"
"I'm not going to apologize for what I did.
"
A tic beat in his jaw as Ash glanced away. "There are a lot of things that are still up in the air about tomorrow night. A lot of unknown factors. What wedo know isn't good.
"I have Julian and Kyrian, who want to put Val in a pine box. Val, who doesn't want to lift a finger to help anyone not descended from the Romans. Two pissed-off wolves who are going to want revenge over what happened tonight. Zarek, who is mental on his best day, and who is currently wanted by New Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Orleans' finest. Nick screaming that he's quitting because he's tired of cleaning up after psychos. An angry goddess who is going to want everyone's head over this. And the only Hunter I have who is reliable is you.
"
Ash paused and gave him a stern glare. "And buddy, no offense, but you haven't been reliable in days.
"
"I'm okay, T-Rex.
"
"No, Talon, you're not. You were swinging from the rafters and punching out innocent humans because of Sunshine. You risked not only yourself, but all of us and the Peltiers just to protect one woman from hurt feelings. Where was your head?
"
Anger tore through him. "I'm not a child, Ash. I know how to prioritize.
"
"Normally, you do. But you're thinking with your heart, not your head, and that will get us all killed.
We're Dark-Hunters, Talon, we don'tfeel .
"
Any other time, he would agree with that, but at the moment Talon was feeling a whole lot of frustrated rage. He didn't need this lecture. He knew the risks and the dangers even better than Ash did. He more than understood everything at stake.
"I've got it under control."
"Do you?" Ash asked. "Because from where I'm standing, you don't. You have directly disobeyed me when I told you to keep Sunshine here. You have made pacts with the Katagaria and with Eros, and that's not your place. You don't make those kinds of obligations, Talon. Have youany idea how that can play out?"
"I had to do it. I have to protect my wife. I don't care what it costs.
"
"Your wife?" Ash shook his head. "Talon, look at me.
"
Talon did.
Ash stared at him intently, his gaze cold and unfeeling. "Your wife isdead . She died fifteen hundred years ago and was buried in your homeland. Sunshine isn't Nynia.
"
Talon roared with his anger and pain. It wasn't true. Sunshine was his wife. He felt it. He knew it. She was all that mattered to him.
All that mattered.
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Before he could think twice, he attacked Acheron. He caught the Atlantean's throat between his hands and shook him, trying to make him understand.
"She's not dead!" he snarled. "Damn you, she's not dead.
"
Ash broke his hold and used his powers to immobilize him.
Talon hissed and snarled as he tried to break free, but it was useless.
And in that moment, he realized just how far gone he really was.
I've attacked Acheron.
The thought sobered him. Ash was right. If he didn't calm down and get a hold of himself, he could get them all killed.
Allof them.
Ash took a deep breath and released him. "Talon, you have a decision to make. Dark-Hunters don't have wives. We don't have families. At the end of the day, we have no one but ourselves. Our responsibility, ouronly responsibility, is to the humans who can't protect themselves from the Daimons.
You've got to get your head straight."
"I know." Talon breathed raggedly.
Ash nodded. Then his eyes turned a strange, deep silver.
"Tell me what you want to do. Do you want me to petition Artemis for your soul?
"
Talon thought about it. Right now, he stood on a precipice that he had never thought to face. Not once in his entire Dark-Hunter existence had he ever dared to dream Nynia would be back.
That she would…
He closed his eyes and winced.
Nynia wasn't back. Acheron was right.
Nynia was dead.
The woman in his cabin right now wasn't his wife.
She was Sunshine. A vibrant, caring woman who had fire and spunk.
She might have his wife's soul, but she was someone else. Someone he didn't want to live without.
Someone he didn't dare keep.
He felt as if his heart were being shredded. Sunshine was human. In time, she could forget him and have another life. Someone else to love.
The thought pierced him, but he had to do this.
Either way, he would lose her. At least this way, she stood a chance for happiness that wouldn't kill her.
"No," Talon said quietly. "I don't want to reclaim my soul knowing that I'll lose Sunshine to Camulus's wrath. I don't want my freedom at that cost.
"
"You sure?
"