Mark of the Bear

Chapter Eighteen

She didn’t know what time it was, but evening had closed in around them. Kellsie stood beside Marko and looked up at the sky. The moon rode high and the stars flickered against the dark backdrop. It was a beautiful night. Would be even better if Hades and his demons weren’t after them.

She shrugged philosophically. A girl couldn’t have everything.

“But you can,” a deep voice answered her thought.

She threw up mental blocks. Better late than never. A black circle formed in front of them. It was like a void, sucking the light from all around. It grew larger, spinning in a counterclockwise circle.

Marko shoved her back a few steps as figures formed in the opening of the circle. Kellsie quickly realized it was a gateway or a portal of some sort. Hell of a special effect. Further proof that the god was simply playing with them. He’d known where they were all along.

Had he watched them making love?

Kellsie shivered and her gut clenched. She felt sick at the thought. It was too late to worry about that now. What was done was done. And she wasn’t ashamed of anything she’d done with Marko. No way in hell would she allow Hades to make her feel any differently about it.

Hades stepped into the clearing, looking as dapper as ever in another of his expensive suits. He wore a red power tie and even had a little hankie folded into a perfect triangle sticking out of his pocket. He looked more like a Fortune 500 CEO than the devil. Of course, she’d often thought some of those guys had made deals with the devil. Maybe she wasn’t so far off.

The god threw back his head and laughed, exposing the long column of his neck. His dark hair brushed his shoulders. He was a handsome devil. Pun intended.

He brushed at the corners of his eyes. “You are a never-ending source of entertainment, Kellsie. I’m going to enjoy having you around.” She could see miniature flames flickering in his black eyes. “Think about it. You’ll be the star in a continuous horror flick for all eternity. The star. The leading lady.”

Kellsie tried not to tremble but her limbs weren’t paying her any attention. If it weren’t for the fact she was wearing jeans the sound of her knees knocking together would have been heard by everyone there, which included Mordecai who was standing silently behind his boss with his arms crossed.

The warrior looked like some mob enforcer, the dumb muscle waiting for his boss to give him his orders. But she knew he wasn’t stupid. Intelligence shone from his black eyes, but that was all. She couldn’t get a read on what Mordecai was thinking or feeling at all.

She leaned on her sword for support, using it more like a cane. No good for her to try to brandish it before her with her arms shaking as much as they were. She was more likely to cut herself with the damn thing. Still, she tried for a nonchalant pose, bracing her hands on the pommel.

“I’ll pass, thanks all the same.” She was proud there was no tremor in her voice. Heck, she was happy she hadn’t fainted in a dead heap. Her heart was galloping a mile a minute and her breathing was none too steady.

“You had a choice,” he reminded her. “One you turned down.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She tended to be flippant when she was scared and she’d never been quite so terrified in all her life. “Leave and never come back. My ex destroyed, my movie career skyrocketing. Yadda yadda.”

Hades’ eyebrows shot up. “You dare to mock me?”

She shrugged. “Why not? You’re going to kill me anyways.”

His voice turned dark and cold, oozing into her bones. “There is more than one way to die, Kellsie. And once your soul is mine, I can torture you at my leisure.”

The pendant on her necklace felt warm as it pulsed against her chest. To ground herself, she wrapped her hand around the bear claw. She drew strength from the talisman and from the man standing beside her. Marko hadn’t said a word, but he stood at her side, his huge sword at the ready. Maybe it was his presence enabling her to be brave. Or maybe it was because she had nothing left to lose.

She wasn’t getting out of these woods alive. Kellsie wasn’t stupid enough to believe such a crock of shit. This wasn’t a movie where the heroine escaped and lived happily ever after. This was reality and it totally sucked.

“Yeah, well, I have a problem with that.” She found the strength inside her to raise her sword. “My soul is my own and you can’t have it.” She said the last four words slowly, emphasizing each syllable.

If he wanted a fight, she’d damn well give him one. He might kill her, but he wasn’t getting her soul.

Marko listened in awe as Kellsie faced down Hades, god of the Underworld. She was a warrior to her core. Oh, he knew she was frightened. Only an idiot wouldn’t be when faced with such raw power. But she was still standing beside him, tall and proud.

Pride burst inside his chest alongside a love so pure it almost brought him to his knees. He loved Kellsie more than he loved his freedom, more than his brethren or his goddess. She would live. She had to live.

