Night of the Tiger(72)

“You keep telling yourself that.” Pity filled Sandra’s eyes. “You’re willing to die for him, and he won’t even believe you. These warriors care nothing for the women who free them. Why should you sacrifice yourself and your future for him? Walk away, and your part in this drama is done. In the morning, this will be nothing more than a dream that will fade with time.”

Aimee blinked, not quite certain she’d heard the demon correctly.

Sandra nodded. “Hades doesn’t want you.” She tugged at the hem of her dress, pulling it down to cover her upper thighs and, at the same time, exposing more of her breasts. “Your soul is nothing to him. He wants the warrior.”

“You should go.” Roric turned to her, his eyes empty, his expression unreadable. “This is not your fight. Go back to your life, back to your comic books.”

The temptation was overwhelming. She hadn’t asked for this. This entire drama had been forced upon her, an unwilling pawn.

For a brief second, Aimee was tempted to turn her back and walk away. After all, this wasn’t her fight. She hadn’t asked to be a part of this war between gods and goddesses she hadn’t even believed were real until two days ago. She should go back to her life.

Roric didn’t care about her at all. Hadn’t he made it more than abundantly clear this morning that he’d do whatever he had to do to free the Lady? He’d sacrifice her in a second. After all, Mordecai had already done just that. And the other two hadn’t been able to protect the women who’d released them.

The carousel sat in front of her, a grim reminder of her fate. As soon as the three remaining warriors were freed, they’d probably get the women who’d released them killed. It was what they did.

Her home and her art studio beckoned to her. She had a new project to begin and a graphic novel of her own she wanted to finish. Work had always been her solace. She was alone, as always.

She didn’t belong here.

Aimee turned on her heel and took a step toward the opening in the tent. Something niggled in the back of her brain. Go back to your comic books. His words struck a chord deep inside her. She had nothing in her life but her work. No friends, no family. She was alone as he was alone.

“Bye, Aimee.” Sandra’s sultry voice was filled with glee.

The pictures Aimee had drawn over the past few months flashed in her brain. The tiger and the warrior were one. And she loved them both.

Images from the past day flickered through her mind like a movie on fast forward. She saw the two of them loving, laughing and fighting side by side.

As if she was coming out of a dream, Aimee shook herself. She felt the compulsion slip away. The demon had played on her doubts, filling her mind with thoughts that weren’t her own. Well, they were hers, but magnified a thousand times.

Her place was here. She would not desert Roric in his hour of need. The man had enough abandonment issues as it was.

She slowly turned on her heel and smiled at the demon. “You never did know when to shut up, Sandra.” She faced Roric, looking into his eyes for some sign of what he was feeling. But there was nothing. She was making this decision on faith alone. Taking a deep breath, she embraced her destiny and sealed her fate. “I’m not going anywhere.”





Chapter Sixteen

An unholy shriek filled the air as the demon displayed her displeasure. Roric kept one eye on the succubus and surreptitiously watched Aimee as well. He wished she’d gone when she’d had the chance. He wanted her safe, but selfish bastard that he was, he also wanted her with him.

He’d hardened his heart when she’d turned her back on him to walk away, although he couldn’t blame her for doing so. Not that he believed everything the demon had said, but there was enough truth mixed with the lies that he wasn’t certain what was fact and what was deceit.

Roric had dealt with the treacherous demons long enough to know that Aimee was being influenced by this one. He’d seen it done a thousand times. The demon magnified a person’s own beliefs and fears, making it easier to manipulate them.

The fact was he had unwittingly brought her into this battle, risking her life and soul. He’d slaked his lust with her body, drank in her caring and concern like a man dying of thirst sucked in water. Her home had been damaged and violated, and she’d been attacked and almost killed by demons in her own yard. Through it all, she’d stood beside him. Yet he’d dismissed her concerns and hadn’t believed her when she’d told him Mordecai had approached her.

Why wouldn’t she leave him? She should leave him.

But she hadn’t. She’d started to but stopped. He’d seen her shake herself, as if fighting off the compulsion. Then she’d turned to him and smiled.