“Oh, I’m in.” Rolf tried to jump off the counter, but Khent shoved him back. “Hey.”
“Bring it, reaper.” Valentine closed the distance between them, so that they sat nose to nose.
“When I win, you grant me a boon. And if you win, the same applies.”
“A boon?” She scrunched her nose, as if scenting something rotten. “No way. You could ask for anything. You’re already stronger and faster than I’ll ever be. I also know some vampires can regenerate. It would never be an even contest.”
“Ah, so you admit you’re inferior. Very good.” Khent felt vindicated.
“Oh please. You’ll cheat and be too fast for me to spot you cheating.” She turned a mutinous glare on him he found adorable.
“Nah,” Rolf interrupted. “Khent’s all about fair play. The contest would have to be centered on magic, right?
“Exactly.” He studied Rolf.
“Whoa. What’s that look?”
Khent turned to Valentine and raised a brow quickly, so that Rolf couldn’t see it. “We’ll kill the draugr and see who reanimates him first.”
Rolf didn’t look so pleased with himself now. “Now hold on. I’m not part of this game.”
Valentine smiled. “Oh, that’s a bet. Whoever raises him first wins.”
“Yes. On three. One, two, three?—”
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Unfortunately,Hecate returned with Varu and intercepted the death magic Khent had aimed at Rolf.
“Youbastard.” Rolf would have attacked had Varu not ordered him to chill the fuck out.
“Just for the record, I was kidding,” Valentine said, staring at Varu in awe. “He’s got to be the patriarch, right?”
Khent nodded. “Yes. Varujan of the Night Bloode, may I make known to you Valentine Darkmore, necromancer and ally of the traitor, Talon Goldwing?”
He noticed her slight wince at the term “traitor,” but the description fit. In truth, Khent wasn’t bothered that Talon had tried to poison both Riley and Kraft. If the nachzehrer had been so weak as to die from a lying shifter, he deserved to end.
Riley had, of course, proven her worth.
“Valentine Darkmore.” Varu studied her. “You don’t seem like much.”
“Thanks,” she said drily, but Khent could scent the fear she couldn’t hide. She had a modicum of intelligence after all.
He must have given something away, because she turned to him, her eyes fiery, and snapped, “Something funny, reaper?”
“That’s Master or Lord Khent. And yes. I find you vastly entertaining.”
She gritted her teeth.
Varu watched their interaction, clearly amused though he didn’t show it. Khent had gotten to know him well enough to read the stoic strigoi’s mini tells, however.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to pretend he didn’t want to deal with Valentine. Because Varu had a habit of being contrary. “I have work to do in my lab. Can we get this over with?”
Hecate frowned. “This is our priority right now, Khent. Not your lab.”
Varu directed his question to the human. “What is this new threat?”