He stepped in front of her, drawing Hades’ attention. “Enough. You have tempted us and been rejected. Some of us don’t fall as easy.” He shot a damning glance at Mordecai who simply saluted him with his sword. He still couldn’t believe his brother-in-arms had gone over to the dark side.

Hades leaned against a stately oak tree, looking slightly bored by the proceedings. “True, but that situation could change at any time.” He flicked his hand and the portal widened. Demons of all shapes and sizes, a dozen in all, poured out of the opening. He recognized all of them from the carnival, except this time they were in their true forms and not their human ones.

The stench of rotted flesh and sulfur poisoned the air around them. Behind him, Kellsie coughed.

“Holy shit,” she gasped. He heard fear, but beneath it was steely determination.

He reached inside himself for his other half. The bear responded immediately upon sensing the danger to Kellsie. We must meld equally, he reminded the bear. There was no struggle for dominance as the animal half of him put his mate’s well-being ahead of all else.

Marko grew several feet taller and his arms and legs thickened and grew more muscular. His sword hand remained that of a human, but his other one morphed into a giant bear paw tipped in razor-sharp claws, ready to tear and gouge.

His jaw grew and lengthened exposing gleaming lethal teeth. He was the ultimate fighting machine—the best of man and animal combined.

Mordecai whistled under his breath. None of the others had the control Marko did or were able to hold both forms in harmony. It was one of his gifts. While in this form, he had the strength and cunning of the animal but the brain and dexterity of the man.

Marko roared his displeasure as he faced the horde of demons. The sound echoed down the side of the hill and spread out to the forest beyond, sending creatures miles from the area scurrying away in fear.

He had to admire Hades. The god knew just how far to push the power surge so as not to attract unwanted attention. Hades couldn’t fight himself, not without garnering unwanted notice from the other gods of his pantheon.

No, Hades would let his demons fight and die. He had plenty more. He’d sit back and watch and assess. The god was more of a tactician, a planner than an actual fighter.

Mordecai was another matter altogether. He was a warrior through and through, a master of warfare, a general without equal. Roric had always relied heavily on him when they had fought together to protect the Lady. They all had.

And now he was the enemy.

The demons in the lead gave a screech that hurt Marko’s ears, but he ignored the pain as the creatures leapt at him. Marko swung his sword with savage intent, lopping the first creature’s head off without a moment of regret. Blood splattered his chest and face, the acid in it burning his skin.

The fight was on.

He sensed movement behind him and knew it was Kellsie. “Run,” he yelled.

“Shut up and fight,” she countered as she yelled and swung the sword he’d given her.

Marko knew then that she wouldn’t break from the battle, wouldn’t leave him to fight alone. The thing he loved most about her—her bravery—would be her undoing if he didn’t win.

Losing was not an option. If he couldn’t win, all he had to do was hold out until midnight. And the time was closer than he’d imagined. The position of the moon and the bear’s natural instincts told him so.

Time passed differently when Hades was around, the god’s power flexing and warping time. Marko wasn’t even certain Hades realized it was happening.

With each passing minute power seemed to hum within Marko, building slowly and steadily like a well-stoked fire. He was getting stronger, gaining back the power he’d once had. He wasn’t at full strength yet and wondered if it would be enough for him to win.

It would have to be.

Kellsie slashed at the arm of a lesser demon. The creature’s talons slipped under her defense, tearing through the flesh of her thigh. She cried out but didn’t falter, following through with a straight shot through the demon’s throat. The creature fell to its knees and clutched its neck. Blood seeped from around its fingers and it fell to the ground with a solid thump, raising a cloud of dirt around it.

Marko was the first line of defense and threw himself at the horde in order to keep any demons from getting beyond him to Kellsie. She had to be protected at all costs. Marko fought tirelessly, slashing and hacking at his opponents. None of them fought with weapons but with their claw-tipped hands and sharp, pointed teeth.

Marko slashed with his razor-sharp claws of one hand and wielded his sword with the other. Sweat coated his body and trickled down his forehead into his eyes. Blood stained his skin and fur. His muscles burned but he never faltered, never hesitated in his mission to protect Kellsie.

The task was endless. He knew he’d slain at least a dozen demons, probably more. It was then he understood Hades’ real tactics. There were never more than a dozen demons here at any time, but another one came through the portal as soon as Marko cut one down.

