Free Her Warriors' Three Wishes (Dante's Circle) by Carrie Ann Ryan Page B

but lessened his grip a bit.
    “I’m Pyro’s son.” He winced when Jamie blanched, but he continued on. “I’m not going to hurt you; I promise. I hate my father far more than any of you could hope to know, and I don’t want you to fear me.”
    “Why are you here for me?” Jamie asked.
    “Because you’re my true half.”
    There. It was out, and he couldn’t take it back, but it seemed like the best thing he could say at this point.
    “No, you can’t be. Ambrose is,” she whispered.
    Fuck, that hurt, but he let it go. If what he thought was true, then he and Ambrose would have to find a way to work together. Though he could live without this Hunter prisoner hurting him.
    “It’s true, Jamie. I promise. Can’t you feel that connection?” He prayed she could. He knew humans couldn’t, but for some reason, he didn’t think she was fully human. No, there was something else about her.
    “I don’t know. Hunter, let him go.”
    Hunter grunted but relented.
    Balin rubbed his neck and gave the man—no werewolf—another look. “You’re Hunter, the games’ lead fighter.”
    Hunter nodded. “And that means you know I can kill you quickly if you hurt Jamie. I’ve heard of you Balin, and I know you don’t take souls like other demons do. Meaning you’re weak.”
    “You don’t take souls? I thought I’d read that all demons need that to live.”
    So she knew about the supernatural and had read about them before coming here? He’d have to make sure he found out all he could about her. Everything.
    “We do need it to live. There’s another way to get around that, but once we hit three hundred, it’s over for us.”
    “How old are you?” she asked.
    He gave a self-deprecating smile. “Two hundred and ninety-nine.”
    “Oh, Balin,” she whispered.
    Hades, he loved the sound of his name on her lips. This wasn’t the time for that. Well, at some point, he’d have to explain to her exactly how they’d get out of hell—sex and all—but right now, he needed to make sure she was safe for the moment.
    “I’ll explain everything.”
    “The place is on lockdown at night, Balin,” Hunter explained, and Balin nodded. “We won’t be able to get out until they open it back up.”
    “I know, but I can get you out when they open. I’m a demon, and they won’t look twice at me bringing Jamie out.” They’d just think he was taking her for some personal play, but he wasn’t about to tell Jamie that.
    “Me and Hunter,” she corrected.
    Balin cast a look toward the prized fighter who was rumored to be a good man, hence why he’d become a prisoner in hell.
    “Fine, Hunter as well.”
    “Before we do any of this, you’re going to explain to me exactly who you are and why I feel the need to wrap myself around you and never let you go,” Jamie said, her chin raised high.
    Balin smiled and bit back a groan at the thought of her doing just that. “We’re true halves, Jamie.”
    “And, what about Ambrose?” Her voice cracked when she said his name, and Balin wanted to curse himself.
    “Why can’t you have us both?” he asked, and Hunter rolled his eyes.
    “Both?” she squeaked.
    “Jamie,” Hunter began, “you need to rest tonight. There’s nothing we can do at this moment. I was going to find a way to get you out of here as it was, but now with Balin here, we should be able to find a plan.”
    Jamie rubbed her eyes. “I really, really , want to scream and cry right now like those heroines in those books who don’t do a thing for themselves, but I don’t have time for that. I’m going to trust you, Balin, because for some reason my heart tells me to, but that doesn’t mean I get this whole true-half business.”
    Balin nodded, relived that she was even thinking about it, and he caught himself before he pulled her into his body so he could hold her and never let go. But, he let himself weaken just a bit and ran a finger down her cheek.
    He’d been right. Her skin was as soft as silk.
    He