Immortals After Dark 03 - No Rest for the Wicked

mere weeks. She’d learned that Regin’s antics could make her stomach hurt from laughing.
    Regin delighted in making fun of Dasha and Rika’s old English, though the two were learning the modern version with an astounding speed. “Their ‘ye olde brew pub’ style of talking creeps me out,” Regin had said. “All that thou -ing and thee -ing like they’re actors from a Shakespeare festival and won’t go out of character.” She’d drawn Kaderin aside. “I swear to the gods, Rika said ‘t’asn’t.’ What is that? No. Really.”
    When Kaderin had asked Regin if she was okay about her involvement with Sebastian, she’d answered, “If by ‘okay’ you mean ‘homicidal,’ then yes, absolutely.” Then she’d added in a mutter, “Your leech gave us two new Valkyrie and brought you back from the dead. Because of his brother, Emmaline lives. If there existed a turn-off-millennia-of-hate switch, I might... squint at it.” They’d left it at that.
    The only thing that hindered Kaderin’s happiness was missing Sebastian.
    She knew he was watching the manor right now, looking out for her. He loved her. But this was a difficult time for her sisters, and with each of their missteps and confusion, Kaderin’s guilt returned.
    Still, Kaderin had begun waiting for the right time to tell them all of her decision. Until then, everyone needed to be understanding of them after all they’d been through.
    Dasha and Rika needed to be treated with kid gloves and eased into this time.

    “ Selfish girl, ” Myst snapped, shoving Dasha against the wall by her neck, holding her there. “You can’t comprehend what Kaderin’s gone through for so long. She deserves this happiness. You have no idea how much. And yet you both still sneer at the idea of her with a vampire.”
    Rika kicked Myst behind her knee, making her stumble and release Dasha.
    Rubbing her neck, Dasha said, “It is easy for you to accept Kaderin with a vampire, since you have one as your man.”
    “It doesn’t matter if it’s easy or not,” Myst said. “You simply have to accept it—for her. She has happiness within her grasp with a strong, honorable warrior who adores her, and you are standing in their way.”
    “Myst, we believe even we might come to tolerate her decision,” Dasha said. “But you forget, we were on a battlefield with Furie less than two weeks ago. Her nature isn’t dim in our minds, as it is in yours. When Furie is found, do you think she would possibly let either of your husbands live?”
    Rika added, “Would Kaderin run with this man? Become a fugitive? We would never see her again.”
    Myst shook her head, though she had the same fears. “Let Kaderin determine this. Let her and Sebastian decide if they’ll take that risk.” She regarded both sisters. “Kaderin and Sebastian can’t live without each other. Mark my words, both merely bide their time.”

42
    I f Kaderin didn’t send for me herself,” Sebastian said at the entrance to Val Hall, “then I don’t want to be here.” Lightning clattered constantly. Smoke and fog inundated the grounds. The old manor was imposing, sepulchral.
    “You aren’t curious about what you’ve been called here for?” Nikolai asked. “Even Myst has no idea what this is about.”
    “All I know is, she didn’t send for me.” Sebastian scowled up at the ghostly specters guarding the house, and Nikolai slapped his back in sympathy.
    “They will not hurt you unless you try to get in without payment or permission.”
    “I’m not concerned with them.” At Nikolai’s questioning look, Sebastian shrugged. “After the things I saw in the Hie?”
    “That’s right, Nïx’s origami storyboard. I need to ask her about that.”
    Sebastian said, “I was just thinking that if this is where Kaderin calls home, she will not like the estate I just purchased.”
    “You gave Myst carte blanche to pick it out—a bold and reckless move, but one I feel will serve you well with your Bride.”
    “Kaderin asked for time.” Even missing her as he did, he still felt her request was reasonable. He expected eternity with her. Two weeks was nothing. “I am intruding on her and her sisters.”
    Just as he was about to trace, Nikolai grabbed his arm. “How long will you wait?”
    “Until she calls for me.”
    “I don’t think it would help your cause if you shun an invitation to their coven. It’s, uh, very rare.” Nikolai held up a lock of red hair Myst had given him in advance. A