Riley put a hand on Kraft’s chest when he tried to move past her. “Let it go. I wanted an apology. Plus, I like all the tasty guilt on the bird’s face.”
“Anguish, guilt, anxiety, take your pick.” Talon sounded tired, and Khent studied him, seeing past the physical to the wounded soul beneath. Not that Khent was that in tune with emotions, but he was particularly good at sensing weakness in an opponent.
The look Talon exchanged with Valentine interested him because it spoke of a shared experience. Hadn’t she said mentioned the necromancer killing her family and Talon’s as well? They shared past trauma.
Vengeance, he understood. Even approved. But a challenge from a lesser being… He didn’t know if he should let that stand. Who was Talon Goldwing to threaten a reaper?
Before he could issue his challenge, Valentine pulled away from him, the loss of her shocking. He hadn’t realized she’d been tapping into his energy until she’d pulled away.
How could such a lesser being interfere with a reaper? Enraged she thought to screw with him—and in front of others, no less—he plotted how best to take his revenge before she stopped and turned to him in shock.
“Wh-what did you just do?”
He considered her confusion. Knowing he’d done nothing to her, he realized she didn’t know what she’d just done to him. Asurprising power locked inside the little human. That interested him especially.
Khent loved puzzles.
“I’ll tell you later. Now issue my challenge to your friend, so that he may pay his last respects before I bleed him dry.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
Val staredin astonishment at the arrogant, too-sexy-for-his-own-good reaper. “What did you say?”
He shooed her toward Talon. “Give your friend my challenge. So that he may say goodbye properly. Death is everlasting, as we both know.”
“What?” Talon and Val said as one.
“Is it just me? Or are they hard of hearing?” Rolf asked.
“It’s just you,” Riley answered. “And Kraft, not one word.”
Her mate opened his mouth and closed it, not speaking. He looked wolfish the more Val studied him. A lot like Riley, Talon’s berserker friend.
Oh boy. How to get out of this? “You’re joking, right?” she asked Khent.
“I allowed your bird friend to come to our home without molestation. But a challenge to me must be answered. He threatened to destroy everything I care about. Thus he deserves to die.”
The vampires with him nodded.
“I see no issue with this,” Rolf added.
Riley stared at them. “It’s true. You’re all really weird.”
“She means weird in the best way,” Kraft gushed. “Don’t you, my darling puppy?”
Riley made a face at him before grinning. “You’re such an idiot.”
Before Val could take care of Khent’s nonsense, Rolf scowled and said, “Hey. I forgot to ask… You guys were out with Varu and the others looking for the stones. Why are you here?”
Kraft answered, “Varu sent us back to check on something else. He and the others are busy enough, so Riley and I are hanging here. He wants us to talk to Hecate about” —he glanced at Val and Talon— “stuff.”
Rolf nodded. “Oh. Right.Stuff.Gotcha.”
“None of you make a lick of sense.” Khent turned to face Talon once more.
Val had used their inattention to position herself in front of her friend, her arms crossed over her chest.
