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Hel’s brows furrowed and he looked the letter over. “I wouldn’t pull the same thing twice. I’m more creative than that. Besides, why would I trick you now? I thought we were friends again. Although, I do sort of miss being the villain around here. I might need to kill a few people just so no one forgets who I really am. Where are those green sash people that formed when Val was born? You know, the ones who think she’s a dark mage and should be killed.”

“Oh, you’re still hated, no need to worry about that. And you have better things to do with your time than worry about them.” He pointed at the letter from Lord Maelus. “And I don’t know why you do half the things you do, so it wouldn’t be far-fetched if you sent this.”

“Everything I do is either for her or my vengeance. I’m a simple creature really.” Hel crumpled up the paper and tossed it into the air where it vanished. “You seem a little jealous.”

“Of you? Far from it.”

“We haven’t talked about her choice so let’s get it out of the way.”

“I don’t want to talk about it. You’re too sensitive.”

Hel chuckled and put a hand on his chest. “I’msensitive?”

“We’d end up in a fight.”

“You want to fight me?” he mused, curiosity and challenge rising.

“Not at the moment.”

“Good, because we already did that in this room once, and we both know how that went. You almost cried.”

Thane let out a barking laugh. It stung that Hel had taken on both him and Valeen while barely breaking a sweat. His magic held Thane in place without Hel even moving. The strength he drew from the Void made him more powerful than both him andValeen for now. Even if Thane was a full immortal, he wouldn’t want to fight him. “Gods, you’re such an arrogant ass. If you didn’t use your magic, there would have been a very different outcome.”

“Are we back to measuring cocks? If you want to fist fight, I’m up for it.” His red eyes flashed, and he slipped his jacket off and with a snap of his fingers it hung on a hook near the entrance doors. He rolled up his charcoal sleeves and adjusted his black vest.

Thane rested one boot across his knee and drummed his fingers on the onyx armrest of his throne. He truly was not angry with Hel for what Valeen chose, it was her choice to make, but he did want to punch him for being such an asshole and all the shit he pulled before. “The last time we had a duel you dropped me into an illusion of the underrealm.”

“Well, you were an idiot and didn’t set any rules.” He walked to the base of the steps leading to Thane’s throne and tapped his chin. “Hit me. Right here. I know you want to.”

“This feels like a trick.”

“I will allow you to hit me once, real fucking hard without consequences. I deserve it.”

“You know what, you do deserve it.” Thane made it down the steps in two strides, and swung hard. His fist cracked against Hel’s jaw, snapping his head to the side. Hel stumbled off balance, caught himself before he fell, and held a hand to his mouth.

“Fuck,” Hel murmured. “I forgot how hard you hit.” He stood tall, and Thane punched him a second time. The sound of his fist hitting flesh echoed off the high rafters above. Blood splattered on the floor, and Hel backed up several steps, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. A wide split had opened on his bottom lip. The playfulness was gone now. “I gave youoneshot.”

“That first one was for the way you treated me when you first woke up. The second was for everything else.” He needed several but two would have to do.

He let out a low rumble deep in his throat and then flipped him a middle finger. “Fine. It’s done now but if you ever sucker punch me like that again, expect averydifferent reaction.” He flicked a dismissive hand then crossed his arms behind his back and started pacing. “I heard gossip this morning. Care to explain?”

“What gossip?”

“Involving you and a pretty blonde. I don’t know if I’d step into that arena, cousin.”

Thane rolled his eyes. As if Hel was the one to lecture him on morals and what was right and wrong. “I’m sure whatever you heard is gossip and nothing more.”

“Really?” His brow rose. “So she wasn’t eating breakfast with you in a risqué nightgown on your lap? I mean, do whatever you want as long as you’re not pining for my wife anymore.”

“It’s not what you think.”

Hel laughed; the split on his lip was already gone. “Gods, so it did happen. Well, be careful. You break that one’s heart and you’ll have one very wrathful Valeen on the warpath.”

“Yes, she sat on my lap, but nothing happened. Nothing is happening between Katana and I. Nothingwillhappen. It’s too—they’re sisters and given my past with Valeen...”

“They’re not actually related and let’s not pretend you don’t cross lines when it comes to family. But it’s probably best not to dredge up that old tale again.”

Thane sneered at him. “Definitely best not to.”