Dreams of a Dark Warrior (49 page)

keep him?”

“I can’t forget about the curse,” Regin said firmly. Because she was tempted to do just that. To take

that wicked Irishman behind a rock and have her way with him.

“How does he compare to the original Aidan?”

“They’re similar in a lot of ways.” And those similarities kept tugging on her heartstrings, making her

soften toward him. But there were definite differences.

Whereas Chase seemed comfortable with the idea of her fighting, Aidan probably would never have

al owed her to go into battle.

Aidan had put her on a pedestal, awed that he was with a Valkyrie.

Chase wanted her to be his …
friend
.

Seeing him with Brandr like this—both of them so tal , nodding in agreement over whatever they were

discussing—brought back so many memories. Just as before, she could tel there would be a bond

between the two men.

But Chase won’t have enough time to see it grow.

FORTY-NINE

“
S
o I guess one of my biological folks was a vamp?” Thad asked Regin and Natalya on their fifth day of trekking.

As Chase and Brandr walked behind them in easy conversation, Regin and Natalya hosted day two of

their vampire crash course. They’d started it yesterday, mainly to counteract al the things “Mr. Lothaire”

had been tel ing Thad:

“You can teach yourself to half-teleport, becoming as good as invisible to spy on people… Valkyrie

blood tastes ambrosial. … Stealing money from humans is rewarding both financial y and spiritual y. …

Females crave being bitten—they lie if they deny it. …”

Regin peered around for the vampire, her hand unconsciously fal ing on the schwag sword she wore at

her hip. Lothaire was MIA yet again. He often went off by himself.

Natalya told Thad, “Most likely your dad was. Vampire females are as good as extinct.”

Thad was aghast. “No females?”

Natalya patted his shoulder. “You can date other species, Tiger. Don’t you worry. I’ve already thought

of some ladies to relieve you of your big V. One’s a nymph—”

“Over my dead body,” Regin said. “Two-bit hookers, every one of them.”

Thad scratched his head. “Mr. Lothaire said every male needed a purring nymph or two chained to the

foot of his bed. As pets.”

Natalya gasped. “Al right, lad, no more talking to Lothaire.”

Though Regin was strong enough to confront that vampire over his crimes against the Valkyrie,

unfortunately, Lothaire had come in handy.

If their crew of six passed groups of evil demons, he always appeared in time to defuse the situation.

The demons fawned over him like he was Elvis or something, saving them a fight—and saving them time.

They were already cutting it close to get to the boat. For the last five days, they’d pushed hard through

the mountains, but the never-ending storms and wind made for slow going. And on the second day out,

they’d spotted throngs of Wendigos teeming in the forests below, so their crew had clung as high as

possible to the rocky peaks, taking extra time.

Al the while, Regin had continued to sense another Valkyrie, yet couldn’t pinpoint it enough to go

searching. She’d asked Chase about it, but he’d sworn no other Valkyrie had been in the facility.

“Nat, are my fangs looking
any
bigger?” Thad murmured, his tone dire. “Be
honest
.”

As Natalya oohed and aahed over his “manly” fangs, Regin only half-listened, glancing over her

shoulder at Chase. Earlier, he’d tried to draw her into conversation, but she’d been too out of sorts. Now she was lost in her own thoughts, about to introspect like a son of a bitch.

She feared she might be a jot more than infatuated with this reincarnation. Like on her way toward

fal ing-off-a-skyscraper-onto-your-face in love with him.

Which she could never al ow.

But gods, that man appealed to her in so many ways. Regin liked that he was complicated, and that he

was
trying
. She admired that he’d overcome so much and was striving to be a better man.

Other males might feel sorry for themselves or rail against fate. Not Chase. He just picked himself up

again and again.

For each of the last four nights, the two of them had gone off by themselves. He’d never tried to kiss

her mouth or make love to her—as if he knew she’d pul the plug on their arrangement. After they’d slaked

the worst of their need, they talked into the morning, with her curled against his chest. He’d pet her hair while she traced his scars, wishing she could take away the pain that had rendered them.

Last night, he’d final y told her of the days and nights he’d been a captive of the Neoptera. Though his

tone had been brusque—as if he were relating a military report—he’d physical y reacted to the memory.

Sweat had dotted his upper lip and brow, his eyes lit with misery.

Afterward, when he’d eventual y passed into a fitful sleep, she’d lain awake, dazed, wondering how he

could possibly have endured that pain.

And to what end? Why would he survive so much just to have his life ended now?

Though he slept little, when he did he continued to dream about his past lives. One night, he’d

experienced the battle when Gabriel had captured Regin’s ship. Another night, he’d relived the Spaniard’s

wicked bed play with her. She’d woken to Chase’s fingers plunging deep inside her as he stroked himself

in time.

His intense gaze had swept from his busy fingers to her mouth. When he’d wet his own lips, she’d

quickly said, “No kissing.”

“I can wait you out, Valkyrie,” he’d rasped. “Now that my prize is in sight. …”

Each dream sent her panic escalating. Soon he would remember al , and then Aidan would rise to the

fore, taking over.

Declan Chase, the man, would be no more, his life just a memory, his body soon to perish.

