"
The hairs on the back of her neck rose. Astrid slid her gaze from Artemis to Acheron, who stood with his arms folded over his chest. His gaze unwavering, he watched Astrid with those eerie swirling silver eyes of his.
This wasn't the first time she'd been asked to judge a rogue Dark-Hunter and yet she sensed something different about Acheron today.
"You believe him innocent?" she asked.
Acheron nodded.
"He's not innocent," Artemis sneered. "He'd kill anyone or anything without blinking. He has no morals or concern for anyone other than himself.
"
Acheron gave Artemis an arch look that said those words reminded him of someone else he knew.
It almost succeeded in bringing a smile to Astrid's lips.
While her mother stayed back a few feet to give them room, Acheron squatted down by Astrid's chaise and met her gaze levelly. "I know you're tired, Astrid. I know you want to quit, but I don't trust anyone else to judge him."
Astrid frowned as he spoke of things she hadn't told anyone else. No one knew she wanted to quit.
Artemis turned a jaundiced gaze to Acheron. "Why are you being so accommodating with my choice of judge? She's never found anyone innocent in all the history of the world."
"I know," he said in that rich, deep voice that was even more seductive than his incredible good looks.
"But I trust her to do the right thing."
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Artemis narrowed her eyes at him. "What trick have you planned?"
His face was completely impassive as he continued to watch Astrid with an intensity that was unnerving.
"Nothing."
Astrid considered taking on the mission only because of Acheron. He'd never asked anything of her before and she remembered well just how many times he had comforted her when she'd been a child.
He'd been like a father and a big brother to her.
"How long do I have to stay?" she asked them. "If I go in and the Dark-Hunter is beyond redemption, can I pull out immediately?"
"Yes," Artemis said. "In fact, the sooner you judge him guilty the better for all of us."
Astrid turned to the man beside her. "Acheron?"
He nodded in agreement. "I will abide by what you decide."
Artemis beamed. "We have our pact then, Acheron. I have given you a judge."
A small smile played at the edges of Acheron's lips. "You have, indeed."
Artemis looked suddenly nervous. She glanced from Acheron to Astrid, then back again. "What do you know that I don't?" she asked him.
Those pale, swirling eyes cut through Astrid as Acheron said quietly, "I know that Astrid holds a deep truth inside her."
Artemis put her hands on her hips. "And that is?"
" 'It is only with the heart that one can rightly see. What is essential is invisible to the eye.' "
Another chill went down Astrid's spine as Acheron quoted the exact line fromThe Little Prince that she had been reading as they approached.
How did he know what she'd been reading?
She glanced down to make sure the book was completely hidden from their view.
It was.
Oh, yeah, Acheron Parthenopaeus was one frightening man.
"You have two weeks, daughter," her mother said quietly. "If it takes you less time, so be it. But at the end of a fortnight, one way or another, Zarek's fate will be sealed by your hand.
"
Chapter
2
Zarek cursed as the batteries died on his MP3 player. Just his luck.
He was still a good hour away from their landing and the last thing he wanted was to listen to Mike in the helicopter's cockpit moan and complain under his breath about having to chauffeur him back toAlaska .
Even though a foot of solid black steel separated Zarek's sunless, lightless compartment from Mike, he could hear through the walls as easily as if Mike were sitting next to him.
Worse, Zarek hated being stuck in the small passenger compartment that seemed to be closing in on him. Every time he moved, he bumped an arm or leg into the wall. But since they had been flying through daylight, it was either the cube or death.
For some reason he still wasn't quite sure of, Zarek had chosen the cube.
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) He removed the headphones and his ears were immediately assaulted by the rhythmic pounding of the chopper's blades, rushing winter winds, and Mike's current conversation over the static-filled radio.
"So, did you do it?
"
Zarek arched a brow at the anxious, unfamiliar male voice.
Ah, the beauty of his powers. He had hearing that would make Superman jealous. And he knew the topic of their discussion…
Him.