The Underworld (Rhyn Eternal) (29 page)

“That’s precisely
why
you were voted out,” Kiki replied calmly. “The Council felt you were abandoning your duties to the Immortals by going to the underworld for a friend. There were convincing arguments about needing someone here who was more stable.”

“Wait a minute. There were two members of the Council that stayed behind. You and that chicken shit, Tamer, who was supposed to be in the underworld with me! You both were here while Andre and I were in the underworld, which means at most, the vote was tied two-two. You can’t kick me out with a tied vote.”

“It was three-two,” Kiki said.

“Three? Did Erik come back from the dead-dead?”

“Wynn.”

Rhyn went still, senses heightening. “I knew I should’ve killed that fucker when he showed up here.”

“That fucker is our father,” Kiki reminded him. “He brought up some good points about needing to rebuild the Immortal warrior corps and reclaiming the territory we lost recently because of the demon attacks.”

“Tell me you didn’t turn it over to him.”

“He should make a good leader.” The words sounded forced, and Kiki appeared uncomfortable uttering them.

Something is really off about this.
“What the fuck is going on, Kiki? Really. Exile?”

“Temporary exile, if you prefer to call it that.”

Coldness slithered through Rhyn. He’d left his mate and hatchling here in the fortress, the safest place for them to be.

Unless Wynn was in charge.

“Where’s Katie?” Rhyn took a step towards him.

“Upstairs. Safe.” Kiki backpedaled. “Look, it’s not personal, Rhyn. You aren’t equipped to handle the types of things Wynn can. He’s not the man he was before.”

Rhyn’s head felt like it was ready to explode. Not only was he hungry for his mate, but he was worried about how he’d take care of her, if Wynn decided to act on the threat he’d made about hunting Rhyn down to kill him.

They were better off as far as he could take her from here.

“Fine. I’ll leave,” he snapped. “But you listen to me, Kiki. That man is a lunatic waiting to fuck up your world. You all have hated the way I did business, but you’re about to find out just how fucked up it can get. And if any of you ever,
ever
come after my mate and hatchling, I will slaughter every last one of you. I’ll make what Darkyn’s demons did up here look like a fucking picnic!”

“Rhyn-”

Ignoring him and anxious to ensure his mate was indeed safe, Rhyn stormed out of the study, nearly running into Andre, who lingered in the hallway outside.

He stopped short despite his hurry. “I thought you were dead-dead,” he said. “I mean, again.”

Andre smiled. He was impeccably dressed as usual in slacks and a button down shirt. Rhyn smelled no blood, and Andre appeared well rested. Rhyn’s brow furrowed. The battle for the underworld hadn’t been over long enough for anyone to have showered let alone healed from his wounds.

“I made it back in better shape than you,” Andre said, eyebrow raised as he took in Rhyn’s state.

“I don’t have time for this shit.”

“What’s wrong, Rhyn?” Andre’s voice was even more soothing than usual, his presence making the tension between Rhyn’s shoulders melt.

“I’m leaving. Exiled, thanks to Wynn, the new head of the Council. You vote against me, too?” Rhyn asked with a snort.

Andre’s smile faded, and something sparked deep within his turquoise eyes. He pulled his hands from his pockets. Rhyn caught the glint of a ring he didn’t recognize on one finger, a brilliant blue-green gem in tarnished bronze.

“I’ve never voted against you,” Andre said quietly.

“You never outright supported me either, except to send me to Hell.”

“I’m not your enemy, Rhyn.”

Rhyn drew a calming breath. “I know. But this … this is wrong. Even I know that. Not that what you all do is any of my business anymore. I’m taking Katie somewhere safe where we can raise our hatchling far away from this shit.”

“Which is …”

“None of your fucking business.”

“Very well.”

“Glad you’re not dead-dead. Have a nice life.” Rhyn strode away, concern for his family making him want to leave as soon as possible.

“Rhyn, if you need anything, know that I’m here for you,” Andre called after him.

