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“Get out.” She lowered the blade, Soulender, and pointed to the darkened spot in the wall he came from.

“I gave that to you as a gift and you would use it against me?”he tsked. “Have you used it against anyone else as of late? Synick perhaps?”

Her fury-blue eyes narrowed. “You attempt to break into my land and now you’re here to accuse me of crimes? You’re the thief, not I.”

“I’m standing inside your walls. I would say it was more than an attempt. And you stole that from me. Seems we’re both criminals.”

The corner of her mouth turned up. “You said it was a gift.” With the gentleness of a lover’s caress, she slid the point of Soulender from his shoulder to wrist and a chill ran down his spine. “And you’re only inside because I allowed it.”

“Is that so?”

She met his stare and he’d be damned if it wasn’t the most stunning thing he’d ever seen. “Leave. Now, before I have to do something I don’t want to.”

“Why do you hide in here? What are you afraid of?”

Her palm pressed flatly against his chest, and she backed him toward the wall. “I fear nothing.”

They both stopped at the House of Night’s edge. The pounding of War’s ax crashing into the barrier sounded dull and far away although he was merely feet from them. “Get rid of that dagger. If anyone suspects you killed Synick—”

“No one but you and War knows I have it. If anyone suspects it was me, it’s only because of the two of you. Tell your Uncle Balneir that you spoke to me, and I had nothing to do with it.”

“You’re quite demanding, aren’t you.”

“I’m not some silly girl to be trifled with. Get out of my territory or I’ll cut off your pecker and every time you wish you could feel pleasure, you’ll think of me.”

“Oh, I already think of you, especially when it comes to pleasure.”

“You think you’re so clever and witty, god of mischief,” she said with a chuckle, looking at him from boots to face. “I’ll admit, you are quite delicious, and in my younger days I may have been tempted but when you’re as old as I, the years tend to whittle out the stupid. I have no interest in you or your cousin or any of the Primevar. I’ve given you ample time, little boy. Leave.”

The flush that filled Hel’s cheeks came swiftly. “Tell me why you did it or I’ll go back to my uncle with a very different story, and you can expect an army at your wall within a fortnight, and thislittle boywill destroy House of Night until there is nothing left. Soon no one will know that you or your precious territory ever existed at all.”

The tip of the dagger was at the base of his throat in an instant. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with. It was easy to kill your so-called uncle, a Primordial, said to be the best warrior the Primevar had, and I didn’t even break a sweat. I can do the same to you just as easily.”

Clenching his teeth together, Hel grabbed her wrist and pushed back though he was barely able to move her. “I don’t like being threatened and that’s the second time.”

“Then do something about it,” she challenged in a voice that sounded like she might start laughing at him. As if he was nothing more than a pitiful human and posed no threat at all.

The magical barrier finally cracked wide enough for War to stumble through, wild-eyed and ready for battle. A quick look between the two of them and he charged. His ax came down with blurred speed at the dagger threatening Hel’s life. Valeen jerked it back and spun away, shifting entirely to shadow, and reappearing fully behind War. Standing opposite to them, she raised her chin ever so slightly and leveled Soulender at her waist.

“Why are you just standing there?” she curled her fingers on her left hand beckoning them forward. “Let’s see what the best of the Primevar has to offer.”

Hel and War exchanged a glance. She wielded a weapon that could end them forever. Any power Hel or his cousin possessed could hurt her but never kill her. She was a full-blooded Primordial goddess.

“Scared?”

War grinned and rested the length of his ax against his shoulder. “It’s unfair for two large powerful males to fight a single female. I’d feel bad.”

“Oh, gods, here we go,” Hel murmured.

She came at them in the wrath of darkness, blanketing them in a cloud so thick Hel may as well have been locked in the blackest of dungeons where no light ever showed.

War cursed. Served him right. Hopefully, he got stabbed at least once for his comment.

Hel waved his hand blasting forth a ball of light that burned away the dark veil. Valeen was inches from him with the dagger leveled at his chest. “Shit,” Hel backpedaled then dodged to the side barely missing a downward hack. She was out for blood, and this was no longer a game.

War took advantage of her occupation with Hel and swung his weapon at her. She turned in time to block it with her armored forearm and then drove the dagger at his belly.

“Damn it, goddess,” he snarled, shoving his hips back, barely escaping her strike. “We didn’t come here to fight.” They went at each other, weapons flying at speeds difficult to track.