The moment Pandora touched one of the links, she would become bound to the chains herself, unable to flash away. But she was smart, and she’d avoided all points of contact.
“Pandora!” Aleksander shouted again.
Movement at his right. Baden spun, at the same time jumping backward, barely missing Pandora’s swinging sword.
They faced off, glaring at each other.
“Trying to kill me?” Baden was dressed and ready for war. Dual pistols in holsters waited at his waist. His camo pants had multiple pockets, each filled with something deadly: daggers, extra cartridges, switchblades, throwing stars and even a vial of poison. “Tsk-tsk. Hades will be displeased.”
“Perhaps I meant to shave you. You’re looking a little stubbly.”
Well, then. Perhaps he would shave her, too. He pulled a switchblade, lethal silver glinting in the light cast from a single bulb hanging from the ceiling.
“This man belongs to me.” She pointed to Aleksander, as if Baden needed clarification. “He’s my point.”
“You want him? Take him.” He smiled at her. “I won’t lift a finger to stop you.”
She motioned to his blade. “You’ll just lift a weapon, I’m guessing.”
He held out his arms in a display of innocence. “I won’t. You have my word.”
She knew him, knew his word was as good as gold. She also knew he always planned ahead.
“Free him,” she said, “or I’ll take a page from your book and steal something else from you. Something new every day.”
“You may try.”
“Very well. Remember, you picked this path.” She smirked and vanished.
Aleksander smirked as well, feeling confident now that he thought he had an ally.
Baden smiled. “Try not to scream. Actually, scream all you like. I’ll enjoy it.”
* * *
Baden flashed outside Torin’s bedroom. He’d learned not to appear directly inside any room but his own. More often than not, a couple was inside having sex. Even in the living room. No one had boundaries anymore.
He knocked, his beastly strength cracking yet another door.
“If this isn’t a matter of life and death,” Torin called, “go away.”
His friend would probably regret the qualification. “It is.”
A grunt of irritation, a rustle of clothing and a patter of footsteps. Keeley opened the door, her tank top on backward, and her skirt tucked into her panties.
Oh, yes. Torin regretted.
Destruction cursed at her.
She looked Baden up and down, saying, “You’ve never looked better, but I’ve never hated you more.” She flipped him off as she shouldered her way past him, muttering, “Cock blocker’s not gonna like payback.”
The beast tried to take over his body, to attack Torin’s mate, but Baden heard Katarina’s laughter down the hall and maintained strict control. What or who had amused her?
Concentrate!
Right. He strode into the bedroom as Torin buttoned his pants, forewent a shirt and plopped into a chair in front of his “command center.”
“You need to tighten security,” Baden told him. “Pandora threatened to steal from me. Something new every day.”
“Security is already tight enough to pop a cherry. And you obviously haven’t heard how busy Pandora has been. Kaia and Gwen were in town when she attacked. An attempt to hurt Strider and Sabin, I’m sure, but she had her ass handed to her and retreated.” Torin typed as he spoke. “By the way. Galen came by earlier and asked me to talk to you about your old pal Distrust—”
“The demon was never my pal. And I don’t want to talk about him. I need to apologize to Kaia and Gwen, to Strider and Sabin.”
“Why? Strider and Sabin helped steal the box. They earned Pandora’s wrath same way you did.”
Still.
“Anyway. Distrust has possessed a woman named...” Torin scratched his head. “I’ve forgotten, even though Galen just reminded me. Whoever she is, she could use your—”
“No.” He had enough on his plate. “Have you learned anything else about the coin?”
“Not really. The only people who know anything belong to Lucifer. As you can guess, I’d rather shit an actual brick than trust his associates.”
On one of the screens, Baden caught a glimpse of Katarina. She stood outside Ashlyn and Maddox’s room, Anya at her side. The two chatted easily, Katarina’s hands waving as she spoke. An adorable trait. One she hadn’t displayed before.
Adorable...and sexy as hell.
The beast snarled, but issued no command to kill. Only to...protect?
The two females strolled down the hall and parted at Baden’s door, Katarina disappearing inside. Soon, he would join her for their date.
Every muscle in his body vibrated with sudden longing. Mine...for tonight. Perhaps tomorrow, too.