And Baden, well, he was beginning to not hate the male. There was a method to his madness, whether Baden understood right away or not.

He reached the keeper of Defeat’s door and knocked hard enough to crack the wood.

Note to self: Buy a new door.

“Coming, coming.” A patter of footsteps rang out and the door swung open, revealing Strider’s mate, Kaia. She greeted him with a dagger in hand, her mass of red hair anchored in pigtails, her eyes bright with fury.

She’s armed...a true threat. Kill her!

Baden did his best to ignore the beast, staring over Kaia’s shoulder. He scanned the room, checking for hidden threats out of habit. Well. Her decorating style could probably be classified as a hoarder died here. “Did you reach your sister?”

For his next assignment, he was supposed to steal a pair of panties from Taliyah the Cold Hearted. Without touching or harming her. Taliyah was a Harpy, Kaia’s older sister, and a snake-shifter hybrid. She was almost as bloodthirsty as Destruction.

Why Hades wanted him to do this, he couldn’t yet fathom, but he was done questioning the man’s orders.

“Yep. She’ll meet you at Downfall in an hour.”

“Thank you.”

“Save your thanks and do me a favor.” She gave the hilt of her dagger a kiss. “Next time you’re with Hades, demand to know each of William’s hideouts.”

The urge to protect suddenly overwhelmed him. Protect William? Or Hades?

Both. Destruction snarled inside his head. They are mine, and I will annihilate anyone who even thinks to harm them.

That was far more than just a Get Out of Torture Free card. That was determination, caring and concern.

But the beast wasn’t done. He fought Baden’s domination—and he fought hard, finally managing to take over his body and mind.

His mouth watered. Her blood, I’ll taste it. His hands itched. Her bones, I’ll break them.

As a predator, Kaia sensed his intentions and reacted accordingly, crouching, readying for attack.

Rational thought intruded: No, no. Not her.

But Destruction had already pulled back his fist to strike. At the last second, Baden regained a semblance of control, raining the fury upon the wall with punches and kicks.

The beast roared as more and more of Baden’s friends sprinted from their rooms, grabbing hold of him to try to stop him.

They dare try to restrain me?

Again, the beast was able to overtake him, flinging one warrior after another across the hall. The males crashed with so much force they left body-shaped cracks behind. Dust and bits of plaster thickened the air.

He laughed.

“How do we corral him?” someone shouted.

“Keeley.” Torin’s voice poured over the intercom. “You’re needed in Strider’s room. ASAP.”

“No time. We need Katarina,” a female called. “She calms him, I think.”

A handful of warriors rushed him at once, tackling him to the floor, but again, flinging them away wasn’t difficult. Power expanded his limbs, reinforced his bones. He was able to work his way to his feet.

I might fall, but I’ll never stay down.

A grinning blond stepped into his path. The male named Strider. Killing him would be a pleasure.

Baden screamed at Destruction. He’s my friend. They all are!

“Hey! Over here.” One of the women said, “I’m going to rip you a new asshole—in your face.”

Not my friends, Destruction told Baden as he grabbed the woman by the neck and lifted her off her feet. Anya. Destruction had made of point of learning the identities of the residents. Know your enemy...

“No!” Lucien shouted, tackling him from behind.

The goddess of Anarchy twined her legs around Destruction’s neck and, as he stumbled, squeezed with surprising strength.

From the corner of his eye, he spotted Katarina and the one named Ashlyn rounding the far corner. Both females stopped to gape at him. He paused, he wasn’t sure why, giving Baden the opportunity to regain a bit of control. Not enough to claim ownership of the body, but enough to slow him down as their wills clashed. He bellowed to the rafters.

“Run, Ash, and take the girl with you,” Maddox demanded. “She’s only making him worse.”

Katarina...leave?

Baden and Destruction worked together to pull Anya off their shoulders and drop her. They sidestepped Lucien and stalked to the woman who’d haunted them. The woman who belonged to them. If only for a little while.

“Go!” multiple voices screamed at once. The warriors were giving chase, trying to beat him to the object of his fascination.