Dreams of a Dark Warrior

anyone in twenty years. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
    At last she spoke, words spilling out in a rush. “What’s wrong with me, Chase? Really? What could possibly be
right
with me? We had a deal. As long as I told you my tales, my friends weren’t to be tortured. Friends like Carrow.”
    So that’s what this concerned?
    “You knew I’d find out. You know the inmates talk!”
    He didn’t bother denying it. “I have a daily transcript of everything uttered in the facility.”
    “So you knew, but you just didn’t care. You don’t have to keep your word to a lowly creature like me?”
    “She wasn’t tortured, Valkyrie. Not by me.”
    “You forced her into a hell dimension—you don’t consider that torture?”
    “Not in the strictest sense of the word.”
    “Did you kill the little witch’s mother?”
    He frowned. “Another got to the job before I could. I was on base when it happened.”
    “My gods, you sound disappointed.”
    “As you pointed out, my work here keeps me from my hunting.”
    “I didn’t mean hunting witches!” she cried.
    “They are treacherous and malicious beings.”
    “With their enemies, maybe.” She was clearly grappling to check her anger, but her lightning continued to fire. “And what about Thad? Just another broken promise?”
    “He was scarcely touched.”
    “He’s just a
kid
.” Her lips drew back from her small fangs. “And how long will it be before you poison me again? How long before you let Dixon cut me open like she’s been dying to do?”
    Though he’d been keeping Regin’s exam off the log, he couldn’t stall it indefinitely.
    The Valkyrie’s pique didn’t bode well for his aims—but she’d seemed to relax when she’d talked of the past.“I’ve kept you from being examined so far because of your tales. I believe I’m due for one.”
    When she merely gaped at him, Declan decided to bargain with her. Trading concessions with the vampire had proved simple enough. “You said you wanted two things from me. Tonight, I’m prepared to offer you one, and possibly both. For a tale, I’ll let you bathe.”
    He thought he spied a calculating glimmer in her eyes. But then she smiled, and it vanished so completely he thought he’d imagined it. “I
do
want a bath. And you
do
want to watch me take one.”
    The most beautiful female he’d ever seen wanted to bathe in front of him. And he was just craven enough to stride to the concealed panel of his room and say, “Then follow me.”

TWENTY-FOUR

    S o this is Declan Chase’s lair,” Regin murmured as she gazed around.
I got inside!
Somehow she’d conquered the worst of her temper, and now she’d been rewarded.
    His quarters were similar to his office—devoid of personality, shadowy, and freakishly neat. The interior had three levels, one with a king-size bed and a massive computer console, a second with a kitchen and what looked like a weapons armory, and a third with a workout area. There were no windows.
    Dark and creepy. With a forced smile, she said, “It suits you.”
    He sat at the console, still thrumming with tension. Something had happened today that had rattled the hell out of him. But she didn’t give a damn what. She was here only to deliver one heaping order of downfall. The man before her had proved himself irredeemable.
    She sauntered over to join him—and found some of the most technologically advanced surveillance and computing systems she’d ever imagined.
    Budget? Unlimited. Like congressional-spending unlimited.
    “Wow, look at this setup. NASA called. They want Houston back.”
    What a reality check. Mortals actually had power—they were organized, well-funded, determined—and they were going to use it to destroy Lorekind.
    Chase was leaving her no choice but to strike against him.
    She scooted over, about to hop up on the desk. Without taking his eyes off her face, he moved a neat stack of papers, absently clearing the space for her.
    She took it. “Do you watch me a lot on those high-def feeds?”
    “On occasion.”
    “Uh-huh. So now you can watch me in person. Live nude girls in your bath. Be a good magister and unlock the cuffs, won’t you?” She gave him a heated look as she added, “Unless you think I can take you?”
    When he hesitated, she said, “You can either remove them or strip and bathe me yourself. Gentleman’s choice.”
    His Adam’s apple bobbed as if he was picturing the latter option. But then he flicked two fingers at her.