Hades had started with smaller, lesser demons. They were determined but not smart, and Marko expended an enormous amount of strength defeating them. Like the foot soldiers in human wars, these demons were expendable in Hades’ war against him.

Now that Marko was tired, the god was sending in the big guns. Two huge, winged creatures flew out from the portal. Their fingers were tipped with three-foot talons. It was like facing ten swords at once, times two.

He gripped his weapon and drew on his reserves. He only had to hang on until midnight and Kellsie would be safe. He didn’t actually have to defeat Hades, but oh how he wished he could. The need to destroy the god burned like a never-ending fire in the pit of his gut. But the need to protect Kellsie burned even hotter.

“Stay back!” he yelled at Kellsie. He wished he could turn and look at her. Wished he could tell her how much he loved her. But he dared not take his gaze from this latest threat.

Hades laughed, the wickedly smooth sound of pleasure grating Marko’s ears. He’d heard that laugh before. The god was anticipating victory. Marko wasn’t in the mood to give it to him.

Roaring to the heavens, he raised his sword and leapt toward the winged creatures.

Holy shit. Kellsie ducked and swung at the demon in front of her. Her blade hit leathery flesh and sliced right through it. Just like in the movies, she reminded herself. But the blood, guts and gore were real. She couldn’t let herself think about that. Not now and maybe not ever.

The only way she was getting through this ordeal was by treating it as choreographed stunt scene. She’d used props before—guns, knives and swords. She’d also been covered in blood and guts before, fake of course. The smell was the worst of it. The stench of sulfur and seared flesh coated the inside of her mouth and nostrils, filling her lungs every time she took a breath.

Marko was incredible. She’d never seen him like this, didn’t even know he could shift into a creature that was half-man and half-beast. He was as large as he was when he was in his bear form, but parts of him were still human.

His jaw was that of the bear, but his forehead was still that of a man. He had feet, but his muscular legs were covered in thick fur. His leather pants had disappeared and he was fighting totally naked. It made him appear even more primal, more powerful. His chest was covered in fur and thick muscles, which offered him better protection against the demons. He swung his wicked-sharp sword with one hand and wielded his claw-tipped hand with lethal intent.

Marko was like a fighting machine. He didn’t falter, wasn’t even showing signs of fatigue as he slaughtered one demon after another. He’d even sliced through two in one stroke with that huge sword. Not to mention the havoc he was creating with that massive bear paw.

It was strange to see him like this, part man and part bear. Yet it was somehow fitting. He was like an ancient god, the supernatural embodiment of the animal itself.

For a moment it seemed as though they were winning the battle. Then two winged demons, straight out of a nightmare, swooped out of the portal and attacked Marko.

Kellsie faltered for a moment and her sword dipped. There was no way to win. Hades just kept bringing more demons through the portal. Her arms were like lead, the muscles screaming in pain. Her thighs quivered like jelly. She didn’t think she was going to make it.

A demon snuck in around Marko’s left side as he engaged the larger ones. This demon was smaller than most, but that still put the creature at a little above Kellsie’s height. And unlike the rest of them she’d fought so far, this one was carrying a sword.

She could do this. There really was no choice.

Kill or die.

She didn’t raise the sword in front of her. That took too much energy. Instead, she watched this latest threat closely as the demon moved around her.

“Don’t you recognize me, Kellsie?” There was a hiss to the voice that changed it somewhat, but there was a familiarity to it that made her frown as she tried to place it.

The creature laughed. “Surely you haven’t forgotten me. Can I get you anything, Kellsie? Do you need anything, Kellsie?” The creature spat on the ground, making the grass hiss as it burned. “You make me sick.” The demon changed, morphing into a beautiful young blonde woman with a killer figure.

“Brittany?”

The demon laughed. “I’m a succubus. I can have any man or beast I want.” She cast a sly glance at Marko. “And I think I’m going to enjoy him once Hades has him.” Brittany licked her ruby-red lips, letting her forked tongue slither over them, the movement reminding Kellsie of a snake. It was an apt comparison considering Brittany was a snake in the grass, the lowest of the low as far as Kellsie was concerned.

Even though Kellsie knew Brittany’s remarks were meant to unsettle her, she couldn’t stop the anger from burning through her veins. “Over my dead body.”

