Dreams of a Dark Warrior

skin, whipped with defeat, wanting to howl his frustration. What to say to her?
I don’t want to look like this. Don’t want to
be
like this—
    “And I never wanted Aidan,” she whispered, “like I want you.”
    He’d misheard her. “I don’t understand, lass.” She couldn’t have chosen
him
over the perfect Viking.
    “I
can’t
lose you again. For a thousand years, it’s been all about
your
struggle,
your
return! But each time, you leave me as collateral damage. The centuries of waiting, the loneliness, and then that ridiculous flare of hope when I find you again. Though I know how it’s going to end—with me shattered.” Rain began to pour. “You’re going to die, Chase. Soon. There’s nothing I can doto prevent it. I know because I’ve tried over and over. And if you care about me at all, you won’t do this to me again.
Don’t come back
.”
    “Regin, just wait.”
    “I had it wrong all along. I’m not your doom, Chase. You’re
mine
—”
    A jet screamed overhead.
    They met gazes.
“Move your arse, woman!”
Declan snatched her hand, yanking her along toward the cove.
    As they sprinted closer to the shore, they heard Thad yell, “Regin, is that you?”
    “We’re coming,” she cried.
    “Uh, don’t!”
    “What?”
    They charged out from under the trees. Natalya, Brandr, and Thad stood before the boat house. But beneath it, the berth was … empty.
    Natalya’s face was pinched. “Somebody gacked our vessel.”
    Declan shoved his fingers through his hair. “Damn Lothaire! He took it!”
    “I’m right here, Blademan.” The vampire stood off to one side in the shade of the forest, casually leaning his shoulder against a tree trunk.
    “Then who took my fuckin’ boat?”
    “Your guess is as good as mine. They swooped in while we fought the Pravus.”
    “No one knew about this place!”
    More jets shot past overhead, followed by a distinctive whistling sound.
Payload deployed.
    “Take cover!” Declan tackled Regin back under thetrees, shielding her with his body. Everyone hit the ground, except for Lothaire, who yawned.
    Beneath Declan, Regin snapped, “You’re covering
me
? You’re the mortal—”
    Explosions rocked the quiet morning, deafening waves of sound close by. But there was no shaking earth, no trees felled. Instead, ash and grit began to fall, blanketing the beach with the steady downpour. The jets—and their bombs—had blown up in the sky.
    Declan lurched to his feet, helping Regin up.
    “Chase, what just happened?”
    As he and Regin gazed up in bewilderment, he mumbled, “I do no’ know—”
    A force slammed into his back; unimaginable pain seared through him.
    The bite of metal.
    He bellowed in agony, shoving Regin from harm’s way. …

FIFTY-FIVE

    C hase’s shove sent Regin sprawling to the ground. As she whirled around, her mind struggled to process the wet sound of steel through flesh. She scrambled to her feet, gaping in disbelief.
    A blade speared Chase’s torso, the tip protruding from his chest. With each beat of his heart, blood streamed out around the jutting tip.
    “Nooo!”
    Chase’s hands clenched the sword point, his body futilely twisting around it. Behind him stood … Malkom Slaine.
    Regin sprang for the demon, claws bared.
“I’ll kill you, Slaine!”
    Brandr was right behind her. But two pulses of energy sent them both flying.
Carrow’s
energy?
    The witch rushed up beside Slaine. “What is this, Valkyrie? We saved you from the magister!” She motioned for the vemon to withdraw his blade.
    Slaine looked deeply troubled. “I’ve done wrong,
ara
?” As he began pulling his sword out, blood poured from Chase’s mouth.
    “No, Malkom, of course not!” To Regin, she said,“You told me to kill the magister after you got vivisected. You
ordered
me to.”
    When Chase collapsed to his back, Regin dropped to her knees beside him. A sword through his chest, just like before. “Not again,” she screamed, “not again!” Tears gathered and spilled as she sobbed,
“No, not again.”
Lightning forked out overhead, continuous flashes across the sky.
    Chase raised a bloody hand to her face, cupping her cheek. “Sorry ’bout this, lass.”
    Brandr punched a tree, roaring with grief.
    “Don’t talk, Chase! We’re going to get you fixed.”
    “You were right … I’m not returnin’, Regin.”
    “No! I-I didn’t mean what I said.”
    “Will no’ do this to you again.”
    “
What?
Shut up! You have to come back. You