She frowned. Nïx had made it sound as if Thaddie was like Jo. If so, how could he cope with changes like these?
With the Valkyrie’s help?
Jo had been forced to let MizB raise Thad; she’d be damned if Nïx took over from here on out.
Change of plans, Nïx. Jo would definitely be getting access to Thad, but not in the way the Valkyrie had envisioned. Jo wasn’t going to spy on anyone; instead she’d do what she did best.
Before Rune got another chance at Nïx . . .
I’m going to kill her.
THIRTY
Rune’s face was buried between two of the finest nymph breasts in Loredom, his hands full of them, and he was kissing his way toward a taut nipple.
Just what he’d needed.
His soon-to-be-shed trews were the only thing preventing him from shoving inside his partner, Dalliance.
The word had been derived from her, the epitome of amorous toying. She had been for millennia. She had long black hair, wide gray eyes, and a body men had actually killed to possess.
She arched her back in readiness, her fingers threading into his hair. His lips closed around a nipple, but his teeth didn’t click against a piercing. No warm metal teased his tongue.
Often imitated, never duplicated.
Concentrate on what you’re doing! He knew what she liked, could satisfy her in his sleep. The two of them went way back, had shared clients and patrons, fucking for the entertainment of others at exclusive gigs.
Every now and then, they’d hook up for old times’ sake. He’d selected her today, instead of a bevy all for himself.
The difference between him and Dalli? She’d chosen her line of work at the outset.
The night Magh had sold Rune to a brothel, he’d just seen his mother’s grave and been devastated to learn of her fate.
Then he’d learned of his.
“You’ve been a whore for so long, I thought we should make it official,” Magh said. “Here, you will please your customers, cur. Or perish. At the end of each night, a guard will raise a sword over your neck. If you were a good whore, you’ll retain your life. The first complaint you receive will be your last. You had better hurry. Dawn nears, and no one in your long line appears . . . pleased.”
The creature at the start of the line had been hideous, yet he’d known he would somehow have to pleasure her, to bury his disgust and ignore the blistering wrath he’d felt over his mother’s death.
Please or perish. In the intervening years, many of his customers hadn’t been “pleased” with anything less than his body beaten and bloody.
Concentrate. Soon Dalli would notice his distraction. He turned his thoughts to the vampire to stay hard.
His mind raced from one image of her to another. Her little fangs. Her incomparable curves that seemed made for him alone. Her ethereal face when she was about to come. Her flashing hazel eyes when she smiled.
He’d made her smile. She’d smiled in bed with him. Had thanked him.
No! The vampire loved another. All that had been an act. Everything about their night together had been false.
Dalli cleared her throat and sat up. “I called your name twice. But you’re not even here, are you?” He didn’t deny it. “I can always tell when you check out—your eyes glaze over.” She knew more about his early centuries than anyone still living. She alone knew he feared becoming so deadened he’d never feel alive again.
“What’s the problem, Dalli? My cock’s hard enough.”
“Please. I’ve seen you get it up for a pus demon.”
He drew back and sat on the edge of her bed, head in his hands. “Lot on my mind.” He stood and began to pace, bare feet silent on the plush carpet of her nest.
She pulled her robe back on. “Will you please tell me what’s wrong?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Maybe on some level he’d suspected he wouldn’t be in the moment. Maybe he’d chosen Dalli because he needed a friend more than a fuck.
“Clearly it does matter.” Rays of sunlight stole inside from the carved-out window, catching her gray eyes. “Will you not confide in me?”
He shook his head. How could he possibly explain a creature like Josephine?
“I don’t ask where you go when you’re not here,” Dalli said. “I don’t ask what you’re doing with your life, or what plans you have for the future.” She knew he was a secrets master in a shadowy alliance, but he’d given her no other details.
“Which is why we’re still friends.”
As if he hadn’t spoken, she continued, “I’ve never asked those questions, because I could see for myself you weren’t utterly miserable with your life.”
He paused his pacing. “Why would I be?”
Dalli rose, heading to her wine service to pour them goblets. “Someone your age with no mate? No offspring? It wears on a soul.”
“Speaking from experience?” She was almost his age, the oldest nymph he’d ever met.
“We’re talking about you today. And how you are now completely, utterly miserable.”
He scowled. “I just want to get laid. It’s why I’m here.”
“Uh-huh. This has got to be over a female.”
“Why do you say that?”
She handed him a drink, then crossed to the settee with her own. “Give me some credit.” Taking a seat, she motioned for him to join her. “I’ve been in the desire game for a long, long while.”
He stabbed his fingers through his hair. “There is a girl. She’s got me tied up in knots.”
“I think you better bring the bottle over.”
Good thinking. He grabbed it and joined her, setting it on an amber side table. He sank down beside Dalli. “I’ve only known her for four days.” Out of the millions he’d lived. “In my lifespan, that’s a blink of an eye.” In Dalli’s too.
“Do you think this girl could be the one?”
Maybe? No. No! “I will never have a mate. I’ve expected no destined female for myself.”
“Because of your poison? I know how much you despise it.”
I hate it so godsdamned much. Yet for a while, his hatred had faded—because Josephine bloomed whenever she fed from him. She’d craved him. But he didn’t want to be dependent on a vampire just because she could tolerate his hated blood!
He didn’t want to want someone who loved another.
Even if Josephine chose Rune instead, what kind of future would they have? He would never be exclusive with her, couldn’t imagine spending the next several millennia in bed with one female.
Especially when his value to the Møriør depended on him sleeping with others.
He emptied his goblet and set it aside. Forget the vampire. “Let’s just do this.” He rubbed the heel of his palm over his cock until he was hard enough. “Does it matter to you if I’m engaged or not? I’ll make you purr. I always do.”
“Are you sure?”
I want inside Josephine. Inside the silken heat he’d pleasured with his tongue. I want to see her reaction when I enter her for the first time. “Hundred percent.”
Dalli pursed her lips. “You might as well start talking. Tell me her name. I want to know all about her.”
He exhaled with resignation. “Very well. Her name is Josephine.” He poured another healthy serving for them both.
“What is it about her?” Dalli asked, excitement in her demeanor. “Why is she different from all the others?”
How to put into words what he was feeling? “She’s a walking contradiction. She’s powerful, but young. She seems world-weary at times, but again, she’s so bloody young. She’s insanely secretive—and yet she’s outspoken to the point of being blunt.” He recalled her telling him, “You. I like. I like you so much.” How could she have been so believable in the throes?