He wore conceit like a second skin. “I find your arrogance amusing,” she corrected. “But in some instances, I guess it’s not misplaced.”
Rolf pointed to himself. “Some? Oh, you meanmineisn’t misplaced. I agree. Yeah, they think a lot of themselves. You have to admit though. The wings were pretty cool.”
“They were beautiful,” she said with all sincerity, keeping her amusement to herself when Khent preened under the compliment. He really was cute with all that arrogance, especially when he wasn’t trying to be annoying about it.
And since when is his conceit funny and not irritating?
She couldn’t say why her feelings for him had changed. Unless it had to do with his exceptional ability to give her mind-numbing pleasure. With a cough, unwilling to think about sexing him up against lest she give in to the impulse, Val studied the group with her.
“Can someone please explain what happened with Morpheus? And where is he anyway?”
“The dick left.” Orion shook his head. “While Mormo was healing Rolf, and you and Khent were necro-fucking in Khent’s room of wonder?—”
“Orion,” Khent warned.
Rolf snickered.
Orion continued, “—the annoying god of dreams vanished. There one minute then gone the next.”
Mormo huffed. “He won’t answer my calls. Hecate’s either. Something has him worried.”
“He should be,” Khent said, his voice like ice. “He took us into a realm over which he had no control. He nearly got himself killed. Nearly got us all killed.”
“Khent was so afraid,” Rolf said to Val.
“Afraid I would not live to see him pay for his insolence. Nergal is powerful, and in his own realm, nearly unstoppable.”
Orion socked Khent in the arm. “Nice job with the galla demons. Rolf told me all about it. Good moves, dead boy.”
“Shut it, vryko.”
“He was magnificent.” Val figured he’d earned the compliment. “He fought copies of himself. And those wings had real substance in Irkalla. You could see Nergal wanting to keep Khent there.”
Mormo frowned. “This is true. Did he make you any promises, Khent?”
“Of course. Who wouldn’t want me as an ally?”
Orion rolled his eyes.
“He promised me the same power he’s been giving Vladimir. References to immortality and strength beyond measure. But he expects me to obey him.”
The vampires laughed at that, even Khent.
Onvyr shook his head. “He’s gonna be upset you said no. Gods don’t like that.”
Val wondered if they ought to be more worried about Nergal taking revenge.
No one seemed to be bothered by that, though. Instead, talk turned to the Bloode Stones.
Mormo stopped suddenly and turned to her. “Nergal wants the stone he thinks you possess. I want to look at this storage facility.”
“Okay.”
“After she finishes her meal,” Khent said firmly. “Valentine, you need your strength. Replenish yourself.”
Rolf got a sly look on his face. “Why does your girlfriend need to restock her precious blood supply?”
The guys all stared from her to Khent.