The cycle continued, the curse grinding on.

“I need your help,” Declan muttered to Brandr as Regin climbed ahead with Thad and Natalya.

Brandr raised his brows. “You know that’s what I’m here for.”

Declan did know that. The man was proving to be a staunch al y. Stil Declan had difficulty asking others

for assistance. “How do I talk Regin past that curse?”

Brandr said, “You don’t, if you want to stay alive.”

He ground his teeth in frustration. In his mind, the rescue from the island was as good as done. Al her

conditions could stil be met. The only thing that stood in their way was this curse.

Declan intended to eliminate
anything
in their way, to do whatever it took to claim her as his own. The last few days with her had been amazing. Life had never been so bloody easy for him. He didn’t have to

disguise his accent with her, didn’t have to hide his body. He felt no strain.

He’d never imagined that a woman could fit him so wel . He liked the way she thought, liked that she

said outrageous things and threw mud in his face. Regin had
flavor
.

His lass was the opposite of soul ess.

They’d talked deep into the night, getting to know each other better. She’d confided her secret fear—

ghosts—and her addiction to video games. And she was drol . Though he was out of practice laughing,

his lips had curled when she’d itemized the things she’d made demons eat.

The one subject she refused to talk about? The distant past. She feared him remembering more,

feared triggering that damned curse. “What do you suggest then, Brandr? Because I’m no’ givin’ her up.”

“As if you could.”

“No, I’m done for. Would be happily so if I could get her to feel the same way.”

“Have you considered trying to become immortal?”

Three weeks ago, Declan would’ve been insulted by this question. Now it made him regret that he

couldn’t be. “You think I’d immortalize this battered body?” He waved his hand to indicate his chest.

“Besides, I know the risks inherent in turnin’. I just want a few decades with the lass.”

“You won’t get it. If you sleep with Regin, you’l die. Period. The only chance you have is to become an

immortal
before
you claim her.”

“And how would I do that? You know the transformation is no’ foolproof.” The catalyst to become

another species was death—and it didn’t always work.

Demons turned only a fraction. The Lykae had better odds, but it often took a newly transformed

werewolf decades to control his inner beast—if it could be tamed at al . “Can you transform another into

an immortal berserker?”

“I have no idea, but if I had to say, I’d go with no. I’ve never heard of it happening. The ones with most success at this are the vampires. Which would never work.”

“Aye, I despise them, could never become one.”

Brandr lowered his voice. “And we know how Regin feels about them.”

“She hates them for kil ing her man.”

“Regin hated them long before that. Her mother’s entire race was exterminated by vampires.”

Declan ran his hand over his face. “I did no’ know that.”

“And if you did become a vampire, her Valkyrie blood would be irresistible to you. There’s no way she

could spend eternity as a host to one of them, not even for you. Face it, Chase, your only hope is to

abstain with her.”

Declan caught Regin glancing over her shoulder at him with silvery eyes. “Then I’ve no chance in hel ,”

he said dryly. “But I’m no’ convinced of this, Brandr. I’m strong—stronger than I’ve ever been. I’l no’ go out so easily, now that I’ve something to live for.”

“I wish it were that simple. Listen, Regin has al iances with the witches. They might be able to help you

—if you don’t claim Regin before we reach New Orleans.”

“The witches wil do no favors for me.”

“We can figure something out. But only if you can wait …” Brandr trailed off as Lothaire approached

them. “What do you want, leech?”

He rubbed his tongue on his fang. “Chase’s end of the bargain.”

FIFTY

“
C
ome, don’t be shy, Magister,” the vampire murmured, his eyes riveted to Declan’s neck. “I grow

peckish.”

“Don’t bloody cal me that!” He gazed out past a craggy rock face, back down the trail where the others

awaited them. Brandr was supposed to tel Regin that they’d gone to scout ahead, but Declan was

uneasy.

And it sat il with him to sneak around like this, to cede his blood so shameful y. “You aren’t even

supposed to drink this often,” Declan said. “Older vampires can go for weeks. Do you
want
more of my memories?”

“Surely the rest can’t be worse?”

When Declan only raised his brows, Lothaire said, “In any case, I lost blood fighting the Wendigos and

need to refil my coffers.”

Declan gritted his teeth, rol ing up a sleeve.
How far I’ve fallen.
Al owing himself to be drunk.

But he had no choice. If he’d had any lingering doubts that he was a member of the Lore, they’d been

extinguished; Declan felt
compelled
by the vow he’d made.

“It’l go faster through the neck,” Lothaire said. “And I know you want to be quick. Don’t want your

female to catch you
in flagrante dentate,
do you?”

“Forget it.”

“I seem to recal that your vow stipulated whenever and
however
I chose to drink you.”

Declan’s hands tightened into fists as Lothaire moved behind him. “You’re a fuckin’ parasite.”
I could
never
become a vampire.
Filthy leeches.

“Words stil hurt, Chase. Besides, you should be thanking me. My advice about the Valkyrie clearly

worked. And speaking of females, if I cal you by one’s name while my fangs are plunged deep in your

neck, just run with it.” The vampire leaned in.