Playing Easy to Get

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

  Those beings circled the house to protect it, and did so without cease and without fail, as he could well attest to. But the sentinel that protected Myst from threats like Ivo kept Wroth from her as well. Myst stayed behind them for night upon night, yet now he'd finally found her outside of their protection, no doubt waiting for her sisters to return so they could attack.

  But dawn was coming soon and he needed to--

  She leapt from the roof, drawing her sword from her back sheath as she dropped into the middle of the group of ghouls. There were at least fifty of them.

  "What the fuck are you doing?" he bellowed, tracing to her side, unsheathing his own sword.

  "This isn't happening," she said to herself. "You're not going to ruin my personal life and my fast-track career, Wroth."

  "But in the middle?"

  "I'm enraged enough to do this. You have no idea"--she struck out, slicing a ghoul from crotch to neck--"how much I need this."

  "I do have an idea." A perfect one. He'd felt her rage and her need to fight from inside him. And yet he'd told her that as his wife she would never again fight.

  "You had better leave, because once I finish with them, I won't stop there."

  "I deserve your anger. I've wronged you and seek to make amends." He wasn't optimistic about his chances for that. She couldn't be all things to him already and then forgiving on top of that.

  "You think?" When one ghoul's claw came close to his neck, he leapt back and she snapped, "Don't let them scratch you!"

  "Concerned for me, Myst?" He didn't dare hope.

  "Of course I don't want you to get scratched." She eyed him. "Vampires are easier to kill."

  "If I help you will you speak with me?"

  "Don't need your help." And she didn't. She was merrily felling them one after another with a skill that awed him, her sword flying so fast it was barely visible.

  "Then you'll have to listen here," he grated, digging into the fight with her. "I'd had five years of torment. I'd had a hell of wanting you and feared you would leave me at the first opportunity. Then I had dreams of your memories." These ghouls were irritating him, especially when they got between him and Myst while he was trying to convince her about something so critical. He began killing them more quickly. "In each one you were evil...a seductress."

  "Still am, Wroth." She kicked a ghoul in the belly, freeing her sword from his chest.

  "No, you're not--"

  "Duck!" Her sword whistled over his head to decapitate a ghoul behind him. "Yeah, well, as I recall, every sunset I asked you about your dreams and you brushed away my concerns."

  He slew two with one sword thrust. "I know. I should have asked you, because all those excruciating scenes of you...doing things were all out of context." When the largest ghoul out there howled and attacked him, Wroth stabbed the thing in the face, dropping it. She raised her eyebrows as if impressed, then scowled, remembering herself.

  "Myst, even then I was still falling for you."

  That at least got her to pause. She blew a curl out of her eyes and just when he tensed to trace behind her, she took two hands and plunged her sword back along her side to kill the ghoul at her back.

  Now he raised his eyebrows, but continued, "I was angry when I saw your plan to trick me, but I finally understand that you rightly wanted your freedom back. I know what and who you are now. I saw all the memories, clearly at last. Not out of context." Goddamn it, more ghouls? "Myst, can we not just speak about this? Away from here? Dawn nears and all I ask is for a chance to--"

  "I gave you a chance. Freely. And you threw it away. You were about to brainwash me."

  With one hand, he carved at a ghoul. "I couldn't have lived with myself for that. I was wrong in many ways. I took your freedom when you needed it, and I hurt you just when you'd given yourself to me." Never had he regretted his actions so much.

  He could have won her. A heart for a heart.

  "I wanted you so badly I resorted to anything I could and treated you ill when you didn't deserve it." He looked around. He'd been so intent on her, he'd scarcely noticed they'd cut such a swath that the others had run. "If you give me a chance, I will make it up to you."

  "Oh, you got it, Wroth. Just let me go gift wrap my chain for you."

  Wroth's eyes flickered black and his voice went low. "I'd destroy the thing if I saw it."

  His reaction surprised her. "You'll certainly never get within arm's reach of it."

