Dreams of a Dark Warrior

should have been merely an interesting mortal, but something about you drew me. I decided to give you a chance.” She smiled to herself, murmuring. “As well as my virginity.”
    He tensed, appalled to catch himself wondering what it would’ve been like to be her first lover.
    He knew what she was doing, knew she was planting the seed so he’d imagine it. And he did, envisioning laying her down and inching his way into her untried sex. Catching her gasp of surprise with his lips …
    He grew hard yet again. Earlier, one look at her braless breasts in that T-shirt had made him stiff as wood. Before encountering her, he’d gone ten years without so much as a twitch. And now this. Where was his control?
    “Even after a millennium, I just have to think aboutus together and my claws curl.” She twisted around so he could see them.
    They
had
curled. His voice rougher, he asked, “What do your claws have to do with it?”
    She gave a laugh. “You’ll find out soon enough.” Before he could demand an answer, she continued, “Life in your camp was satisfying. Life with you was”—she sighed wistfully—“thrilling.”
    “Who was Aidan warring against?”
    “Leeches. Always the Vampire Horde. You’d positioned your army in a strategic pass, and every day you battled them back, to protect the
mortal
villages in the valley below. You, a berserker
from the Lore,
saved thousands of human lives.”
    He impatiently waved her on.
    “You kept your army honed and well trained, and your men loved you, would have followed you into hell.”
    Declan’s men feared and despised him.
And I don’t give a shite as long as they follow orders.
    In a distant tone, she began to describe camp life—the dress, the weapons, the mead hall with snarling bears’ heads on the walls—until he could almost smell the smoke of fire pits and roasting game, could nearly hear the incessant clang of swords in the training yard.
    It was a man’s world she described, one that appealed to Declan.
    He found himself relaxing, getting caught up in her tale. And all the while she searched his face for glimmers of recognition. “Any of this ringing a bell?”
    “Not as of yet. Continue.”
    “You trained me yourself. I carry two swords to this day because of you. I’d always wanted to wield this great sword, but it was longer than I was tall.” Then she frowned. “At least, I
used
to carry those swords.”
    “I have them stored here.” Mere feet from her was the concealed entry into the storage bay. Her weapons were within.
    “Do you?” she said nonchalantly, but her eyes had flickered silver. Those swords were
very
important to her. “I still remember the day you gave them to me.” Her face grew soft as she said, “It was a day of firsts.” A secretive smile played about her lips.
    That smile and her sensual tone got his back up. A day of firsts? He could only imagine what kind of firsts. Jealousy toward this Aidan seared him inside, made Declan want to hurt her for loving him. “Yet your Aidan died.”
    Her smile faded. “Yes. A vampire traced into our home and slew him.”
    “You care a great deal about those swords—a gift from your first lover. After a thousand years of acquiring possessions, are these your most cherished?”
    More flickering.
    “They are,” he said. “I think I’ll destroy them if you don’t provide information about your kind.”
    “Do it. I don’t give a damn.”
    “Immortals can’t bluff, Regin. Your changeable eyes always give you away. And from your reaction, I’d wager you’d do just about anything to preserve them. Answer my questions, or I’ll melt them down myself.”
    “You expect me to jeopardize my sisters?”
    “Can all Valkyrie channel energy? Start talking, or I’ll give your precious weapons to Warden Fegley, let him fuck about with them. Maybe I’ll dispatch them to the Horde with your compliments? Vampires should possess the swords that have felled so many of their kind.”
    Instead of arguing, she rose and sauntered over to him, swinging those hips. A lesser man could grow enthralled with the movement.
    “Chase?” she murmured.
    He stood as well. “What?” The air around her was electric, pricking his skin, but it felt good—it felt
familiar
. As she drew near, it intensified until he was almost shuddering. He stared down at her silver eyes. Mesmerizing.
    Thunder rumbled the walls. “Hold on tight, Magister.”

SIXTEEN

    R egin’s legendary