Rune glanced back at her one last time before turning a corner.

She could get another lover, but she couldn’t get another Rune.

SIXTY

Dalli stopped Rune and Meliai in the corridor. “What in the G.o.ds’ names are you doing?”

He flicked his hand at Meliai. “Her, apparently.”

Dalli told the other nymph, “Wait in your room. I need to speak to him.”

Meliai asked him, “Any requests for lingerie?”

“Whatever’s quickest.”

“Eager. I like it.” Meliai traipsed away.

When they were alone, Dalli said, “Have I heard correctly—you brought Josephine here?”

He nodded. “She’s truly my mate, Dalli.”

“Then what could possess you to do this?”

“Meliai has information I need to free Josephine’s brother from a dangerous situation. I’ve been tasked with getting him back.” Success would go a long way toward soothing his mate’s feelings. She’d see that Rune’s means were often an efficient solution to a problem. She would better understand him.

“You expect her to wait outside while you gather your information?” Dalli was incredulous.

“I brought Josephine with me because she vowed to the Lore she wouldn’t drink again—ever—unless she was with me on this mission. So unless you can force Meliai to cooperate with me, I don’t have much of a choice.” He knew Dalli couldn’t. Despite her age, her authority was limited. The Nymphae power hierarchies weren’t like those in other factions.

“If I could force her to tell you, I would.”

“Then my path is clear. You know I won’t enjoy this. Mentally, I won’t even be there. I d.a.m.n sure won’t come.” He’d have to fantasize about Josephine to stay hard.

“Rune, I know you won’t be there—your eyes are already glazing over—but others can’t understand that. There’s got to be another way.”

“Should I leave Josephine’s brother in danger? Now my brother as well? You’ve never encountered a creature who loves her sibling more. And besides, she needs to accept this is what I do. d.a.m.n it, I’m too old to change!”

Even if she’s my destined female. The one he’d never hoped to have.

“You’re about to harm your relationship irreparably.”

“And what do you think the death of her brother would do?” He lowered his voice even more. “While I’m standing here talking to you, a seventeen-year-old boy is in Val Hall, trapped behind the wraiths. I can’t get to him without Meliai’s information on the Scourge.”

“You’re going up against the Valkyries?”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my new family.” His mission for the Møriør seemed far removed.

Dalli exhaled. “Meliai used to repair Val Hall’s oaks from lightning damage. She could know of a way in.”

“Good. Will you go talk to Josephine and smooth things over? Make her understand this will have no more effect on me than tying my shoe.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

“She isn’t feeling . . . She isn’t doing well.” Those blood tears tracking down her face had wrecked him. “Just watch out for her.” He headed to Meliai’s chambers. Her door was open, and the nymph was lighting candles.

How b.l.o.o.d.y romantic. The cloying smoke mingled with the overblown perfumes in her room. “Give me your vow you have what I seek.” He shut the door behind him. Amid this haze, he lost Josephine’s rea.s.suring scent.

“My vow, is it?” Meliai grinned coyly. “Would it be so awful to sleep with me? If I’m lying, you’ll still get the lay of your lifetime.”

At his unbending expression, she said, “Very well. I vow to the Lore I possess something you could use to get past the wraiths.” She shrugged out of her robe, leaving her in only a transparent teddy.

Josephine, with every inch of her body covered in bandages, was s.e.xier to him.

“I should warn you, I’ve been satisfied dozens of times today.” Meliai reclined on her bed. “You’re going to have to work for it. It’ll take hours and hours and hours.” She reached for a goblet of wine on her bedstand. “Do strip off all your clothes.”

He ground his fangs, longing to strangle this b.i.t.c.h—not pleasure her. Pride stinging, he removed his bow and quiver. How triumphant did he feel right now? He kicked off his boots and yanked his shirt over his head.

“Very nice.” She watched him avidly, like his brothel patrons of old.

He felt as much disgust for her as he had for his first customer, a hideous serpent shifter with keyhole pupils, slits for nostrils, and a scaling bald head.

Please or perish. Though the demon in him had bayed for Magh’s throat between its fangs, the fey in him had reasoned that f.u.c.king the serpent female was a mindless biological function. Servicing her body with his meant nothing. She meant nothing.

A freeing calm had descended over him. He’d become untouchable: I’m not even here.

Though the serpent’s forked tongue had flicked across his throat, Rune’s slanted grin never wavered. “Ah, dove, the things I plan to do to you. . . .”

He’d gotten through that; he could do this. Turn your mind from this room, this situation. That familiar coldness washed over him.

He’d told Josephine he’d be thinking of her. He should have told her the whole truth: I’ll be holding on to you. He’d cling to what he felt for her.