The Darkest Captive (Lords of the Underworld, #14.5)

by Gena Showalter

Her only comfort came from her jewels. Stroke the precious.

In the kitchen, she hunted for a bag of sugar and a container of salt. Only half-filled. Oh, look. She’d thought half-filled rather than half-empty. That was new. Anyway. Half wouldn’t form a complete circle around Galen, so, she gathered up the garlic salt, celery salt, and soy sauce as well. “You planning to cook him for dinner after you murder him?” Fox asked. “Dibs on his liver,” she muttered, then marched down the hall a second time.

Her replies ran the gamut, everything from “leave me alone” to “never stop wanting me” to “I’d never known true satisfaction until our interlude in the bar. In hell, I was a piece of property, passed from one abuser to another. I meant nothing. I WAS nothing. To you, I think I mattered.” The words blurred at that point. Because he’d gotten dust in his eyes.

Once, he’d been friends with the Lords. Then he’d ensured they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Or rather, Pandora’s box.

By morning, Galen had healed. He should have rejoiced. Instead, he pouted—in a super manly way.

He’d never offered “everything” to anyone. Spirit, heart, and body. Past, present, future. All that he was, all that he would be. All that he owned.

Galen might have been created for war, but he lived for Leila.

“All right, I will. While most humans like to picture their audience naked to keep from getting nervous, I’d rather pluck out my eyes than imagine this particular audience unclothed. So, we’ll switch things up. You can picture me naked.”

“Did anyone else find Galen hot just now?” she heard Sabin say. “Oh, uh. Yeah. Me neither.”

Before his legs gave out, he made a big show of sitting on the ground. “Let’s take a moment so you wimps can rest.”

“Have her back by ten,” Aeron grumbled, “or I’ll ground you both.” “Do you mean you’ll grind Galen’s face into powder?” Keeley asked. “Or that you’ll cut off his wings, grounding him like a plane?” Aeron nodded. “Yes. To both.”