But …
“I can’t, Thorny.”
The disappointment in his eyes shredded her heart. “No, listen,” she said quickly. “This is not because of you. The Simi doesn’t want akri to destroy you.” Tears filled her eyes as panic consumed her. “Don’t you see, Thorny? He kilted Nick. Granted he didn’t mean to, but he did. I can’t let akri do that to you. The heifer might not bring you back. Then what would I do? How could the Simi live without her Thorny?”
His grip tightened as he brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. “Okay. I get it. But if I can convince Acheron?—”
“No, no, no. No! You can’t talk to him about this. Akri a little nuts, and the Simi doesn’t want you hurt.”
“I don’t want me hurt, either. But I don’t want to be here without you, Simi. I’d rather be dead.”
Tears stung her eyes. “The Simi couldn’t live if you were kilted because of me.”
Rising to his feet, he flashed her an adorable grin. “Trust me, Sim. I’m charming. I’ll win him over.”
While she agreed he was charming, she doubted if it would ever work on akri. “What if you don’t?”
“I have to. My heart depends on it, and I swore that I would never make you unhappy. That starts with dealing with Acheron.”
Before she could say another word, he vanished.
Simi gasped as she realized what he was going to do which was the stupidest thing he could.
“Akri’s going to kill him.” And she wasn’t sure if she could stop it.
40
Acheron froze at the last thing he expected.
Thorn, in full demon form and armor, appeared in the middle of Kat’s condo.
What was he thinking after what he’d done?
Acheron immediately threw up a shield to keep his family safe. “Come to surrender?”
Thorn shook his head. “Where’s Styxx, Kat or Tory?”
“My family doesn’t concern you.”
Clearing his throat, Thorn ignored him. “Styxx? Kat? Tory? Hell, even one of the grandkids,” he called out. “Could one of you come out here for a minute?”
Ash’s eyes turned vibrant red. “They need to stay put.”
“I’m not going to hurt them.”
“You damn right about that.” Horns shot out of his head.
Thorn took a deep breath to settle his nerves as Ash’s family came out from a door behind the Atlantean god.
“Something wrong?” Kat asked.
Before Thorn could answer, Simi appeared by his side. The moment she saw Acheron turning blue, she gasped. “It okies, akri! Your Simi is fine. See?” She turned around to show him that Thorn hadn’t hurt her.
“Then get behind me.”
Instead of doing as Acheron ordered, she stepped in front of Thorn. “I will if you promise me that you won’t hurt him.”
Thorn had never seen eyes boil before, but he would bet his rotten soul that Acheron’s boiled as his lips curled.
