“I’m not getting on the boat.” Because if they were gearing up for battle, his wolf would want the blood. His head cocked. “Are you?”
But Julian just laughed, a sound that was laced with sadness. “I sold my soul to Lucien Thorne long ago. Made a deal that I won’t ever take back.”
“And what deal was that?”
Julian’s gaze turned distant. “I…hurt someone. Someone I made the mistake of caring about. She was going to die. I couldn’t let that happen.”
Oh, damn. “You didn’t—”
“The Lord of the Dark knows how to keep just about anyone alive.”
Rayce whistled.
“I owe him. So, no, there isn’t a boat ride in my future. I’m in this thing to the bitter end. Blood and battle and death and then…whatever is waiting.”
For a moment, Rayce considered Julian’s words. “Do you have regrets?”
“Only that I never fucked her.”
Surprised laughter came from Rayce, but Julian’s gaze had gone distant. “She hates me now,” Julian admitted. “Rightly so, I suppose, but my regret, oh hell yes, mate, it’s that I never made love to her. Seems a crying shame to die without that pleasure.”
Rayce clapped his hand over Julian’s shoulder. “You’re not dead yet.”
Julian seemed to absorb that for a moment. “No, I don’t suppose I am.”
“From what you said, neither is she.”
But Julian’s jaw tightened. “Undead,” he muttered.
“Whatever.” He wasn’t touching that one. “All I’m saying is…there’s time. Maybe you can get the chance to cross that little item off your to-do list.”
Julian’s stare raked him. “Sometimes, you’re an arsehole.”
“Yeah, but I’m a right arsehole.” He smiled. “And I’ve got some bugs to take care of. See you later, cat.”
Rayce was whistling as he walked away.
Chapter Nine
The door to the Chamber of Horrors opened—well, that was the name that Mina had given to the room of cells, anyway. It swung open and she cowered against a wall. There really wasn’t any good place to hide, and she hoped that—
“What are you doing?” Luke demanded.
She opened her eyes. Yes, okay, fear had made her squeeze her eyes shut.
He stared at her with one raised brow. “Closing your eyes doesn’t make the bad things disappear, sweetheart.” He gestured toward himself. “Still here.”
He was there. Just…him. Not Garrick. Not any of the other FBI goons. “Where are they?” Her voice was a whisper.
“Flying away on a chopper—”
He didn’t get to say more because she’d run forward and launched herself at him. Mina threw her body into his and held on to him as tightly as she could. “Thank you.” Her heart was about to burst out of her chest. “Thank you!” She hugged him even harder. “I will find a way to repay you, I swear, I will. I will give you—”
But her words broke off.
Because she’d just tilted her head back and met his stare. Such a dark, deep stare. The kind of stare that, if a woman wasn’t careful, she just might get lost in.
“Don’t stop now,” Luke murmured. “Tell me more…just what will you give me?”
She couldn’t look away from him. “What do you want?”
His smile came, slow and seductive. A smile that made her feel warm on the inside. A smile that made her nipples tighten. A smile that made her need things she shouldn’t.
Her breath caught and she started to back away from him, but his hands lifted and curled around her, holding her to him. “What do I want?” His voice had deepened. “So many things.”
Her body was pressed fully to his, so she could feel his heat, his strength.
“How about we start with a kiss?”
Because he thought he could seduce her. Hadn’t he told her that before? That he’d be able to entice her into his bed. That she’d go, willingly, easily.
He didn’t realize how many others had tried to seduce her. Tried and failed. Like she was some sort of game to be played. A pang hit her heart, but he’d just saved her ass, and denying him a kiss…there seemed no point in that. After all, it was just a kiss. “Okay.” She tipped back her head. Closed her eyes. And waited.
Then she felt the faint stir of his breath over her cheek. “I told you already, sweetheart…closing your eyes doesn’t make the bad things go away.”
Her lashes fluttered open.
“I’m still here.”
She could see that.
“Remember, Mina. Bad things don’t just disappear.”
Their mouths were so close. She could almost taste him.
“How about we get you out of that robe…” Luke murmured.
No, no, stripping hadn’t been part of the deal. A kiss. Just a kiss.
“…and we put you into some real clothes.”
Her eyes widened.
“I know…I’m actually getting you into clothing. Trust me, I have issues with this, too,” he said and his expression was wry.
Her lips curved and her heart seemed to soften a bit. “You are not nearly as big and bad as people say.”