Brittany laughed, the sound light and airy. “That’s the plan.” She moved like lightning, thrusting her blade toward Kellsie. It was purely luck and good reflexes that kept Kellsie from being skewered by the other woman’s sword. No, not woman—demon. Kellsie had to remember that so she wouldn’t hesitate to strike.

But it was more than a little disconcerting to swing a blade at a woman she knew. Heck, she’d even liked the little bitch, had defended her to the others. The others. Crap. Were all the members of the carnival demons?

No time to worry about that now. Not with a very sharp blade coming toward her head. Kellsie threw herself out of the way, stumbled and hit the ground hard. Exhaustion pulled at her but she made herself roll out of the path of the weapon and struggled to her knees.

Brittany was relentless and she gave a horrible screech that hurt Kellsie’s ears. She wanted to drop her sword and cover them but managed to retain her grip on her weapon. She raised it just as the demon’s blade descended. Sparks flew as metal danced across metal.

Kellsie toppled onto her back, unable to combat the other woman’s strength. She blinked at the sweat that burned her eyes and glimpsed the vast night sky above her, still beautiful and enduring. What would happen to this world if Marko and his fellow warriors didn’t win in the fight against Hades? Would all this beauty be lost?

They had to win, but Kellsie knew she lacked Brittany’s strength. After all, the other woman was a demon and Kellsie was only human. She couldn’t win this fight using brute force. But there had to be a way.

Brittany stood over her, a satisfied gleam burning in her eyes. “I’m going to enjoy fucking your man. As for you, I think I’ll have you skinned and have a seat cover made out of you.” Laughing, she raised her sword and then slashed downward.

Kellsie waited until the last second then threw herself to the side. The blade whooshed by her, taking a piece of her top with it but missing her by a hairsbreadth. She was struggling to catch her breath and spitting out a mouthful of dirt when a gut-wrenching roar pierced the night, like that of a powerful animal in pain. It was quickly followed by a woman’s cry.

She looked up in time to see Brittany’s head leave her body. It dropped and rolled, coming to a stop when it hit her feet. Kellsie yanked her feet back and scrambled away until her back hit a tree.

She expected to see Marko, but it wasn’t him who’d saved her. It was a bear. A real one. The largest one she’d ever seen besides Marko. The creature stood on two paws, growling and roaring its displeasure.

It came down on its powerful front legs and stared at her for a brief moment. Kellsie froze in fear, unwilling to move lest she shift its anger toward her. The bear huffed once and then turned its back on her and charged into the fray. She heard another roar to her left and swiveled her head around to look. Another bear had joined the fight.

Marko’s mighty roar had called to his brothers of the forest and they’d come to his aid. There were two of them, large, male and fierce. Adrenaline kicked through her system like rocket fuel, giving her the boost she needed to climb to her feet when all she wanted to do was curl into a ball and stay where she was.

But Marko needed her. Even with the help of the two bears he was losing ground. There were simply too many demons and not enough of them to fight the evil creatures. There weren’t likely to be any more bears in the area that could reach them in time to help. Even an immortal warrior had his limits, and Marko’s had been tested relentlessly since he’d been freed.

Mordecai was sliding around to Marko’s left, unseen as Marko continued to battle the two major demons. The bears were fighting the lesser ones and, as strong as they were, the sheer number of demons was overwhelming them.

It was hopeless.

She shifted position and swiped her arm over her sweaty forehead, all while keeping one eye on Mordecai. The moonlight hit her watch, illuminating the dial. Midnight. Or almost. Thirty seconds to go. They were almost there. Almost home free.

Mordecai crept up behind Marko. He raised his sword.

Kellsie didn’t think, didn’t hesitate. She threw herself between the two men just as Mordecai’s sword shot out toward Marko’s back. The blade sliced through her chest, piercing her flesh as easily as a spoon through Jell-O.

Somewhere in the distance, she heard a bell tolling. She counted each ring. One. Two. Three. As quickly as it penetrated her, the sword was gone. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Blood spurted from her body, pouring onto the ground. Eight. Nine. Ten.

A roar of anguish surrounded her. Eleven. Strong arms enfolded her. Twelve.

The ringing stopped. The fighting stopped. Silence filled the space. Her gasps for air were the only sound. It was midnight. They’d made it.

“I’ve got you.”

Marko. She could hear his voice, the anguish and pain lacing it, but his face was blurry. She blinked but it didn’t get much better. She couldn’t feel his arms around her and she was so very cold.

