’t look away.

  Was this a battle tactic meant to disarm her mentally and emotionally? Like she really cared about her nudity. She wasn’t shy, or modest, and she maybe kinda sorta…liked the way he studied her, almost as if he’d never beheld anyone so fine. A trick, no doubt. Fox wasn’t classically beautiful. Her features were too angular for such a claim. But she liked to think she had presence.

  “Is this your first time seeing a girl?” Two could play this game. Anytime he stared, she would issue taunts.

  Finally, Bjorn returned his attention to her face. For the second time, a blush pinkened his cheeks. “My apologies. You are lovely, and it has caught me off guard.”

  A compliment, from a Sent One? Fox reeled. She cleared her throat. “Shall we try to kill each other, then?”

  Nod. “You may try. I will succeed.”

  Chapter Three

  “Ohhhhh. I guess we’ve reached the trash talk portion of our evening,” Fox the Executioner said.

  Bjorn the One True Dread watched as she assumed a battle stance. Shoulders back, spine straight, one leg positioned in front of the other.

  The woman had certainly earned her moniker. Where she went, people died.

  He studied her more intently. Face it, the woman was emotionally cold but physically hot, and the juxtaposition intrigued him greatly. A phase, only a phase, and only because he’d gone a year without sex. Or maybe because she was so different from the females he’d once chosen, before his captivity. So hard and rough. Whatever the reason, it had nothing to do with her lithe yet strong body, with its perky breasts and small, pink nipples…flat stomach…tiny tuft of dark curls at the apex of her thighs…long legs made for wrapping around a man’s waist.

  As he imagined Fox’s legs wrapped around his waist, every muscle in his body knotted with tension.

  Enough! He’d meant what he’d said. Her loveliness had caught him off guard. There was no more to his attraction than that.

  Immediately after receiving this assignment, Bjorn had visited the Hall of Records, where scribes tracked every human and immortal alive. Each scribe reviewed the thoughts, words and actions of a single being, and wrote them in a book. Only a select few received permission to read those books, and Bjorn wasn’t one of them.

  However, he was allowed to read what other Sent Ones wrote about her, and any interactions they’d had with her. Every detail confirmed a killer without a conscience. A true monster.

  “This is getting embarrassing—for you,” Fox said, exasperated. “Do you realize you’re stroking yourself off?”

  Damn it, he was stroking himself off. He’d done it without thought. Now, he froze.

  Chagrinned, he dropped his arms to his sides and forced his attention elsewhere. The bathroom decor provided the perfect background for the woman, sleek and modern with gold facets, white tiles, and breasts.

  Breasts? He cursed inside his head. He was staring again. Not my fault. She is…unexpected. Never had he seen such striking, arresting features. She possessed the kind of face that somehow suggested both incredible strength and staggering vulnerability. A face you never, ever forgot, with heavy-lidded bedroom eyes, spiky lashes, and red, pouty lips. A hint of rose complemented her pale, flawless skin.

  She was so different from Alana. So—enough! Do not think about her. One Alana-centric thought would lead to another and another until he spiraled into a rabbit hole of shame and fury.

  “If you’d prefer to battle me in a better location,” he said, unsure why he continued to stall, “I will allow you to portal us—”

  “You’ll allow me?” she interjected. “How wonderful of you. But, no thanks. I can kill you here just as easily as elsewhere.”

  So confident. So foolish. The same can be said of you. Why else would he offer to let his target decide the location of their showdown? “Very well. We fight here.” Close-quarter combat required a particular skill set. The bigger the combatant, the bigger the disadvantage. With two hundred and fifty pounds of muscle and a six-foot-five-inch frame, Bjorn fell into the major disadvantage category. Fox probably weighed a hundred and twenty-five pounds max, and topped out at five-nine.

  So, she held an advantage at the moment? So what? He endured a lifetime of training, the best tool in any arsenal.

