Eternal Rider - Larissa Ione [132]
Thing was, she’d lied to Reseph, too. Even he hadn’t known the true reason she’d stolen the dagger.
“But now I know why you stole it,” he said, and her gut knotted. “But that’s not the secret I’m talking about. I’m talking about the other one. The big one.”
Her breath left her, her muscles went rubbery, and her blood congealed in her veins. When Pestilence stepped into his Harrowgate and disappeared, she nearly crumpled on legs that wouldn’t work anymore.
He knew. Dear God, he knew.
And if he spilled her secret to Thanatos and Ares, she’d lose everything.
Twenty-five
Cara’s legs gave out. She’d tried to stay on her feet as the battle raged around them, but as Ares’s muscles began to twitch as though thawing, hers turned to mush. She hit the floor hard, and instantly, Vulgrim lifted her into his furry arms.
“Cara,” Ares rasped.
Vulgrim shifted her close to Ares, and she reached out to cup his cheek. He quieted, though his eyes gleamed with pain.
Thanatos, who had remained in the great room to defend them, cursed when Limos returned, her expression troubled.
“Reseph has the dagger.”
“Dammit,” Thanatos snarled. “Ares, you were supposed to—” He cut himself off when he looked over at Cara, and she finished the sentence for him.
“Kill me. We’re both well aware of that. And it isn’t easy on either one of us, so I’d appreciate it if you kept your damned mouth shut.”
Limos’s violet eyes shot wide, and she casually sidled up to Thanatos as if thinking she’d need to restrain him. Several tense heartbeats passed. A rumble came up from deep in Ares’s chest, and dark shadows passed over Thanatos’s face. Finally, Thanatos’s lips quirked into a half-smile.
“You are either brave or foolish.”
“Neither,” she said. “I figure I’m going to die anyway, so I have nothing to lose by telling you what a jerk you’re being.”
“Thank God,” Limos sighed. “Someone else besides us who is willing to tell Than when to shove it. You’re a keeper, Cara.” Well, that made the room fall silent again, and Limos turned bright red. “Um, I, ah—”
“It’s okay.” Cara wriggled as best as she could in Vulgrim’s arms. “Ares?”
Ares’s head fell forward. His hand opened, and the little ball fell out.
Thanatos crouched and nudged it with the back of his gauntlet. “Son of a bitch. Handy little hellhound spit delivery device. Reseph always was inventive.”
“We have his minion in the basement,” Vulgrim said. “Maybe he can offer up some intel?”
“Oh, he’ll offer it up,” Thanatos said, as he strode away. “Give me five.”
Vulgrim placed Cara on the couch, and then he dragged Ares over and sank him next to her. Gradually, Ares regained the use of his body, and the first thing he did was take her in his arms.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I am so sorry.”
She nearly laughed. “What is there to be sorry for? Not killing me?”
“I hesitated. And because of that…”
“You could turn evil. The world could end. I know. I get it.”
His hand came up and turned her face to him. “No. I failed to make sure you went quickly. Even if you were to suffer, at least you wouldn’t suffer in the afterlife, knowing that because of your death, Armageddon broke the world.”
Her eyes stung. They were on the verge of the end of the world, and he was worried about her soul. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“I’m a fool. For so many reasons.”
The pound of footsteps coming up the stairs drew their attention, and they all turned to the stairwell. Thanatos emerged, wiping his bloody hands on a towel. “That Guardian is toast.”
“He’s dead?”
“No. I pulped him, but I meant that he’s no longer human. Pestilence did something to him. Not sure what, but he’s not… right.”
“What did you get from him?” Ares asked.
“Obviously, he lied about Reaver bringing him here. And he gave up the location where they’re keeping Hal.”
Ares narrowed his eyes. “You think he’s telling the truth?”
“Even if I wasn’t sure of my methods, what he said matches up with what I got from Orelia. We need to head to Sithbludd.”
Cara perked up as much as she could. “We can save him before