Demon Warriors 4: Takeo by Lynn Hagen Page A

than likely Constantine has taken him where he held you.” At least he prayed that was true. If he was wrong, Takeo would be lost to him forever.
    “I can’t remember,” Takeo said numbly. “I can’t.” Panahasi would rather see Takeo crying, railing against the world, threatening everyone on the street instead of this zombie trance he was in.
    “It is the only way, Takeo. If we don’t unlock your memories, we may never find Kamiko.”
    Takeo gave one short nod as he began to walk toward Panahasi. It was hard to see his warrior, who fought beside him for many centuries, turn into a shell. Takeo was brave, strong, and had come a long way since his days in Baku.
    Panahasi walked beside Takeo as they headed down into the underworld.
    If this didn’t work, Panahasi had a feeling that Takeo wouldn’t survive.

    * * * *

    Takeo felt like he was walking through a dream. Nothing around him seemed real. Kamiko was gone. And the last things said between them were heated words. Kamiko’s despondent eyes haunted Takeo as he followed his leader down into the underworld.
    He really didn’t care anymore.
    His feet felt heavy, as if walking through quicksand. The more he thought about it, the more he really did like Kamiko’s new haircut. It made him look pixie-like. He wanted to tell his mate that. He wanted to tell him that cutting his hair was okay.
    He wanted…
    “Have him sit over there,” the keeper said as he walked over to his desk. There were books strewn about. Some books were open, some closed, but they all were in a stack that looked ready to fall over at any moment. Scrolls lay in stacks all around the room and maps were either hanging on the wall or lying open on the floor.
    Takeo’s eyes wandered around the room as the hole in his chest grew. He’d never gotten a chance to tell Kamiko that he loved him.
    Takeo would give anything to go back in time and stop his harsh words from leaving his lips.
    He watched as the keeper busied himself around the dark room.
    There were bookshelves everywhere with skulls and candles, books and bottles placed haphazardly on them.
    “Here we are,” the keeper mumbled to himself as he grabbed a bottle containing a strange green liquid. The liquid swirled around inside the glass, reminding Takeo of smoke.
    “Can you access his memories?” Panahasi asked as he sat down next to Takeo.
    Takeo heard the words, but nothing was registering right now.
    The only thing he truly wanted to hear was Kamiko’s musical voice.
    He was so pure, so innocent that Takeo feared Constantine would strip his mate of all that was good in him.
    “It will unlock even the darkest of secrets.” Takeo knew the two men were about to find out things he had kept hidden even from himself. Things that Takeo was not proud of, things that would make a mortal man go insane.
    But Kamiko was worth anything he was about to reveal.
    Kamiko was worth Takeo’s life.

Chapter Seven

    Kamiko glared at Constantine as the man circled around the table he was chained down to. As terrified as he was, Kamiko was not about to show this man fear.
    He didn’t deserve it.
    Kamiko would die before he gave it to him.
    As Constantine walked back in front of Kamiko, he clamped his lips tight. The bastard wasn’t going to get anything out of him. Which would be impossible anyway since Kamiko didn’t know anything.
    He wasn’t sure why this man had a hard-on for him, but whatever the reason, Kamiko wasn’t going to crack under whatever pressure the man placed on him. He was mated to a warrior, and Kamiko was going to make Takeo proud of him.
    Takeo was the only person Kamiko had in his life, and he wasn’t going to let his man down. For too long he had craved belonging to someone, belonging somewhere, and now that he was Takeo’s, Kamiko wasn’t letting go.
    Even if he had let Takeo down. The warrior might not want him, but Kamiko was holding on to the hope that he had been mistaken.
    “Do you know why I kidnapped Takeo to