  “Don’t take this the wrong way,” she said, “but are you sure you know how to fight? Hint. There are myriad ways, but standing there, doing nothing isn’t one of them.”

  Ignore your fascination with her body. He had a job to do, so, he would do it. He would rather live with the memory of her death than his failure. “Goodbye, Fox. May you find peace in the hereafter.” With a war cry, Bjorn tucked his wings into his sides and pushed off the balls of his feet.

  Anticipating a strike, Fox raised her sword. Smart. He swung his. Metal met metal, their blades clanging together. As intense vibrations rushed up his arms, Fox attempted to stab him in the gut, using a dagger she’d hidden in her other hand.

  He blocked at the last second, spun, and swung at her. Again, their blades clanged together, her reflexes faster than expected. A louder clink sounded, acting as a starting bell for round two.

  Tension thickened the air as they danced around the bathroom, slamming into the trash can…the sink…the toilet. Toiletries dropped, the toothbrush holder shattering. On the walls, tiles cracked.

  Throughout the eons of his life, he’d participated in countless battles. Some willingly, some unwillingly. This was the first time he’d challenged a naked female, but (hopefully) wouldn’t be his last. The view could not be beat. Any move she made caused her breasts to bounce, and when she kicked up a leg, he received a straight-up money shot.

  A strategy, perhaps. The sight always distracted him, blanking his mind and stopping him in his tracks, allowing her to land another blow—a heel to the kneecap. Pain shot through his entire leg and sickness churned in his stomach. Did he slow? Not even a little.

  She fought well, her lithe body quick and flexible. She didn’t hesitate to deliver harm. Didn’t flinch when she failed to block an opponent’s strike. Her true talent, however? Predicting his moves and reacting accordingly, never receiving more than a bruise or a surface cut.

  But, her ability to predict his actions also proved to be her greatest weakness. As light as she was, she had to exert tremendous amounts of energy to remain upright each and every time she blocked his sword. Soon, she would tire out…

  He swung once…twice…again and again, driving her backward. When the wall stopped her, he prepared to deliver the final blow. A water droplet dripped from her hair, landed on her collarbone, and sluiced to her nipple, where it hovered.

  Beautiful nipple. The perfect bull’s eye.

  The next thing he knew, a sharp pain exploded through his abdomen. He blinked back into focus just in time to watch Fox twist the blade she’d sunk into his gut. Searing agony consumed every inch of him, stars winking through his vision. Eyes off the nipples! Right.

  He slammed a fist into her forearm with all his might. The bone broke, maybe even shattered. A hiss parted her lips, but she refused to release the sword hilt. Impressive. Had any other opponent ever proven so stubborn?

  Knowing she would use this newest distraction
against him and go for a vital organ, Bjorn wrenched backward, sliding free of the blade. Blood and something as thick and black as motor oil gushed from the wound, pooling on the floor. Wonderful! She’d clipped his stomach.

  Before she delivered the counterstrike, he shot out his wing, sweeping her off her feet. She toppled, the back of her head slamming into the sink. The porcelain cracked. He swung his sword once, twice, but she reeled to the left, blocked, then rolled past him and lurched to a stand, blocking again.

  With a grunt, he drove her backward a second time. He would trap her in the stall. Except, the little vixen surprised him. The moment he stood upon the mat in front of the tub, she swooped down and pulled the wool out from under his feet.

  As he fell, he kicked her ankles together. They crash-landed at the same time, air bursting from his lungs. Though his head swam, he leaped to his feet. She did the same. Panting, they circled each other.

  Kill or be killed. Do your duty.

  Voice ragged, she said, “You’d be a stellar opponent if you weren’t so easily distracted.”

  “You might have killed me already if you had bigger breasts.” He had to add “might” in order to turn the lie into a supposition. Her breasts were perfect; every inch of her was perfect. He hoped the trash talk prompted her to rage. When your emotions took the wheel, you made mistakes.