  "Myst, I felt your feelings for me, felt you struggling against them. I know you care for me." Long moments passed as they stared into each other's eyes.

  She was weak, undeserving of her family, she knew, especially when her heart had leapt at the sight of him. But she shook her head. "I can't. It's just too late. I have a lot to lose from this. I won't hurt my family by accepting you."

  "Kristoff seeks peace. He would fight the Horde with you. There would be no conflict with them. And I would...make an effort with your sisters, Myst. I know how important they are to you now. Believe me, I know."

  She tapped her chin. "So you can see why the idea of being forced to forget them made me cranky? Huh? And what if you saw more out of context? This would just happen again and again."

  "I would not drink from you."

  She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, just like I'm going to finally beat my Xbox addiction."

  "I'm pleased you feel the same about that option. I've already vowed never to use the information to harm the Valkyrie in any way. And I would have to tell you everything I was thinking as if you could read my mind as well. We are wed. We should know each other's secrets. Myst, we are kindred."

  That made her hesitate. She'd felt that way too. Kindred.

  What the hell was she thinking? He'd been about to brainwash her.

  Making her voice firm, she said, "Wroth, I'm sorry, but I could never trust you--" Her words were cut off by a massive arm squeezing the breath from her throat. Not a ghoul. A demon? she thought wildly. A turned demon?

  Wroth raised his sword, a savage, killing look in his eyes, but the arm tightened and he froze.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you," Ivo said as he sauntered to the front of his gang of vampires. "He'll snap her head right from her neck." Ivo's red gaze flickered over her. "Now Myst, I thought I told you to wait in my dungeon." To the demon, he said, "She's not the one."

  He narrowed his eyes at Wroth. "So you're the turned human who took my castle from me. Grenades? Guns? I'll kill you just for bastardizing our war." He glanced from Wroth to Myst, then back again, smiling to see Wroth's body seeming to vibrate with tension. "I believe I have something he wants very badly indeed. I'll take his life in exchange."

  The demon held her neck tight in his grip. She struggled against him until she could breathe, but he was unbelievably powerful. He was a turned demon, supposed to be a true myth. Apparently, the Horde had just upped their game. She'd known he'd been up to something....

  Wroth could trace away in a heartbeat. They couldn't get him, unless they had her. Wroth's eyes were assessing, and she could see him studying the situation.

  "You walk into the sun, and I'll vow to the Lore that I'll free her. I'll hunt her again, but for this dawn I vow that she'll live. If you trace instead, I'll take her back to Helvita and dine on her perfect flesh every night for eternity."

  "Fight me, coward," Wroth bit out, his eyes black with rage, his muscles tense and knotted with it.

  "Why would I do that?" Ivo sounded confused. "Fight you for the cards I already hold?"

  Wroth was so big and powerful and yet that strength was useless to him now because they wouldn't fight. She could feel his frustration roiling from his body in waves.

  "You know we've got the power here. And you know my vow will compel me to release her."

  She'd seen Wroth examining the situation, and she saw the exact moment that he determined his options. A calm seemed to wash over him.

  "Her life or yours."

  One tight nod. "Done." No hesitat
ion. "It is done."

  "Catch and release?" Myst sneered to Ivo as he and his gang traced with her back into the shade to ready for the dawn. Birdsong had begun. "Are you kidding me?" To Wroth, she said, "Are you eager to be ash?"

  The sunlight hit the tops of the trees, descending inch by torturing inch. He stood sure and so brave, as if he was proud to give his life for hers.

  The morning breeze blew his hair from his face. His eyes were riveted to hers.

  The sunlight was inches away from him, almost reaching the moss of the great oaks that buckled the feet of the mausoleums. Now she felt frustration as she'd never known. "Wroth, don't be stupid."

  In a low, steady tone, he said, "I love you, Myst."

  Feeling erupted in her chest to answer his words. Yes, he'd wronged her, and yes, he was a vampire, but...

  The light hit him. He did not close his eyes to the extreme brightness that would have hurt even her eyes.

