by Kresley Cole
TWENTY-FOUR
Josephine's breaths were light against Rune's chest. He sifted his fingers through her hair, trying out this "afterplay." He'd never stuck around after he'd used a female sexually. Certainly not after an interrogation.
As he stroked her silken locks, he smelled meadowberries anew, calling to mind recollections from his boyhood. He remembered the times he had briefly escaped to the high meadows, to a glen filled with berries. Their taste had been even sweeter than their irresistible scent.
With sugar on his lips and breezes rustling the leaves, he'd lain among them in bliss, never wanting to return to the sweltering fens.
The taste of Josephine had been sweeter than anything he could've imagined. . . .
Though he'd lost his wager against her, he was surprisingly relaxed. She hadn't won per se; he'd been defeated by his own loss of control. But how could he blame himself?
Her bite gave her an unfair advantage.
When her fangs had entered his flesh so slowly and her tongue had flicked in readiness, he'd nigh lost his mind. Even now he shuddered.
After she'd fed, he'd been dazed, wanting only to explore her. For hours as they'd pleasured each other, he'd listened for every hitch in her breath. He'd awaited the telltale flush across her breasts that signaled her approaching orgasm. He'd watched for her irises to flicker.
In the past, these reactions had been benchmarks to gauge a subject's willingness to talk.
Tonight each of her responses had been a discovery--about a woman who aggravated him, invigorated him, enthralled him.
He'd nuzzled her ears until her little toes had curled. He'd tongued that tiny dip in her bottom lip. He'd taken her mouth--at his leisure, whenever the impulse struck him--so many times his own lips were bruised. He ran a finger over them now.
For eons, his last kiss had been a lethal one.
No longer. There'd been no barrier between him and Josephine, between their bodies, their desires.
Was the insatiable Rune sated? He was still erect for more, yet he could swear he was almost drowsy. Perhaps not sated, but satisfied.
Again and again, he'd wondered if she could be his mate. If he actually got one. But even if she was his, nothing would change. He had no interest in settling down with one woman. The Morior still required his talents--which included extracting information from targets--whether through fair or foul means.
And he wasn't going to simply retire his burning need to stamp out the royal line of Sylvan.
Though Magh was long dead, she lived on through her vile spawn, like her first son, King Saetthan. There were only fourteen left. Most lived on Gaia, in hiding from Rune.
With each Accession, hidden things came to light.
The Morior would help him hunt those fey, just as Rune would help in his allies' endeavors. No, he wouldn't surrender his dreams when he was so close. Which was why Josephine would never lie so trustingly with him again; he had plans to use her against Nix. His will would be done in the end.
Best to savor this now.
Josephine shifted against him. Like many vampires, she was a deep sleeper. She hadn't even awakened when he'd inked a temporary tracking rune on her back.
Her eyes moved behind her lids. Would she dream his memories? What would she think about his past? He wasn't ashamed he'd been violated and used.
Just that he'd eventually submitted to it. . . .
Hours passed as she slumbered on. He occupied himself tracing the contours of her breathtaking face and musing which memories she might see if she had the ability.
When she woke, she blinked open thick lashes to reveal those bright hazel eyes. She drifted upright. "Will you really let me leave? I have to get to--I need to get home."
He bit back his irritation. Her first thoughts were of escape. If he'd pleasured any other female so thoroughly, he wouldn't have been able to get rid of her.
Not so Josephine. "I made you a vow."
"Lemme get dressed." She hopped from the bed, giving him a mind-scrambling view of her taut ass, and hurried to the bath.
He reached for his jeans, regretting he hadn't said, "After another round." He'd just strapped on his bow and quiver when she returned, fastening her necklace.
She'd stolen one of his shirts to wear over her dress, tying the ends and rolling the sleeves up. Her hair was pulled back in a haphazard ponytail. Even like this, she couldn't look more fetching.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
He took her hand. "Of course."
She stared at their clasped hands for several moments.
"Josephine?"
"Uh, yeah, can you trace me back to the Quarter?"
It'd be full dark there, roughly midnight. "I will." An instant later, they were standing on a side street off Bourbon.