  She grinned, propelling his heart rate to warp speed. Lovely. Beyond lovely. Wicked, carnal. If she hadn’t murdered ten of his comrades, she would have tempted him to forget his vow of celibacy.

  “If my breasts were bigger,” she all but purred, “you’d have died of a heart attack the second you spotted me.”

  She wasn’t wrong.

  He opened his mouth to offer some kind of rebuttal, only to pause. His ears twitched, a pair of footsteps snagging his attention. At least two people approached the bedroom. Most likely Galen and Legion.

  For a moment, Fox went still. “Galen’s coming.” A curse exploded from her. “Do not hurt him. Do not challenge him. He’s done nothing wrong.”

  Such a volatile reaction. From his research, Bjorn knew Fox and Galen enjoyed a close relationship. Not romantically, he didn’t think. Galen had an unwavering obsession for his girlfriend, a former demon minion turned immortal human. “You have my word. No harm will come to him this day. There is an invisible blockade around the entire room. No one, not human, immortal or god can enter in any way, shape or form. Not through a door, or a window, or a portal. Not even a flash.” The Underworld’s word for teleporting.

  “How is that possible?” she demanded.

  “A bloodline.” Before Bjorn kicked his way into the bathroom, he’d poured a mixture of his blood and Water of Life around the bedroom’s perimeter, creating a powerful force field.

  “Why would—the demon,” she said, answering her own question before she finished speaking it.

  “Exactly right.” Once Bjorn removed Fox’s head, the demon would lose its host and have to be captured, then transported back to Hell.

  As he began to swing his weapon, Fox dove to the floor, rolled past him and leaped to her feet to sprint out of the bathroom. At the same time, he fought to slow the momentum of his swing…and failed. The sword’s flames singed a line of soot into the wall, the pungent scent of burnt plaster saturating the air.

  At least she remained in his sights. The woman halted in the center of the chamber and attempted to open a portal. When she failed, courtesy of the bloodline, she belted out a curse.

  Bjorn gave chase, releasing the hilt of his sword. In an instant, the flames died, and the weapon vanished. Despite an increase in pain, his wounds bleeding faster, he dove into Fox, tossing her to the floor. Instinct insisted he twist mid-air to absorb the worst of the impact.

  An instinct he ignored.

  This wasn’t a usual situation, and she wasn’t a usual target. Saving her from a bit of soreness would only hinder his cause; a concussion might knock her out and save him the hassle of subduing her. And he wouldn’t feel guilty about it. He wouldn’t!

  Impact! A heavy thud as she landed. A heavier thud as he landed on top of her. She gasped and struggled to get free, bucking and throwing elbows. He remained on top of her, different parts of him pinning different parts of her. As quickly as possible, he caught her wrists and wound her arms behind her back, shackling her hands between their bodies.

  His blood dripped all over her, smearing on her skin. An obscene sight he found distasteful, but he didn’t know why. “Enough, female. You lost. Time to accept it.”

  She bucked with more force, her scent hitting his awareness. He went still. His veins heated, white-hot desire rushing to his groin. That fragrance…so incredibly sweet. Too sweet for a cold-blooded killer. It fogged his head, enveloping him in a sensual cloud.

  “You have signed your death warrant, warrior,” she said with gritted teeth.

  “When I slay you, and I will, all the world shall hear your screams. Tell me. How will you deliver my death then, hmm?” The feel of her… Softer than he’d expected. Hotter, too.

  I’ll sport an erection for the rest of my life.

  Suddenly, the bedroom door split down the middle. Galen marched through it, clutching two short swords. The second the male with wings of ivory hit the invisible wall of energy, he bounced back. More enraged by the minute, he used the sword to hack at the barrier, his navy gaze continually shifting to Fox. All the while, he shouted obscenities and threats.

  Finally, Galen switched his gaze to Bjorn, watching as he held out his arm, palm open. The sword reappeared, flames quickly spreading over the blade. Fox slowed before stilling altogether.