His hand covered her chest as though he meant to keep her blood inside her body by sheer will alone. She appreciated the effort but knew it was too late. But it was okay. They’d won. Marko was safe.

She licked her dry lips several times as she forced the word past her lips. “Won.” It hurt to speak and she groaned, clutching her hand over his where it rested near her heart. She shivered. She was so cold now that she’d stopped fighting.

Footsteps crunched on the ground and Hades came to stand beside her. He stared down at her, studying her as though she were a mysterious bug. “You were supposed to save yourself.”

“Did.” She coughed, and this time blood bubbled up past her lips. She wanted to tell him that her soul was her own and Marko had lived. As far as she was concerned that was saving herself. The money, the career, the fame, they were nothing compared to her need to see Marko safe.

Mordecai stood behind Hades. His blade was by his side, dripping with her blood. He inclined his head to her and stepped into the void, the vortex swallowing him whole. She thought he looked sad, even regretful. Or maybe she was imagining things. Either way, it didn’t matter. She was dying and there was nothing to be done about it.

Hades followed Mordecai into the abyss, leaving her and Marko alone in the clearing except for the two enormous brown bears that had joined in their fight. The smell of scorched flesh mingled with the scent of blood, but even that was starting to fade as the cool night air disbursed it.

“Don’t leave me, Kellsie.” Marko lifted her into his arms. She tried not to cry out but the pain was too great. She felt herself starting to slip away and struggled to stay with him. She wanted to tell him she loved him, that her sacrifice was worth it. Saving him was everything.

Chanting. Someone was chanting. She heard it, even though she couldn’t understand the words, she felt it throughout her body. It started with one voice but grew to many. The bear claw attached to her necklace began to burn where it rested against her collarbone.

She looked up at Marko and was surprised to see tears trickling down his cheeks. Like rain, they fell from his face and dripped onto her chest. “You can’t leave me,” he ordered, clutching her tightly.

She didn’t want to go but that was out of her hands. Gathering all her energy, she gave one final push. “Love you.”

Marko threw back his head and roared. His hair flowed down his back, so soft and silky. She wanted to touch it one more time but didn’t have the strength to raise her hand. Her heartbeat was slowing. Soon it would stop.

He peered down at her, his brown eyes swimming with tears and pain. She wanted to take that from him. “Live,” she whispered as she felt the last of her strength fade. Darkness closed in around her.

“No!” Marko roared his fury to the gods and goddesses, to the heavens, to all who would listen. Kellsie had saved his life, taken the sword thrust meant for him. How could she have known it wouldn’t kill him? It would have wounded him, but he’d have survived. To her it was a fatal blow, struck by a man he’d once called friend.

She loved him. She’d sacrificed her life for him. Could he do any less?

He was free. Free from the curse. Free from Hades and his minions. According to the terms of the curse, the god had to let him live in peace for the rest of his eternal life. But he no longer wanted that life, not without Kellsie.

In comparison to his, her life had been so short, no more than a few brief decades. He’d lived for time beyond remembering before the curse. She deserved to live.

Time was running out. He could feel her heartbeat slowing. Her breathing was labored. Blood bubbled at her lips and seeped out through the wound in her chest.

Strength flowed through Marko, a power he thought he’d never experience again. There was still a chance he could save her. Conjuring the cloak, he spread it on the ground and laid her upon it. She didn’t flinch, didn’t cry out. Her eyes were closed and her skin was pale and cold as death. The spark of life within her was almost gone.

Marko laid his hands over the wound, closed his eyes and concentrated. Light surrounded him. He loved Kellsie. He would not let her go. The light blazed down his arms and into her chest. He poured himself into her—his strength, his healing power, his immortality. He’d give it all if it meant she would live.

Chanting drifted on the midnight breeze, caught easily by his preternatural senses. Wood smoke and incense drove back the stench of the demons. Those who’d died had already turned to dust that was swept away by the wind.

He didn’t recognize the words of the chant, not at first, but it didn’t matter. They fed his strength, his determination.

“You will live,” he told her. There was no other choice. He couldn’t live if she died.

Her heartbeat slowed and stopped.

“No,” he cried, anguish washing over him. He renewed his effort, pouring everything he had into her, including his love. “I love you, Kellsie Morris. Don’t leave me.”

He didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. If he drained himself of power, so be it. He’d rather die on the forest floor beside Kellsie than to leave her this way.

The bright, golden light was stronger now, enclosing both of them in a bubble. Beneath his palms he felt her skin begin to knit together. “That’s it,” he crooned. He swiped his face against his shoulder to dry his tears, never moving his hands from her chest. “You can do it.”

But her heart remained still. Hope began to dim.

“Please,” he begged. He who had never begged anyone for anything did so now. “Please live for me.”

Time stretched out and seconds became an eternity. Still, he did not stop, did not falter. He heard the two bears beside him roar with anger, sympathizing with him at the loss of his mate.

Marko refused to give up. Refused to lose hope. All his focus was on Kellsie and he never wavered as he poured his very life essence into her.

Then he felt it. The lightest flutter. Determination flowed through him. Renewed. One thump. Then another. Marko began to laugh even as he felt himself growing weaker. Kellsie was sucking his power into her at an enormous rate and he gave it freely, offering her all that he was.

She would live. Nothing else mattered.

Kellsie floated on a sea of tranquility away from all the pain and death. She frowned, not quite knowing where she was.

He needs you.

The female voice was familiar. She wanted to open her eyes, but it was too difficult. Who needed her? Everything was a blur in her mind. Nothing had form or substance.

Go back.

Back where? Honestly, you’d think the woman, whoever she was, would be a little more forthcoming with information. Kellsie would be annoyed if she could work up the energy for it.

She felt a tickle in her chest. She frowned, wondering why it was beginning to hurt. What had happened?

Memory struck her like a tsunami, smashing against the numbness enfolding her. Agony pulsed through her body and she jerked upward as though she’d been hit by a bolt of lightning. Her life flashed before her eyes like a movie on fast forward, yet she was able to see and understand it all.

Marko. Hades. The curse. The demons. The fight. The sword piercing her chest. She was dead. She’d died.

Then why was she still feeling pain? That sucked royally.

Her entire body jerked and her eyes flew open. She wasn’t dead. At least she didn’t think she was. Her chest ached like a sonofabitch. She blinked against the brightness surrounding her. It was like being in the intense beam of the lights on a movie set.

She threw her arm over her eyes. “Cut the spotlight,” she muttered.

The light dimmed and she lowered her arm. Marko was above her, his face gray and ashen. His hands were resting on her chest and she could feel the pulse of his power filling her.

Knowledge suddenly filled her. He was killing himself to save her.

She shoved his hands away and he fell back and hit the ground with a solid thud. The two bears he’d called earlier snuffled him in concern. Kellsie sat, ignoring the wooziness in her head and the weakness of her body. She shoved one of the bears aside, deciding if they meant her harm they’d have already killed her.

Marko’s eyes were closed and she couldn’t tell if he was breathing. “Don’t you dare die on me, you idiot.” She put her ear against his chest, trying to hear a heartbeat. “I didn’t save your ass only to have you throw it away.” She fisted her hand and brought it down on his chest.

Tears were flowing down her face. He couldn’t die. Not after all they’d gone through.

She went to thump his chest again but he caught her hand and held it. “Enough.”

“You’re alive.” She threw herself on top of him, hugging him as hard as she could. Then she reared back and thumped his chest again. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Marko began to laugh. It was then she realized what she’d said. “You scared hell completely away,” he told her. He sat up slowly and they clung to one another like two exhausted, drunken fools.

“I didn’t know if I could save you.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek and lips.

“I didn’t know if I’d be in time to save you either.” For the rest of her life she’d see Mordecai’s sword going for Marko’s back.

Marko frowned. “That wound wouldn’t have killed me. It would have been too low for my heart and I would have healed.”

“What? You mean all I did was for nothing?”

He framed her face with his hands. “No, not nothing. You love me. You truly love me.”

She shrugged and could feel her face heating. Now that she wasn’t in danger or dying it was hard to admit aloud. “Yeah, I do.”

“Say it again.” He gently touched his lips to hers. She savored the warmth and enjoyed the tingle that surged through her entire body.

“I love you.” It was then she remembered the blood bubbling from her mouth. She pulled away from him and licked her lips. The blood was gone. She glanced down at her clothing and frowned. All the blood was gone.

“How is this possible?”

Marko smiled and she was momentarily stunned by the sheer masculine power of the man. He was rough and gorgeous and had charisma to burn. “I have all my powers back.” He paused, looking slightly concerned.