  And she knew it was because he wanted to see her longer.

  Soon the intensity of the sun was too great; he fell to his knees, his hands curling in agonizing pain. He opened his eyes once more. Glowing, bare. A last look.

  He's going to die.

  They always do.

  Just...gone.

  "No." Saying the word out loud was like blasting a mountain to free an avalanche. An immortal like him didn't have to die. He could stay with her. "No, no, no."

  "Milaya, don't fight," he bit out. "It is done."

  The demon holding her smelled of rotting flesh. The cowardly gang of vampires smirked at Wroth's death when Wroth was so much greater than they. How dare they?

  She'd waited millennia to love--she'd waited for him--and they dared take him from her. From Myst the Coveted. She screamed long and loud with the shriek her kind was known for. The one that preceded death. The demon cursed and fought to snap her neck, but her muscles had lain in perfect concert and alignment to prevent it.

  Wroth struggled toward her, trying to get to her even as he burned as though from the inside. Battling to save her as he died.

  He was hers.

  She freed her arms and raised them up. Lightning leapt to enter her grasp and filled her body. That they would dare...

  The two holding her were blown from her, percussive thunder exploding them from within. Her hand shot down to collect one's sword just as he was cast into the light.

  She struck out, slashing and clawing at the others with the rare gift of direct lightning from the sleeping ones pouring strength into her. She cut through the number, barely flinching when her arm was broken and the butt of a sword cracked her cheekbone. Don't look through that eye, switch hands. She cut a swath to Ivo, who alone remained.

  "And here I thought you were merely the pretty one." With a mock bow, the coward traced.

  Arm shattered, face beaten to a pulp, she flew to Wroth. She vainly attempted to cover his body, dragging him into the cool shade even as she bit her wrist open for him to drink. He was unconscious, his body twisting in pain, his skin looking like lava burned within him.

  "Seems like we missed the party," Regin said as she and Cara strolled over to Myst. "Why does Myst get to kill all the vampires? No. Really. This was just supposed to be ghouls."

  "Myst, what are you doing? We heard your scream and thought it was something important," Cara said. She waved a dismissive hand at Wroth's writhing form, clearly unable to comprehend why Myst was frantically dragging him with one arm while shoving her gashed wrist at his lips. "The being dies. Leave him."

  Regin added, "Oh, for Freya's sake, Myst. He's a vampire. Let him fricassee."

  Myst shrieked and snapped her teeth at her sisters. Then she screamed two words she'd never uttered in her entire life--

  "Help me."

  Chapter Thirteen

  W roth woke to wetness on his chest.

  Her silky hair tumbled over his arm. When he opened his eyes he realized she was crying over him. Impossible. "Myst?" he rasped.

  Her head shot up and she gave him a watery smile that quickly faded. She slapped him, a hard, cracking blow. Then she leapt on him, nuzzling, squeezing, as if she couldn't get close enough to him, as if she wanted in him.

  "Don't you ever do anything so stupid again." She slapped at his chest, which he was surprised to find was healed.

  He flexed and tensed his muscles throughout. He was bandaged in places, but he had all his limbs. This was good. Now if he could just get his wife to cease slapping him. "If you do not stop, milaya, we will have words."

  So she turned to kissing him again with whispers in his ear and tears dropping to his face, each one like a gift. "You've been out for five nights. And you wouldn't wake the hell up."

  "Where are we?"

  "In Val Hall."

  He stiffened.

  "No, you're safe." She leaned back and raised an eyebrow. "Do you think I would just let my sisters fall on you like a carcass?"

  He winced at the image. "Can't wait to meet them all. How did you get away?"

  "Ivo traced, but Cara and Regin are on his trail."

  "I'm just glad I was there to save you," Wroth said solemnly, making her grin. "Did you kill the turned demon?"

  "The lightning and I did."

  He remembered then. She'd been hit directly, hair whipping, eyes silver, the most awing sight he'd ever witnessed. "I saw you get struck." His voice went low. "You smiled."

