"And I'm a god. One whose powers mock yours and you know it."
She shrieked again as she tried to buck him off. "You've betrayed me and I want vengeance for it."
"Then take it out on me."
She froze at his words and for the first time since she'd attacked him, there was a semblance of sanity there. "What are you saying?"
Ash took a small step back, prepared to seize her again if he needed to. "I'm the one who betrayed you. If you want to make someone bleed, then I offer myself to you as your victim. But you have to swear to me that you'll never lay a hand on Soteria. Ever."
The flame of sexual heat in her eyes sickened him. She could deny it all she wanted to, but she got off on making him bleed and suffer. She always had. "Only if you swear not to use your powers to heal yourself. You will take the punishment you have earned and you will suffer for what you've done to me."
Because it was always about Artemis.
Of course he wouldn't have been with Tory because Tory was kind to him. The only reason he could ever be with someone else was to hurt Artemis and for that he'd bleed.
Yeah . . .
"I swear it."
She lifted her chin. "Release me."
"Not until I have your word."
"Oh I promise you, I won't touch your slut."
He cringed at her words and their unspoken threat against Tory. "And that you won't send anyone else after her either."
She balked.
"Artemis?"
She pouted like a toddler who'd just broken her favorite doll. It wasn't until she realized that he wouldn't give in on this that she crossed her arms over her chest and spat, "Fine. I swear your whore will never be hurt by me or any of my minions."
He wrapped his hand around her neck. "And I swear if you ever call her whore or slut or any other insult again, I will kill you. Do you understand me? Her name is Soteria and you will call her nothing else."
Fear replaced the anger in her eyes. She knew he had no choice except to fulfill whatever oath he took. And right now the thought of killing her ranked right up there on his list of things he'd most like to do.
"I understand," Artemis said coldly. "Now prepare yourself for me, whore."
Ash winced at words she knew hit him on a level no one should ever be hit on, and he hated her for that. In one heartbeat, they destroyed all the centuries of dignity he'd tried so desperately to build and reduced him to the little boy who'd pathetically begged his father not to hurt him.
Damn her for it. He didn't want to do this, but he knew he had no choice. His stomach was so tight with anger and disgust, he was amazed he wasn't vomiting from the sensation.
Last night was worth it.
No . . . Soteria is worth it. When she held him, he wasn't a whore. He wasn't pathetic or unwanted. For that moment of peace that he'd had in her arms, this was nothing.
He only hoped that once Artemis finished with him, he was still able to feel that way.
Sick with dread, he stepped back from her and dropped his long coat to the floor then pulled his shirt off over his head. Gods, it felt just like selling himself in his uncle's house all over again. All he needed was to have those gold bands back in place on his wrists and ankles and his tongue pierced. To have her grab his hair and tell him how to please her best.
He ran his hand over his chest where Simi slept. "Simi? I need you to take human form." If she were still on his skin when Artemis began beating him, she'd come off and attack the goddess. Since he'd promised total submission, he couldn't allow his girl to do that.
Simi appeared with a precious smile on her face until she realized where she was. Then her lips curled in repugnance. "Why we here with that old heifer-goddess, akri? The Simi thought we were going to have fun again."
"I know, Sim. I need you to leave me for a little while."
Her nostrils flared angrily as her eyes turned dark red. She knew what happened to him whenever he made her leave here. "Akri—"
"Just do it, Simi." He looked past her to see Artemis glaring at them. "I want you to go to Sanctuary and protect Soteria for me. Make sure no one hurts her."
Simi turned and hissed at Artemis. "I'll go protect Akra-Tory, akri. But the Simi don't want to leave you. I wish you'd let the Simi eat the heifer instead."
Ash cupped her face and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. "Go, Simi, and don't eat the humans or Weres."
Simi nodded before she vanished.
Ash swallowed as he met Artemis's glower. An instant later his wrists were encircled by chains. They were pulled up and spread wide as a whip appeared in Artemis's hand. He let out a long breath as centuries of this went through him and he fought the anger that swelled inside his heart.
How could she do this and still claim to have feelings for him?
"You have betrayed me for the last time, Acheron."