Her stomach dropped. “What aren’t you telling me?” Honestly, she couldn’t take much more. She needed at least four or five decades of peace and quiet after the past twenty-four hours.

Marko met her gaze, his deep brown eyes warm and concerned. “When I saved your life I shared my immortality with you.”

She knew her jaw was hanging open, but that had been the last thing she’d expected to hear. “How is that even possible?”

His massive shoulders moved up and down as he shrugged. “I have no idea. Didn’t know it could even be done. I just knew I had to save you no matter what.”

“What does that mean, exactly? Do I have any cool super powers?” She tried to wrap her tired brain around the whole idea of immortality. It would be like being a superhero or something.

“I don’t know. It’s never happened before. Not that I know of.”

So he was stuck with her for eternity. Sucked for him. She’d told him she loved him but he hadn’t said anything back. Kellsie pushed away and stood slowly on shaky legs. He didn’t need to be stuck with her. She could deal with things on her own. Not like she wasn’t used to working that way. Still, it hurt to imagine her life without him.

“That’s okay. I can figure it out as I go.” She ignored the twinge in the region of her heart. Just a holdover from the wound, she assured herself. She brushed off her pants and stared into the darkness, shocked that she could see everything around her. She had seriously superior night vision all of a sudden. She blinked, but everything around her remained the same.

Marko grabbed her hand. “Where are you going?”

“Back to Betsy. My car. That’s if it’s even still there. I’ve got to get back home, and I’m sure you’ve got things you need to do.” She was surprised to see her tote bag lying beside a rock, undisturbed by all the fighting. She started to go toward it, but Marko tugged her back.

He was frowning fiercely as he stared down at her. “You do not love me?”

How could he be such a bone-headed idiot? For an immortal warrior he was seriously lacking in people skills. “No. You don’t love me.” There, she’d said it out loud.

“Not love you?” He roared, so long and loud she’d be surprised if animals ten miles away didn’t hear him. She slapped her hands over her ears at the first roar, but he pulled them away. He wasn’t done yet. “I would have died for you. Would have drained every drop of my power into your body. How could you think I don’t love you?”

Anguished filled his beloved face. She was sorry she’d hurt him. Hadn’t meant to. Kellsie guessed she had a lot to learn when it came to relationships too. “You haven’t said.”

He yanked her against his chest and she nestled her cheek against his heart.

“I did say it, but you didn’t hear me.”

She understood then. He’d said it when she was dying or dead or whatever that numb floating state had been. She’d heard a woman’s voice then, hadn’t she?

Kellsie frowned, trying to remember it exactly. But it was like waking from a dream and the memory was hard to grasp.

“Do you hear it?” Marko turned with her in his arms until they were facing the valley below. With her newly ramped up hearing she could easily pick out the voices on the wind.

“Who is it?”

“I have no idea, but they gave me the boost of power I needed to save you.” He motioned to the bears and they lumbered on ahead. “Let’s go find out.” They started down the hillside, leaving the circle of death and destruction behind them without a backward glance.

The Lady of the Beasts wanted to smile but knew it was premature. Marko had made it along with the woman, his mate. He was free, his power returned to him. And with that came the return of hers. With each warrior released, the power she’d used to bind him in the curse was returned to her.

Hades was not going to be pleased. This was the second warrior he’d almost had and both had slipped from his grasp. He was going to be out for blood. Hers.

Although he couldn’t stop her, he could put obstacles in her path. If she wasn’t careful she could wander in the bowels of Hell for eternity.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. Two of her warriors were free.

Her lips tightened as she thought of those lost. She said a prayer for them as she continued on her way. Their sacrifice had given her strength, whether they knew it or not.

She cocked her head to one side as she caught the melodic sound of chanting. Heartened, she started moving toward it, ignoring the searing pain in the soles of her feet as the fiery pathway licked at her limbs.

Hope filled her as the voices grew louder. There was a glimmer of light in the distance. It was faint, but in the pitch black of Hell, it was a beacon in the darkness.

She pushed toward it, ignoring the pain that was her constant companion. The heat grew even more oppressive and reached out to her like phantom hands pulling her backwards. Exhaustion pressed upon her but she kept going, knowing that to stop meant death.

As she reached for the light, she heard a roar behind her.

Hades was coming.