She regarded the area, then turned back to him. "So. We're here."
"So we are. Run along, little dove, back to your roost."
She hesitated to release his hand, gazing up at him. The flickering light from a gas lamp reflected in her eyes. "This is it, then? You go from thinking about killing me to freeing me?"
"I believed you were a security risk. I no longer do."
"Got it." She opened her mouth to say something, closed it, then tried again: "I know you're the hit-it-and-quit-it king, but for what it's worth, I would've liked to see you again."
Oh, you will. And shortly. He could follow that tracking rune anywhere. He was merely using her to locate Nix.
Though Rune would have the vampire back soon, he was still reluctant to let her go. They might be on opposite sides of an immortal war, but he wasn't finished with this female. He'd use his silver tongue to persuade her back into his bed--even after he killed her ally. He forced himself to let go of her hand. "Perhaps we'll cross paths."
He thought he spied a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Sure. Cross paths. No big deal." She started down the street.
Once she'd turned the corner, he drew another rune combination on his forearm, a concealment spell to cloak his scent and render him invisible.
He traced to the rooftops to pursue her, traveling from one building to the next. At first she strode through the neighborhood. Then she paused, seeming to catch a scent. She took off in a sprint, scanning each street she passed.
No doubt she was frantic to find Nix and divulge everything she'd learned about Rune. He felt an unexpected sting over that, but reminded himself all was fair in love and war.
Wait--wasn't that the Valkyrie's scent? Yes, there Nix was, silently trailing Josephine, with that bat on her shoulder.
Eyes locked on his enemy, he fingered the flights of his arrows, selecting one-and-done.
Rune nocked it and drew his bowstring, fingers to his chin. Had there ever been an easier shot?
Yet his fey curiosity stayed him. Perhaps he should eavesdrop on their conversation, to uncover how much Nix knew of the Morior's plans. Secrets there for the taking. He could always kill the Valkyrie directly after.
Follow Orion's orders to the letter and make the shot? Or listen in?
Old habits . . . He returned the arrow to his quiver, then dropped to the ground to spy.
TWENTY-FIVE
After leaving Rune, Jo had picked up Thad's scent, but it was always just out of her reach.
Was he in a departing car? A trolley heading away from the Quarter? No, the opposite direction!
She sprinted toward the Mississippi, following his trail to a riverside industrial lot. Stacks of rail containers bordered a worn-out patch of cement. She traced past the perimeter fence into the middle and scanned the shadows. Where was he?
She'd lost the thread altogether. "Damn it!" Somehow she would find him.
If possible, she was even more determined to reach Thad, to make sure he was safe. Rune's memory of being separated from his beloved "dam" had devastated Jo. And then to learn of her death, to feel his grief . . . she'd woken in a panic to find her own beloved brother.
Alongside her worry for Thad, she
hurt for Rune, the involuntary killer who'd only wanted to save his mother.
What won't we do for the people we love?
She hoped Rune had gotten revenge on that vicious queen for his mother's murder--if not for more. Magh's mention of Rune's "new occupation" had given Jo chills. . . .
"Oh, Shady Lady."
Jo spun around to find that black-haired woman standing behind her. Nix. Jo had never heard her approach.
So this was Rune's target. "What do you want?" Jo peered past her. "Where is Thad?"
"I have our handsome lad tucked away." Nix was carrying that bat again. Tonight she had two boots on. Her eerie golden eyes glowed even more brightly than before.
Her T-shirt had writing on it, but Jo couldn't decipher the words. "Tucked away where?" If need be, she could take this . . . Valkyrie.
A breeze flowed off the water, ruffling Nix's wild black hair. "He's safe. Well, safe-ish. Perhaps, Josephine, if you cooperate, I will allow you to see him."
"Allow?" This bitch had no idea. Jo didn't cooperate; she squeezed till things broke. She Hulk-smashed. If Nix didn't take her to Thad, the Valkyrie would learn a lesson she'd never forget. "How do you know my name?"
"I'm a very important oracle, a leader of the Vertas army, and a soon-to-be goddess. Just have one teeny-weeny task to complete." She gave a laugh. "I've been watching you for some time. Oh, the things I know."