  "It feels good. It's very rare to get a direct hit--"

  Outside, something, some male, howled with fury. Wroth tensed to trace her away.

  "Oh, don't worry. Just another crazy day at the manor." She waved away his tension. "A Lykae nabbed little Emmaline and took her back to Scotland--thinks she's his werewolf queen or something."

  "Werewolf queen?"

  "Uh-huh. So Lucia trapped the Lykae's brother for leverage, but apparently he's proving most uncooperative. Anyway, if you knew Em you'd see how ridiculous the idea is. She's terrified of her own shadow, much less a roaring Lykae's unique...appetites."

  He'd have to ask her about that later. "She's the halfling--the one that's part vampire." When her brows drew together he rushed to assure her, "I will never tell Kristoff about her, but I suspect that Ivo's searching for her."

  "They know. They'd already sent a retrieval party after her, and once they bring her back, she'll be safe here. The wraiths will shut out any threat." One flew by the window at that moment cackling to punctuate her statement.

  He raised his eyebrows and when she grinned, he cupped her face with a bandaged hand. "I love you."

  "I know."

  "Could you...could you feel the same way? Before you answer, I want you to know that I meant what I said. I am sorry for forcing you to stay and for losing my head. I will always be shamed by my actions."

  "Wroth, I wanted to stay with you after, oh--about a day! I'd planned to play you, but realized early that I was falling in love with you."

  He hadn't heard her correctly. Yes, she'd been upset over his injuries, but that didn't mean she loved him. "You're saying you love me too?"

  She nibbled her lip and nodded. "I'd always had a crush on you, you know."

  When he frowned, she said, "I used to adore hearing tales about you. And was saddened when we'd heard you'd died. Then to meet you in person?" She blushed a little. "I found that you lived up to my fantasy of you."

  He was bewildered to hear this from his fierce, stunningly beautiful wife. In a gravelly voice, he spoke an utter understatement, "That gives my ego a bit of a boost coming from you."

  Her lips curled. "Among other things, the uncommon gift of a direct strike of lightning, and the fact that you were the only man able to free me from my chain, and the fact that you were so sodding eager to give up your life for mine--though mind you, if you try that again, I'm going to kill you--have all convinced me that we should be together."

  "Always, Myst. I'd do it easily." When she was about to protest, he asked, "What about your family? I will try if they will."


  "For all the reasons I just listed, a couple of my sisters have decided they'll try to overcome their repugnance of you."

  He scowled at that. "Big-minded of them."

  "Yet they want nothing to do with Kristoff or any among your order. You're the exception because they felt like they knew you as a human and because of what has happened between us. But if, say, your brother showed up here, they'd...it would be...bad."

  "I understand."

  "If you can make a genuine effort, I believe they will all come to accept you in time."

  He wanted to be clear on this. "Accept you as my wife and me as your husband?" He wanted everything from her. Not just a few decades. He wanted eternity. And as long as she was in a giving mood...

  She nodded, a smile playing about her pink lips. "We still have a lot to muddle through, mind you. Our families and our factions, and who controls the remote, and living logistics--because Blachmount needs TLC and lightning rods in a bad way...But I suppose I have to take possession of you, since I've already taken possession of my engagement ring."

  He grinned. "You liked that, did you?"

  "I couldn't take my eyes off of it," she said with a saucy smile.

  He clasped her to him and pulled her close, knowing she craved being wrapped tight and secure in his arms as much as he needed her soft and trusting within them. "I can't quite believe this. Even after everything?" If she could give him another chance, Wroth thought they could do anything together.

  "Yes. But..." She stroked the smooth backs of her claws down his arm. "You'll have to spend eternity making it up to me."

  He released her to lever himself above her, cupping the back of her neck. His gaze flickered over her face, then met the eyes of his wife as she smiled up at him. Feeling love for her so strong it hurt him, his voice ragged with it, he rasped, "Milaya, it is done."