Riley shrugged. “Thing is, if one vamp knows, they all know. And Duncan, our revenant, is mated to Macy—a member of MEC. She’s their Bloode Witch.”
“Shit. I forgot about that.” Talon rubbed his eyes. “I’m so tired.”
Val heard the truth in his words—tired of living. She rubbed his back. “It’ll be over soon, Talon. I swear. We’ll get him.”
“Him who?” Riley asked.
Talon gave her a summary of Spectre—Vladimir—and why he needed to be stopped.
The berserker looked thoughtful. “Interesting. Someone’s been moving a lot of pieces around the board. All this death and destruction to distract us? Or is it to help the big bad coming?” She stared hard at Val. “What’s your piece in this? Are you and Khent a thing or what?”
“What?” Val choked. “A thing? What kind of thing? A predator/prey thing? An asshole/ helpless human thing? Or maybe a?—”
“Master and servant thing,” Khent interrupted, putting himself between her and Talon. “Hands off, bird. Or I’ll pluck every feather from your body.”
“You will not,” Val said before Talon could commit death by vampire. He had a look about him that said he wouldn’t mind, no matter their plans to wait before confronting Vladimir.
“Do you mean to deny what your Better has said?”
Riley sighed. “Oh hell. Not that ‘Better’ crap again.”
Val felt Grizz close by, smiled, and subtly nudged Talon back. “You should bow to me, vampire. Because I am far superior in all matters aligned with death.”
Then she jumped away as Grizz plummeted from the sky, pounding Khent deep into the earth.
All went silent.
Everyone stared at Val in befuddlement.
But when Grizz flew out of the depression in the ground he’d left, she spotted no sign of Khent.
“Ah, now that is a challenge I happily accept,” the reaper growled as he knocked Grizz into andthroughthe house.
Rolf laughed. “Oh yeah! Place your bets, people. Things are finally getting interesting.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Khent couldn’t have been moreimpressed with Valentine if he’d tried. She’d deliberately baited him, stalling for time in order to get her magnificent pet here for protection. Imagine the female havinga gargoyleat her disposal.
When alive, they had immeasurable strength and skill in battle. He’d wanted a dead gargoyle for years, but to find one, he’d almost have to destroy it to kill it. And decimating it wouldn’t allow it to be in working order when reanimated.
How did she get such a glorious piece? This creature seemed in full fighting form. A hardened—pun intended—warrior. An inspiring and lethal tool.
Valentine Darkmore had nearly taken Khent down.
He found that so damn sexy; it was all he could do not to take her back to his room. Instead, he had to fight the gargoyle to prove his mettle.
Not to her,he told himself. To the others.My pride is on the line, after all.
He dodged the winged beast but took a brutal hit to his shoulder. Literally being hit by a rock with the strength of a Nimean Lion. Annoyed, Khent shot up off the ground in a burstof speed and knocked the gargoyle up into the air, shot up and away like a cannon.
It would take the gargoyle a few seconds to recoup, giving Khent a chance to join Valentine once more. “I plan to defeat your champion, then…” He frowned. “Where is the traitor?”
She cleared her throat. “Oh, er, Talon went home. I’ll send Grizz with him if you’ll see reason and leave him alone.”
“After he challenged me?”
