“Uh, bro, we’re the same clan now. Night Bloode Brothers. For life.” Rolf held up his hand. “Air high-five?”
Khent brooded. “No.”
The human watched them interact, now trying to hide a smile.
“Something amusing, human?” Khent asked, not bothering to hide his irritation.
His words made her smile widen.
Rolf shook his head. “She finds you amusing. We all do really. I can’t wait to?—”
“What’s the plan?” Valentine interrupted.
Khent wondered if she could tell he was two seconds away from going for Rolf’s throat.Again.Normally, he’d overlook the draugr’s pitiful arguments, but Khent didn’t like anyone thinking he’d lost a verbal skirmish. And certainly not a pretty human.
“Plan?” he answered, snide. “We kill the necromancer. You might or might not live to talk about it.”
“Not about the necromancer. I mean your plan about being a clan. What’s that all about? The Night Bloode? How can six vampires from different tribes coexist without killing each other? The detente can’t last, can it?”
“It’s Hecate’s magic,” Rolf answered. “Who knows? I don’t mind sticking around here. Now that the guys are getting mates, it’s gotten kind of fun. We have dusk fae, witches, nymphs, and now a berserker.” He eyed Valentine. “What’s one more human in the mix, eh, Khent?”
“Huh?” Valentine frowned.
Khent deliberately didn’t react to the obvious bait. “I’m giving Hecate another minute, then I’m taking Valentine to my laboratory for answers.”
“Oh, can I watch the torture? Er, the interrogation?” Rolf looked so hopeful.
“Perhaps. If you cease annoying me.”
“Like that’s going to happen.Not.” Rolf snickered.
Valentine glanced from Rolf to Khent, but her gaze continued to drift back to Khent. “I already told you I’ll help.”
“Because if you don’t, you and all your shifters will die.” Rolf nodded. “I heard.”
“No.” Ah. Now she looked annoyed with Rolf as well. “Because I want nothing more than to watch the head of my enemy roll off his fucking neck. The harder his death, the better.”
Impressed at the menace surrounding her, Khent gave a slow clap.
Rolf joined in. “I really do like her.”
“Shut up.” But Khent smiled as he said it. “His name, Valentine. We’ll start there.”
She nodded. “He’s been going by the name Spectre around the bazaar. But his real name is Vladimir of the Void. He added the Void part a few years ago.”
“And you want him dead because…?” Khent asked.
“I told you. He killed my family, Talon’s family, and every necromancer he can get his hands on. He’s a loser who steals power because he doesn’t have enough of his own.”
“Vengeance. I dig it.” Rolf nodded.
Valentine didn’t seem to hear him. “I won’t rest until he’s dead and beyond resurrection. If I die,” she said to Khent, “I give you permission to reanimate me and use me to kill him.”
“Not that I need permission. And I might just kill you anyway.”
She snorted. “You’ll try.”
Intrigued, Khent leaned closer, subtly scenting the lovely ash and honey underlying the magical cloak meant to disguise her power. “Why don’t we make a wager on it?”
