vampires.”
“Right. Like destroying evil cannibal gods with Lucia,” Regin said, proud of her segue.
“Always back to Lucia. You’re exceedingly loyal to al your friends—even to your own detriment.”
“Whatever. Loyalty’s not a bad thing.”
“It is when you leave heaven for it. It is when you have nothing to show for it. For instance, your some-
some meter is reading empty. What about that nice leopard-shifter pack that wanted to date you? The
benefits of a variety pack of males cannot be overstated.”
If the rest of her sisters—or, gods forbid, her witch buddies—found out Regin hadn’t been laid in nearly
two hundred years, she’d never live it down. But like some stupid, sappy tool, she stayed faithful to Aidan and his reincarnates.
“Are you happy, Regin?”
She gave Nïx the look her question deserved. “I’m the prankster, remember? The happy-go-lucky one.
Ask anyone—they’l tel you I’m the cheeriest Valkyrie.” She studied Nïx’s expression, this time noticing
the shadows under her sister’s eyes. “Why? Are you happy? You seem tired al the time.” She didn’t
mention Nïx’s shrieking fits or disappearances, the bizarre eccentricities that only grew worse.
“I’m actively involved in steering the lives of thousands of beings. Which directly affects hundreds of
thousands, which indirectly affects mil ions, with a ripple effect reaching bil ions. If someone said, ‘It ain’t easy being Nïxie,’ I wouldn’t cal him a liar.”
Regin never real y thought about the pressure Nïx might be under. If the bat made her happy and
calmed her, then … Welcome to the family, Bertil.
In a prickly tone, Nïx said, “And yet al anyone talks about is how the Enemy of Old is making power
plays in the Lore. His power plays are child’s play compared to mine.”
Like Nïx, Lothaire the Enemy of Old was one of the oldest and most powerful beings in the Lore. But
the vampire was pure evil.
Nïx sniffed, “Lothaire’s no saner than I am.”
As Regin opened her mouth to correct her, Nïx amended, “Not much saner.”
“There, now.” Regin reached over to pat Nïx’s shoulder, but that bat hissed at her. “Why don’t you hook
up with someone, cozy away with a male for a few weeks? Weren’t you seeing Mike Rowe?”
“I do miss that baritone-voiced rapscal ion.” Nïx sighed. “But above al else, I’m a career woman. I’ve
no time to dal y.”
“You could take just a short vacay, you know? See some sights.” This might be one of the most lucid
conversations I’ve ever had with Nïx.
“I’m three thousand and three years old.” Nïx turned her vacant gaze out the window. “I’ve seen
everything —” She sat up, eyes wild. “Squirrel!”
Strike lucid . “Hey, I know, you could come with me to find Lucia!”
“Maybe she doesn’t want to be found just yet. You know she’l cal you before the final showcase
showdown with Cruach. For now, I’ve told you she’s with MacRieve.”
“ With with? ’Cause I refuse to believe that yet another Valkyrie is making time with a werewolf.” Much less the prim and proper Lucia.
The earthy Lykae revered sex and matehood; Lucia’s magical skil with a bow was celibacy-based. If
she got horizontal with a guy, she’d get kicked out of the Skathians, losing her archery forever. Which
she needed to fight Cruach.
Hence the fleeing from MacRieve and al .
“Refuse or accept, I cal ’em like I see ’em,” Nïx said. “Now, I have just one final task for you in the
Quarter. I need you to go take out some adversaries. Make it an example kil ing.”
“Example kil ing? Must be Tuesday. And you’re not going to get in on the action?”
Nïx blinked at her, aghast. “Who wil sit Bertil?”
Regin groaned.
“Besides, I’m going to visit Loa’s voodoo shop. She’s having an Accession sale. Everything must go.”
She snickered.
“If I do this, wil you final y tel me how to find Lucia?”
Another
“Right. Like destroying evil cannibal gods with Lucia,” Regin said, proud of her segue.
“Always back to Lucia. You’re exceedingly loyal to al your friends—even to your own detriment.”
“Whatever. Loyalty’s not a bad thing.”
“It is when you leave heaven for it. It is when you have nothing to show for it. For instance, your some-
some meter is reading empty. What about that nice leopard-shifter pack that wanted to date you? The
benefits of a variety pack of males cannot be overstated.”
If the rest of her sisters—or, gods forbid, her witch buddies—found out Regin hadn’t been laid in nearly
two hundred years, she’d never live it down. But like some stupid, sappy tool, she stayed faithful to Aidan and his reincarnates.
“Are you happy, Regin?”
She gave Nïx the look her question deserved. “I’m the prankster, remember? The happy-go-lucky one.
Ask anyone—they’l tel you I’m the cheeriest Valkyrie.” She studied Nïx’s expression, this time noticing
the shadows under her sister’s eyes. “Why? Are you happy? You seem tired al the time.” She didn’t
mention Nïx’s shrieking fits or disappearances, the bizarre eccentricities that only grew worse.
“I’m actively involved in steering the lives of thousands of beings. Which directly affects hundreds of
thousands, which indirectly affects mil ions, with a ripple effect reaching bil ions. If someone said, ‘It ain’t easy being Nïxie,’ I wouldn’t cal him a liar.”
Regin never real y thought about the pressure Nïx might be under. If the bat made her happy and
calmed her, then … Welcome to the family, Bertil.
In a prickly tone, Nïx said, “And yet al anyone talks about is how the Enemy of Old is making power
plays in the Lore. His power plays are child’s play compared to mine.”
Like Nïx, Lothaire the Enemy of Old was one of the oldest and most powerful beings in the Lore. But
the vampire was pure evil.
Nïx sniffed, “Lothaire’s no saner than I am.”
As Regin opened her mouth to correct her, Nïx amended, “Not much saner.”
“There, now.” Regin reached over to pat Nïx’s shoulder, but that bat hissed at her. “Why don’t you hook
up with someone, cozy away with a male for a few weeks? Weren’t you seeing Mike Rowe?”
“I do miss that baritone-voiced rapscal ion.” Nïx sighed. “But above al else, I’m a career woman. I’ve
no time to dal y.”
“You could take just a short vacay, you know? See some sights.” This might be one of the most lucid
conversations I’ve ever had with Nïx.
“I’m three thousand and three years old.” Nïx turned her vacant gaze out the window. “I’ve seen
everything —” She sat up, eyes wild. “Squirrel!”
Strike lucid . “Hey, I know, you could come with me to find Lucia!”
“Maybe she doesn’t want to be found just yet. You know she’l cal you before the final showcase
showdown with Cruach. For now, I’ve told you she’s with MacRieve.”
“ With with? ’Cause I refuse to believe that yet another Valkyrie is making time with a werewolf.” Much less the prim and proper Lucia.
The earthy Lykae revered sex and matehood; Lucia’s magical skil with a bow was celibacy-based. If
she got horizontal with a guy, she’d get kicked out of the Skathians, losing her archery forever. Which
she needed to fight Cruach.
Hence the fleeing from MacRieve and al .
“Refuse or accept, I cal ’em like I see ’em,” Nïx said. “Now, I have just one final task for you in the
Quarter. I need you to go take out some adversaries. Make it an example kil ing.”
“Example kil ing? Must be Tuesday. And you’re not going to get in on the action?”
Nïx blinked at her, aghast. “Who wil sit Bertil?”
Regin groaned.
“Besides, I’m going to visit Loa’s voodoo shop. She’s having an Accession sale. Everything must go.”
She snickered.
“If I do this, wil you final y tel me how to find Lucia?”
Another
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