had to. Beating Hades would save her pups and Baden and Pandora. Two goals, one trial. No prob.
She was so juiced on power the battle began to sound like the best—idea—ever. When she stepped forward, Baden’s struggles increased so forcefully, she could hear his bones popping out of place.
Not tuned out, after all.
—Focus! Let our instincts guide you. You’ll never survive otherwise.—
Wonderful. She met Hades in the middle of the room. “I’m ready.”
“Whenever you decide you’ve had enough,” he said with a smile, “all you have to do is pledge your life to my service and the pain will end. Until then...” He struck.
* * *
Words Keeley had once spoken to Baden filled his head: If you have two wreaths and one immortal, how many problems will he face? Gold. Obviously. Because the heart bleeds secrets and doggies have claws.
The problem—one gold coin, trapped in a bleeding heart.
Then Pandora’s situation took center stage. In essence, she was a hellhound. Like Katarina. If Pandora was linked to a hound, hurting her could hurt Katarina. Maybe. Probably. He wasn’t sure how it worked, only knew he didn’t want to risk harming his woman. Ever.
Then... Hades punched Katarina.
His woman recoiled from the impact. Baden roared loud enough to puncture a lung.
Free myself, flash her to safety, kill Hades.
As he fought the king’s compulsion, he popped both shoulders out of joint and fractured several ribs.
A frenzied Destruction helped him.
Hades drew back his fist, intending to launch a second strike.
“No!” Baden shouted.
Too late. Hades struck Katarina in the face. Beautiful, delicate Katarina flew across the room. When she landed, she rolled with her momentum, shockingly graceful, and came up on all fours, like an animal.
As blood dripped down her cheek, another roar ruptured Baden’s lungs. He knew Hades wasn’t fully engaged; he wasn’t surrounded by shadows. But it wouldn’t take much to kill a human. Even one bolstered by hellhounds.
Have to stop this.
He unsheathed a dagger and stabbed into his shoulder, reworking his plan.
Remove my arms, remove the bands. Tackle Hades with what’s left of my body.
Hades operated in the human and spirit realm. Baden, even as a spirit—which he would be without the bands—would be tangible to him.
Shadows sprang from the marks on his other arm, eating at the dagger, protecting themselves. Without his body, they would have no host.
“More?” Hades asked Katarina.
Without a word, she launched forward and slammed into him. No, not just slammed. Ripped. She bit into his neck and tore out his trachea. As he fell, she spat the bloody cartilage and tissue on the floor.
Baden stilled. Destruction gaped.
Sweet Katarina could...win?
Hades’s body had repaired itself by the time he landed. He grabbed Katarina by the ankles and tripped her. The moment she landed, he was at her side, grabbing her by the hair and tossing her across the room. She crashed into the wall, cracking stone. Dust thickened the air. Miraculously, she didn’t pause to catch her breath; she simply dove at Hades, snarling as she bit him.
That’s our woman!
“Take out his eyes then his throat!” Baden shouted, his voice layered, the beast just as determined to save her.
She managed to claw out one of Hades’s eyes before he was able to bat her away. She only came back for more. He batted her away again and again, but she always came back. He couldn’t get rid of her. She came in high, clawing and biting his face and neck, and she came in low, clawing and biting his ankles and calves in a nearly successful attempt to hobble him. Her ferocity staggered Baden.
“Pledge your life to me,” Hades demanded, “before I decide to end you for good.”
“No!” Baden shouted. “Don’t do it.” The hellhounds would hate her, and she would never forgive herself.
Snarling, she jumped on Hades and tore off his ear—with her teeth.
Shadows began to rise from the male, and Baden knew they would destroy her. Not even the hounds could defeat them.
No. No, no, no. Can’t let her die. Can’t. “Don’t let the shadows near you, Rina.”
Baden put every bit of his remaining strength in breaking free. He would rather die than lose his Katarina. He would rather suffer eternally. Would rather cease to exist.
Love for her consumed him, his desire to help her completely superseding the bond he shared with Hades. The bands on his arms began to heat...and heat...burning his skin...singeing and blistering. Sinking inside him. Branding him.
The pain! His flesh cooking! Smoke wafted from him, but finally, blessedly, the bands disappeared, leaving only the