Rhyn rolled his eyes.
Too late, Andre. I know better than to trust any of my brothers.

He took the stairs three at a time to the level where he shared a room with Katie, disturbed despite his attempt to act unconcerned.

He shoved the door to his room open and relaxed. His pregnant mate was folding clothing and placing it one of two suitcases on the bed. She glanced over her shoulder at him with a quick smile, her blue eyes standing out from her dark hair and golden skin.

“Hey, Rhyn,” she called cheerfully. “How’s Gabe?”

Rhyn cursed. “I’m standing here covered in blood, and you want to know how Gabe is?”

“I’d know if you were hurt,” she reminded him.

“He’s wonderful. Fine. Happy.” Grunting, he peeled off his shirt, knowing she’d never let him hug her when he was soaked with blood. Covering the distance between them with ground eating strides, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and pulled her into his body tightly.

“I missed you,” he whispered, nipping her neck.

She clasped her hands over his. “I missed you, too, Rhyn. Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“I’d hug you properly, but I’m too fat.” There was a note of dismay in her voice, a sign her mood was about to change.

Rhyn rested his hand on her huge belly, where their hatchling grew. Katie was due in a few weeks, and he resisted the urge to curse and destroy the entire chamber.

His baby was coming, and they were about to be homeless.

He hugged her harder. “You’re packing,” he said, realizing what she was doing.

“Yep. We’re exiled,” she said in a hushed voice. “I told Toby and Hannah to pack,” she added, referring to their adopted son, a guardian angel, and her sister.

“I guess they have to come.”

“Of course they do! They’re our family.” She tugged free and faced him. “We’ll be okay, Rhyn. You won’t be stressed out anymore, and we won’t have to worry about all the shit that goes on here. Demons, Wynn, whatever.” She took his face in her hands.

Peering into the eyes of his mate, his anger evaporated, replaced by worry. “I’m so sorry, Katie,” he whispered, resting his forehead against hers. “I’m the worst provider ever.”

“You’re amazing, Rhyn.”

“Worst ever.”

“We’ll be fine. Look.” Leaning away from him, she bent to heft a huge gym bag sagging beneath the weight of its contents. She placed it on the bed. “Andre said you won an award and this is your prize.” Her eyes were twinkling, a sign Andre had said more than he should about the trip to the underworld.

The gym bag was stuffed full of large bills, enough cash for them to buy their own castle anywhere in the world.

“It was a game we were playing,” Rhyn muttered. “This is Andre’s money.”

“I know. And I don’t care.” Katie folded her arms across her protruding belly. “We’re starting over somewhere else. Okay?”

He nodded half-heartedly, unable to shake the guilt and responsibility he felt for his family being kicked out of their home. It made him hate his brothers more than ever. He wanted to refuse the mandate and destroy the fucking fortress. Teach them a lesson about what it meant to fuck with those he loved.

“Whoa, boy.” Katie touched him, the way she did whenever his temper was about to blow. His emotions ceased bubbling, and his body relaxed. “No explosions. Let’s just pick somewhere cool. We always said we needed more us time, right?”

“Maybe when you’re not an Immortal mood beast,” he said before he could stop himself.

“I’m pregnant, not a mood beast!” she snapped, eyes flashing. “You had a hand in this, too, Rhyn. Don’t you forget that!”

Her good mood gone, she whirled and stormed to the wardrobe to grab more clothing.

Rhyn smiled, watching her, grateful she was safe. Maybe she was right and it wouldn’t be so bad to start over somewhere quieter, away from the drama of the Immortals.

Then again, he couldn’t shake the instinct that warned him something here was really wrong.

Family first,
he decided. Once Katie was safe, he’d do some investigating. He wasn’t perfect, but he’d always taken his duty to the brothers that hated him more seriously than any of them cared to do for him.

“You sure Hannah has to come?” he teased. “She’s a mood beast and isn’t even pregnant.”

“Rhyn!”

