The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter

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    â€œDamn this,” he railed, stalking forward and slamming a fist into the wall. Stone instantly cracked and dust plumed around him, clouding his vision. It felt good so he punched again, his knuckles splitting and throbbing. Relax. Now.
    Nothing good ever came of his anger.
    He exhaled slowly as he turned and surveyed his bedroom. Morning had already arrived, he realized with surprise. With all that flashing, he’d lost track of the different time zones. Sunlight streamed through the room’s only window. Except for Maddox and Torin, all of the warriors had, most likely, left for their respective destinations in Greece and Rome. I need to do the same. Anya can be taken care of later, when I’m not reeling from the taste and feel of her.
    He strode to his closet, along the way noticing three vases perched on his vanity. Each overflowed with white, winter flowers and emitted a honey scent. They hadn’t been here last night, which meant Ashlyn had been here this morning. Sweet, tenderhearted Ashlyn had probably thought to brighten his day with them, but seeing the blooms caused a pang of regret to tear through his chest.
    Mariah used to pick flowers and weave them in her hair.
    His door suddenly swung open and Ashlyn rushed inside, concern lighting her pretty face. Maddox, as always, was right behind her, a slash of black menace and lethal grace. He held two blades, poised and ready for attack.
    â€œEverything okay?” Ashlyn asked when she spotted only Lucien. Light brown hair cascaded over her shoulders and down her arms. Arms clutched together in worry. For him? “We were walking down the hall and heard a bang.”
    â€œEverything is fine,” he assured her. But he kept his attention on Maddox, whose violet eyes were narrowed. Get her out of here, he silently willed, not wanting to hurt Ashlyn’s feelings. I am not myself.
    Lucien was dangerously close to losing all semblance of his legendary control. The strain had to show on every line of his face.
    Understanding, Maddox gave a nod. “Ashlyn.” He curled a hand around her shoulder. “Lucien is preparing for his journey to the temple. Let’s leave him to it.”
    She didn’t shrug off the warrior’s hold. Rather, she leaned into him. She also refused to budge. Her gaze dipped over Lucien, scrutinizing, gauging. “You don’t look fine.”
    â€œAll is well,” he lied. How many would he tell? He bent down, clasped the handles of his bag and threw it onto the bed.
    â€œYour hand is bleeding and your bones are…Dear God.” Frowning, she reached out.
    Maddox grabbed hold of her wrist, stopping her. He was keeper of Violence, yet he was gentle with his woman, so protective and possessive of her it was almost comical.
    â€œMaddox,” she said, exasperated. “I just want to see how bad his injuries are. We might have to reset the bones.”
    â€œLucien will heal, and you need to rest.”
    â€œRest, rest, rest. I’m four weeks pregnant, not sickly.”
    The proud couple had announced the news mere days ago. Then and now, Lucien was happy for them, but he also wondered what the offspring of a demon-possessed warrior and a mortal female with unusual powers would be. Half-demon? Fully demon? Completely mortal? Once, he’d wondered the same thing about a child of his own. His and Mariah’s. But she had been taken from him before they’d even decided to try to conceive.
    â€œYour man is correct,” he said. “I am fine.”
    Determination radiated from Ashlyn, her large brown eyes never leaving Lucien. Tenderhearted she might be, but she was also stubborn to her very core.
    She had grown up in a science lab, studied and used for a unique ability she’d only just learned to control. Wherever she stood, Ashlyn could hear every conversation that had taken place there, no matter how many years had passed. She could not, however, hear prior