"You've spied on me?"
"Did you ever see that movie Broken Arrow? Naturally you have--it's a cinema classic. Anyhoodles, I would never let my nukes out of my sight. Except for when I would."
She was a nut-job. "Why would Thad be with you? Does he know what you are?"
"He does. And I know what he is."
Jo's mouth went dry. "What do you think he is?" Is Thad like me? No answer. "All you need to know is that he's good." Charity work, community service, generosity.
Nix grinned. "If you say so."
"What does that mean?"
"I have plans for Thaddeus this Accession. We all have parts to play."
Plans? Plans? The Valkyrie was freaking dead. "No one makes plans for him--no one. Get me?" She closed in on Nix. "You are going to take me to him. Now."
"Not possible."
Jo stared down the smaller female. "You say you know me? Uh-uh. Otherwise you'd know I'm about to break all your bones, one by one, until you tell me where he is."
Nix remained amused. "Break all my bones? One by one?" Lightning flashed nearby. "What a fascinating idea."
What the hells? From his vantage atop a stack of rail containers, Rune listened in disbelief.
How wrong he'd been. Josephine hadn't been protecting Nix; she'd been protecting the male. The vampire had mistaken Rune's aim!
No, she wasn't in league with Nix, but she might be in love with Thad. What kind of ridiculous name was that?
Rune thought back. The male had been tall. Females would find him attractive. More than attractive.
If Josephine was in love with another, then everything she'd done in Rune's bed had been a ploy to get back to this other male.
Rune ground his fangs. She had offered to let him do anything if she lost her bet, because she'd been desperate to return to another. From what Rune understood, a female could actually get stronger if she gave her heart into someone else's keeping.
Josephine had known she wasn't going to lose that wager.
That little bitch! For the first time since Magh had singled him out, Rune had pleasured without artifice. Without using. Yet tonight he had been . . . used.
I like you so much, the vampire had cried--with a tear streaking her face. Bullshit!
She and the Valkyrie began circling each other. "Are you sure you want to challenge one like me?" Nix asked. "You're such a tender young creature. Just a quarter of a century old."
Quarterwhatthefuck??? Josephine was only twenty-five?
He'd taken her to bed. He'd devoured her and given her a font of forbidden blood. Talk about taboos! Gods, I sicken myself.
"Oh, I'm positive," Josephine told the Valkyrie.
"Are we about to mix it up? No, no, that would indicate both sides landing blows. You won't."
Josephine raised her brows. "Just remember: you could've avoided this."
"Very well." Nix turned to her bat. "Bertil, spectate!" The creature took to the air.
Josephine possessed formidable strength, but she was too young to go up against an ancient Valkyrie. Nix would wipe the street with her.
Rune should let her, to punish Josephine for her trickery. But he had a kill to make. He readied his bow.
"You'd do anything to get to Thad, wouldn't you?" the Valkyrie said in a taunting voice. "But you don't understand. He's not yours; he's mine." Another bolt of lightning flashed nearby.
Josephine's body shook--with rage. They were about to godsdamned catfight over the male! "That was the exact wrong thing to say, bitch." She lunged to tackle the Valkyrie.
"I know!" Nix pivoted, neatly dodging her. "You've always thought of him as yours alone, belonging solely to you."
Josephine traced for Nix, but the Valkyrie anticipated her move and evaded.
"I will catch you. And then I will break you."
"Josephine, you rare and wondrous thing. Such untapped potential. You're death and death all rolled into one. There's only a handful of your kind."
Mad ramblings? Or partial truth? If Josephine was rare with potential, she might have more value to the Morior than Rune had suspected.
Josephine drew up short. "Tell me what you know!"
"You come from a long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long way away. You remember flames replacing seas. A hand holding up the night. Broken stars and spiders' eyes."
These utterings made Josephine go pale, swaying on her feet.
Time to end this. The air crackled with electricity as he tautened his bowstring and loosed his arrow. One-and-done . . .
The end of a long-lived immortal.
Lightning bolts shot down from the sky. White spears intersected, forming a cage to shield Nix.