He laughed. With Katie at his side, they’d be all right. Somehow.

Hours later, Deidre’s heart was hammering when she set the soul of her mate on the rug before the fireplace with its black flames. She’d showered and changed into a Hell dress, paced to determine what exactly she’d say when Darkyn was back, then gave up, knowing he’d be able to read her mind the minute he awoke. It didn’t matter what she tried to say, she’d end up revealing everything with her thoughts.

Kneeling beside his soul, she rested her hands over it and closed her eyes. She envisioned him waking up from a nap and waited, her blood racing at the thought of feeling his skin beneath her again.

Something moved beneath her fingers, and she sat back, watching in a combination of horror and intrigue. Black fog rose from the floor. It took on the shape of a man. Within seconds, the fog had begun to harden, the details of the body beneath it growing firm, the color of his skin turning into a familiar golden brown.

Darkyn’s frame emerged from the fog. He was naked, scars visible on his exposed skin. His eyes were closed, his dark hair ruffled. The fog began to dissipate and sank again into the floor, leaving the demon lord before the fire.

“Darkyn?” she whispered. Uncertain what to expect, she touched him lightly. He certainly felt real, and Deidre shifted forward, pulse surging within her. She rested her palm on his warm chest, reassured he was real once more.

Another moment passed, and he began breathing. A few seconds later, his heart started beating.

She almost squealed in excitement.

Deidre darted to the bed to grab a blanket, in case he awoke cold after the bizarre experience. Wrapping it in her arms, she turned to see him standing before the fire, testing his body with small, controlled movements.

Elation mixed with some anger and apprehension, and she crossed to him. Her eyes drank him in, from the lean, shapely muscles of his thighs and arms, to the wide expanse of his chest and the fangs that were already starting to grow.

She stopped close enough to touch him.

“Are you well?” she asked.

“I am.”

“Good.”

Deidre slapped him. Hard.

Darkyn met her gaze, fire flaring to life in the depths of his.

“That’s for not giving me an instruction manual when you gave me Hell,” she said, face flushing with a combination of desire and anger.

“You figured it out.”

She slapped him again. “That’s because … well, because you knew what was going to happen and didn’t bother telling me!”

A cunning smile spread across his face.

Should’ve known he’d take it as an invitation.
“Before anything … starts,” she began, wetting her lips. “I think we should talk.”

“About what?” He snatched the blanket from her arms and tossed it.

“For one, I’m the Dark One and I raised you. Gabe says you owe me a favor without restrictions,” she said, growing more confident.

Darkyn drew nearer, holding her gaze to keep her from moving. He paused just before their bodies touched. “And?” he asked, unconcerned.

“What do you mean,
and
?” she replied. “Hel-lo. I’m the Dark One!”

He nudged her cheek aside and bit her neck hard, a reminder of how thoroughly he owned her.

Hot pain slid through her, along with desire so intense, she began to forget what it was she wanted to set straight before tumbling into bed with him. Her breath caught, and she stared at him. The enormity of what she’d been through hit her in the safety of her bedchamber, with her mate alive and well before her. Hunger roared to life within her. The scent and warmth of his skin was within reach once more, his sweet blood a mere bite away. In minutes, he’d be fucking her the way he always did: with a combination of pain, pleasure and a whole lot of blood.

“Darkyn, I need something from you.”

He studied her, cold gaze traveling slowly over her features. Cupping the back of her neck in one hand, he tugged her dress loose with the other and let it drop to the floor. His palm skimmed her shoulder and down her side to settle on her hip. He drew their bodies together, pressing his arousal to her lower belly in a way that made her shudder. The heat in her body pooled in her lower belly.

His fangs were growing longer, the fire in his eyes brighter. “What, love?” he asked.

“I love you. I know you don’t respect that kind of emotion, but you need to know it’s true,” she said, voice trembling. “Darkyn, there is no part of me that can live with having your children in Hell.”

“You do not wish to have my heir?” He cocked his head to the side.