Page 29

As soon as the hounds left, Michael took me inside and handed the gun back to the Host minion. He kept walking, past a smirking Silas and down to where Jake was still sprawled against a wall. Finally, he left me, and Jake sat up with a gasp.

Jake stood up and faced me with Michael staring out of his eyes.

I didn't back away this time. Instead, I demanded, “What spell?”

Michael laughed. “You're so easy to fool, Indigo. Truly, that's all it took? You didn't suspect that something wasn't right when the men who adored you suddenly ignored you for some bimbo?”

“I thought she was their mate. I thought that magic was controlling them!”

“Oh, it was. Just not mating magic,” Silas drawled as he joined us. “Well done, Michael. Now, they'll be busy plotting to attack us. They'll lower their defenses and never suspect that we can use Indigo to get through their ward.”

“What?” I whispered.

“Oh, welcome back, Indigo,” Silas said. “Yes, you're the key. You'll hold the ward open for us while we drive through. Then we'll destroy the Helena Cerberus.”

“No, you won't,” I said. “They don't have any weaknesses. I looked, you know. I found nothing.”

“Oh, but they do, Indigo Darling,” Michael said. “You. You're their weakness. And we're going to exploit you.” He pulled me in against Jake's chest and covered my lips with Jake's. His tongue slid against my lips, but I kept them shut and my teeth clenched together. Michael finally pulled back and laughed. “You'll break again. Just as soon as we kill the hounds. And then I'll celebrate with a good old-fashioned rape.”

“Enough,” Silas said with a look at his minions. “Appearances, Michael.”

Michael rolled Jake's eyes. “As if I care about what they think of you. This was my army until you barged in.”

“We have a common enemy. I'll help you destroy Hades, and then you'll have nothing to fear.”

That's when I realized that Silas and Michael had dropped the act with me. They had both called the hounds the Helena Cerberus and now they were talking about Hades. It was nice to have confirmation that the hounds had told me the truth, but it was also unnecessary at that point. It was obvious that they were guardians, not villains. I felt like a fool for ever thinking otherwise.

“I didn't want to fight!” Michael hissed. “I could have been safely hiding in a wealthy host if you hadn't made such a huge deal of this.”

“Don't fool yourself. They never would have stopped hunting you. They're the fucking Hounds of Hades. They don't let their prey escape.”

Jake's face twitched. “Not anymore, they don't.” He spun around and stalked away.

“Michael!” Silas called.

“What?!”

“Indigo is your responsibility. Do look after her.” Silas walked away. “Come with me, everyone. We have a battle to plan.”

“Son of a bitch,” Michael snarled as he backtracked. He snatched my hand and dragged me to the stairs.