pained expression. "I really hate it when you
ask that question . . . I care because you're a
person I'm stuck with until we get the bracelets
off and I'd like to know something about you. Who
knows? There might even be someone in there buried
under all that hostility that I can actually
like."
92
His blood boiled to think about what she really
wanted. "You won't get my weaknesses that easily,
babe. I don't have any."
She gaped at him. "You equate childhood
memories with weakness? Dear God, what did they do
to you?"
He laughed bitterly at the memories of his
past. Memories he tried so hard not to think
about. But one of them was clearer than all the
others. It was the only time in his life he'd
allowed himself to be weak and it was an
experience he would never again repeat.
"I was chained to a fence where they beat me
down and then cut my heart out while I fought
them. Even one-handed, I made my impact on those
who killed me. Suffice it to say, I will never be
that helpless again."
Simone wanted to weep at the horror he
described. At the pain she saw in those clear,
bright eyes. "You didn't deserve that."
"No kidding," he said between clenched teeth.
"But deserving has nothing to do with anything.
Life and death are what they are. They have mercy
for no one."
Simone looked over at Jesse who wore the same
aching expression she was sure was on her face.
Xypher's words hit her hard as she remembered her
mother and brother. They didn't deserve what had
happened to them, either.
Not wanting to think about it, she didn't try
to speak to him as he finished eating. It was just
too hard to try and reach someone who obviously
didn't want to be reached.
Once he was done, she tipped the waitress and
headed back toward her condo.
They'd barely left the restaurant when Tate
called.
"How'd it go with Julian?" he asked.
93
She glanced down at the bracelet on her arm.
"Not really the way I wanted it to. We're still
united."
"Man, I'm sorry."
"It could be worse, I suppose. He could be your
serial killer."
The look Xypher gave her told her he could hear
her conversation. "Oh, damn, I have to take
this call, boo. You guys be careful and I'll check
in again later." Tate hung up before she could
tell him good-bye.
Closing the phone, she saw Xypher rubbing his
arm out of the corner of her eye. Even though he
didn't say anything, both of his arms were covered
with goose bumps. "You cold?"
He didn't respond.
"He's cold," Jesse said. "It's all over his
aura, which I can see, even if you can't."
Xypher sent him a glare that should have set
fire to him. Simone paused as she considered where
they could get clothes for him in the Quarter.
Most of the places catered to women . . .
Or to goths.
A slow smile curved her lips. Yeah, with his
caustic personality and height, goth would look
really good on him.
Without a word, she cut down Dumaine to head to
Decatur Street. "What are you doing?" Xypher
asked defensively.
"Getting you some clothes."
He pulled her to a stop on the sidewalk. "I
don't need anything." "Yes you do." His
handsome face turned to stone.
"I'm not taking your charity. I don't need
anything from anyone." She raked him with a
cold stare. "And I'm not getting stuck for a month
with a man who only has one shirt and one pair of
94
pants when I'll be forced to smell you the entire
time."
That took some of the fire out of his eyes.
Jesse scowled. "Hey, he's a god. Can't he just
make clothes for himself?"
Xypher gave Jesse a quelling glare. "Hades is a
bastard as I said earlier. My powers aren't
intact. I can use them for defense. But not for
food or clothing . . . or shelter." The last bit
came out so low that she wasn't even sure she'd
heard it.
The ashamed expression on his face told her
that she hadn't been mistaken.
Why would Hades do that to him?
"C'mon," she said, tugging his hand gently.
"You need clothing, especially a coat or
ask that question . . . I care because you're a
person I'm stuck with until we get the bracelets
off and I'd like to know something about you. Who
knows? There might even be someone in there buried
under all that hostility that I can actually
like."
92
His blood boiled to think about what she really
wanted. "You won't get my weaknesses that easily,
babe. I don't have any."
She gaped at him. "You equate childhood
memories with weakness? Dear God, what did they do
to you?"
He laughed bitterly at the memories of his
past. Memories he tried so hard not to think
about. But one of them was clearer than all the
others. It was the only time in his life he'd
allowed himself to be weak and it was an
experience he would never again repeat.
"I was chained to a fence where they beat me
down and then cut my heart out while I fought
them. Even one-handed, I made my impact on those
who killed me. Suffice it to say, I will never be
that helpless again."
Simone wanted to weep at the horror he
described. At the pain she saw in those clear,
bright eyes. "You didn't deserve that."
"No kidding," he said between clenched teeth.
"But deserving has nothing to do with anything.
Life and death are what they are. They have mercy
for no one."
Simone looked over at Jesse who wore the same
aching expression she was sure was on her face.
Xypher's words hit her hard as she remembered her
mother and brother. They didn't deserve what had
happened to them, either.
Not wanting to think about it, she didn't try
to speak to him as he finished eating. It was just
too hard to try and reach someone who obviously
didn't want to be reached.
Once he was done, she tipped the waitress and
headed back toward her condo.
They'd barely left the restaurant when Tate
called.
"How'd it go with Julian?" he asked.
93
She glanced down at the bracelet on her arm.
"Not really the way I wanted it to. We're still
united."
"Man, I'm sorry."
"It could be worse, I suppose. He could be your
serial killer."
The look Xypher gave her told her he could hear
her conversation. "Oh, damn, I have to take
this call, boo. You guys be careful and I'll check
in again later." Tate hung up before she could
tell him good-bye.
Closing the phone, she saw Xypher rubbing his
arm out of the corner of her eye. Even though he
didn't say anything, both of his arms were covered
with goose bumps. "You cold?"
He didn't respond.
"He's cold," Jesse said. "It's all over his
aura, which I can see, even if you can't."
Xypher sent him a glare that should have set
fire to him. Simone paused as she considered where
they could get clothes for him in the Quarter.
Most of the places catered to women . . .
Or to goths.
A slow smile curved her lips. Yeah, with his
caustic personality and height, goth would look
really good on him.
Without a word, she cut down Dumaine to head to
Decatur Street. "What are you doing?" Xypher
asked defensively.
"Getting you some clothes."
He pulled her to a stop on the sidewalk. "I
don't need anything." "Yes you do." His
handsome face turned to stone.
"I'm not taking your charity. I don't need
anything from anyone." She raked him with a
cold stare. "And I'm not getting stuck for a month
with a man who only has one shirt and one pair of
94
pants when I'll be forced to smell you the entire
time."
That took some of the fire out of his eyes.
Jesse scowled. "Hey, he's a god. Can't he just
make clothes for himself?"
Xypher gave Jesse a quelling glare. "Hades is a
bastard as I said earlier. My powers aren't
intact. I can use them for defense. But not for
food or clothing . . . or shelter." The last bit
came out so low that she wasn't even sure she'd
heard it.
The ashamed expression on his face told her
that she hadn't been mistaken.
Why would Hades do that to him?
"C'mon," she said, tugging his hand gently.
"You need clothing, especially a coat or
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