His arrow disintegrated to ash.
TWENTY-SIX
Jo whirled around, stunned. A huge cage of lightning had descended, trapping her with the Valkyrie.
First thought: I'm screwed.
Second thought: Screw that, I'm Jo.
Nix didn't seem to notice all the blinding bolts. "You've known unutterable beauty." Her eyes went from gold to brilliant silver, matching the lightning. "On your way here, you saw things no one in the universe ever has."
"What are you talking about?" Jo's head suddenly felt like it was splitting. Clouds thickened around them. Winds whipped across the lot, rocking the rail containers and tossing the river. Spray hissed against the lightning cage.
That bat screeched as it swooped and played among the bolts.
Jo ignored all the weirdness, focusing on the Valkyrie who stood between her and Thad. "You'll give me answers, Nix!" She traced behind the woman, drawing her fist back on the way. Just as Jo solidified to land a blow, Nix twirled around. Her own fist shot out, connecting with Jo's chest.
Bone snapped; Jo's body soared upward, the heat from the crisscrossed bolts scalding her. Her control wavered. She landed fully embodied, crashing into the cement. Pavement sanded her face.
A man's bellow sounded in the distance. Rune?
"Stay down, child," Nix said. "This isn't my first cage fight. Won't be my last."
"Fuck that!" Jo traced through the air to tackle Nix. The Valkyrie dodged her again.
"No one's taught you to fight like an immortal." Her tone was singsong, even more enraging.
Jo hurtled forward, ducking under Nix's swing--
Just a feint. The Valkyrie's knee shot up to catch Jo in the face. Her cheekbone cracked; she flew across the cement again.
Nix chuckled. "It's all about prediction."
Jo spat blood, attacking, but Nix was too fast. She punted Jo like a kickball.
Zooming. Speed. Pain. Jo crashed down on the other edge of the cage, landing on her side. Her ribs were toast.
In an instant, Nix stood over her. "Stay down, little girl."
Little girl? "Ahh!" Jo lurched to her feet, facing off once more.
"You don't know half of your talents. You fear one of your greatest. The ground should be your best friend."
She vaulted toward Nix, tackling her!
The Valkyrie turned them in midair to pin her to the ground.
Jo tried to ghost. Failed. Pain robbed her of even more control. She struggled to get free, but Nix was too fast, too strong.
More lightning bolts jagged down around them. One struck behind Nix. Without looking, the Valkyrie snared it.
The light fried Jo's eyes, but she could make out Nix molding the bolt--into a blade. "Why would you ever become tangible in a fight?" the Valkyrie asked, pressing that crackling heat against her throat.
Jo couldn't wrestle for the blazing weapon, could only endure it. For once, she wasn't the predator in the night. She was prey.
"Why embody?" Nix shoved the blade harder, searing skin away. "Answer me."
She's going to take my head. Bet that would kill me. "Only w-way to strike."
"Your information is erroneous. I'll give you a tip about your powers. Your mind is your greatest weapon. Use it to strike; use it to defend. As the woman once did."
"Wh-what woman?" Another flash of memory arose, the lighthouse's beam. . . .
"It's worldend!" someone screamed. The sky was falling. Failing. Wounded stars plummeted to their deaths, as bright as sparks from a flint.
Jo clung to the edge of a vortex, her claws digging into the ground. All around her, more black holes hissed open, a wall of them, black upon black upon black.
Like spiders' eyes.
No idea where those sucking chasms would lead--taking one was their only chance at survival.
Some relentless force was crushing their dimension. They'd heard rumors of a being who could crumble realms using naught but his will.
But a pale woman with dark-smudged eyes fought back, trying to shore up the world--her delicate hand was raised to emit power. "I can't falter!"
Pain erupted, wrenching Jo back to the present. Nix had broken her arm!
She screamed, "Why?"
"Ah, I have your attention once more." Nix smiled. "Let's not forget that breaking bones was your idea. I'm merely paying homage."
Jo felt trapped in her solid body, yet out of her mind. She imagined she heard Rune yelling again. "Who is the . . . woman? From my dream. Where . . . ?"