  Go on. Do it! His grip tightened on the hilt as he glared down at her. She lay on her stomach, panting, her head angled to the right, revealing her profile. There was a slight discoloration on her jaw, a bruise already forming. His chest tightened.

  She bellowed, “What are you waiting for? Do it or release me. You have no other options.”

  Yasssss. Kill her! But…his chest tightened further, constricting his airways. Could he—should he?—do the deed in front of the male who loved her? Was he truly so cruel? Galen had done nothing to earn a punishment from the Sent Ones. Not recently, anyway.

  No. Bjorn wasn’t so cruel.

  Gnashing his molars, he swung the sword. Instead of removing her head, he brushed his thumb over the bottom of the sword hilt, freeing a needle from confinement. Then he angled his wrist midway, ensuring the hilt and the needle laced with a temporary paralytic slammed into her temple.

  Her entire body fell lax, her eyes closing.

  Being an immortal, she healed faster than normal, so he must work fast. Ignoring Galen, who still beat at the wall, Bjorn rolled Fox to her back. He released the weapon, and it vanished once again. With his knees pressing into her shoulders, he freed the vial of powder that hung from a chain around his neck.

  As he uncorked the top and poured the contents into his hand, the paralytic wore off. Her eyelids fluttered open, and their gazes met once again. His shaft throbbed.

  She squirmed and bucked, desperate to unseat him. When she failed, she glared up at him and screamed, “Do it, then! Put me out of my misery.” Her eyes widened as soon as the words registered; the command had surprised her. It had certainly surprised Bjorn. “I’ve been fighting to survive for so long,” she said, her tone soft. “I’m tired.”

  The strangest urge hit him. To gently, tenderly brush back a lock of hair from her brow. He ground his molars, resisting with all his might. “You wish to die? Then you will live—for a little while. Until I tire of your suffering.”

  Leaning down, he blew the powder into her face. She coughed until her body fell limp once again, sagging against the floor.

  He did not let himself look at her again. Not really. He wasn’t sure how he’d react to seeing her lying motionless. But, he did keep his attention focused in her general direction as he stood and stalked to the closet, walking backward so he wouldn’t have to turn
his back. A compliment he only extended to the greatest of warriors.

  When he reached his destination, he reached out, searching blindly, still unwilling to remove his attention from her. If she faked her unconsciousness…or if she hadn’t, and she awoke, they would fight again. Could he win another round? Multiple wounds ached and bled profusely, making him hemorrhage strength at an alarming rate.

  When he brushed against a buttery-soft garment, he yanked it from the hanger. A T-shirt. Excellent. He stalked to the dresser and selected socks and a pair of panties. Silk, in various colors. Lace.

  Bjorn imagined Fox wearing every scrap of material he lifted, and his erection throbbed harder. In the end, he selected a gold one with flecks of green, because it matched her eyes.

  This is ridiculous. He returned to Fox and tugged the shirt over her head, then fit her arms through the appropriate holes. Next, he closed his eyes and slid the panties up her legs. Such silken skin.

  Ignore! He opened his eyes and hefted her over his shoulder, then met Galen’s gaze.

  The blond male stopped beating at the invisible wall at last, instead choosing to point an accusing finger at Bjorn. A warning.

  Leaving the bloodline in place, Bjorn let himself, and thereby Fox, fade into spirit form. He spread his wings and leaped through the ceiling, flying to the heavens. Blood, still dripping… Strength, still waning…

  His pain escalated. For some reason, the sweetness of her scent kept his mind awake and active, which kept him fighting to reach his friends at the Downfall. Once there, he would be patched up. Once patched up, he would regain his strength.

  Then, he would kill Fox.

  Chapter Four

  Bjorn flew through the third level of the heavens. The first and second levels were located above this one, where the Most High, angels, and spirits of the dead resided. Night had fallen, the darkness thick and cloying.