He lowered his gaze to his arms. “I was there for the crystal. My plan was to steal it.”
Aria raised a brow. “Right. Hang out a few feet from the man you want to rob blind. That was a pretty ballsy plan.”
The green-ringed eyes flashed to her, and away again. “Well, I wasn’t intending on being there when Udo entertained a client.” His arms tightened. “As usual, my plan went somewhat awry.”
Aria was surprised by the disappointment that pulsed through her. He was a thief? She supposed that the morphing ability must open all kinds of doors for him.
His gaze skittered away from her. “We’re a real pair. A mercenary who lets herself be collared and a thief who ends up stolen.”
Her temper flared. “I hardly need to have that pointed out.” She gritted her teeth. “How did you end up here with me?”
He shrugged. “Demeti figured out what I was, after I came through the gate.”
It confused her. As a Morph, he could have blended in until he was able to escape. “But why did you follow us through?”
He rubbed his face. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
The door creaked, and there was an odd flash of light from the other side. Aria’s heart accelerated as she retreated across the room, just as it burst open, and Demeti entered.
He raised a glowing hand. The blast connected with her collar and threw her against the wall. The crimson eyes spat hate at her as he brought the other hand up, and pummeled her with a double dose. The pain was excruciating, and her mouth opened in a silent scream.
Something flashed across the room to intercept the beam—Lucas, flinging his naked body directly into it. It hit him hard, smashing him against the stone beside Aria.
Gasping in pain, Aria crouched beside him. But Lucas already had his feet back under him. His eyes had gone pure green as he glared at Demeti. They were so brilliant they glowed.
The Torshin didn’t look fazed in the least. Instead, he grinned at both of them. “You two are going to be such fun. Exactly what I needed to relieve my daily stress.”
Aria snarled at him. “Why are you doing this?”
The hate sparked again in his crimson eyes. “Because you are a Dragon, my dear. I owe you for everything I have lost personally, and for what my people have lost over the last thousand years.” His gaze shifted to Lucas. “And because I lack stimulation.” His long black tongue licked his thin lips. “Such a pretty young Morph. I think the two of us should become better acquainted.”
Lucas’s face paled, and a haunted look consumed his eyes. “Stay away from me,” he hissed.
Demeti laughed. It wasn’t a cheerful sound. “Oh, I hope you fight, and fight hard. It’s always so much better when they do.”
Lucas inhaled, and suddenly, she sensed the fear radiating from him, even in his scent. Rage blossomed within her, and she snarled at Demeti. Her fingertips sprouted wicked, curved talons.
Demeti’s smile widened. “Oh yes, my dear. Come at me.”
“Aria, don’t.” Lucas’s voice broke on the second word. But he rose, staring at Demeti. “Leave her alone, and I’ll come with you.”
Shock permeated Aria. “No Lucas. What are you doing?”
Lucas’s mouth twisted. “You can’t fight him, Aria. Neither can I.”
Demeti seemed determined to make Lucas’s point. He sent a blast to Aria’s collar, driving her against the wall. She struggled against it, but the surges turned her thoughts to ash, pummeling her until her legs gave way.
Rage flared from Lucas, who caught her and shielded her with his body, his teeth grinding together as Demeti’s energy crashed through him.
“No! Stop!” Aria cried. No one fought her battles for her. Lucas had been the first to try since Mervok and Danao. He clung on to her, his nose buried in her hair and body shuddering with the power of it, until she got her hands between them and pushed him away. Then she gritted her teeth and held on through the onslaught as Lucas lay nearby, shaking and panting in pain.
Demeti’s grin widened as she resisted. He kept the power coming but gestured with one hand. Two huge Dires leaped through the door, grabbed Lucas, and dragged him away from Aria. He struggled, lashing out with a finger that had grown a long, wicked claw—it sank deep into the shoulder of a Dire.
It snarled and backhanded him viciously. Aria leaped at the Dire, but Demeti’s next blast caught her and held her, writhing, against the wall.
Something was wrong with the Dire Lucas had stabbed. It staggered as it dragged Lucas away, and then it fell across the doorway.
Demeti released his hold on Aria. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the filthy straw, powerless to protest as the Torshin turned toward Lucas.
