Page 56

His heart skipped a beat. “I wasn’t there.”

“But weren’t you? You were outside when she went running. You scooped her right up into your arms and took her home.” Varlett’s tongue ran across her pointed canine. “Maybe you did suspect I was up to something and took advantage. Maybe I’m not the only one who’s a little mad when they don’t get what they want.”

Thane’s stomach dropped to his toes. He didn’t want to lose his brother again. He couldn’t. “Don’t you dare try to turn this on me.” He charged at her and gripped her by the throat until he slammed her back against a tree trunk.

“Careful,” she said softly, “don’t hurt your precious Valeen… or do. Choke me a little more. I don’t mind it if you’re the one doing it.”

His free hand trembled with rage and curled into a fist, punching the tree trunk beside her head. “If you poison Hel against me with your lies again…”

“You’ll kill me? There’s a line you’ll have to get into first.”

He jerked his hand back and took several steps away before he lost control. The edges of his vision had begun to shadow, a sign he was on the verge of giving into his dark side, the wraith who killed without remorse. The reason for his god name.

“You’ve always had so much potential, Varlett. You could use your gifts to help us, but yet again I have a feeling anything you do that may look like help is for your own gain.”

“And even if I did, you’d trust me?” She let out a cackle. “There is no coming back from it. With time, you might forgive me, but Valeen and Hel never will. And so, I did what I had to. I linked my body to Valeen’s. It was the only way to save myself for when the truth came out. There is no place I could hide where Hel wouldn’t find me. You know this.”

“And you know they’ll find a way to break the link.”

She lifted a shoulder. “Perhaps I have sealed my fate and will die by Hel or Valeen’s hand, but I always seem to find a way to survive.”

“Like a cockroach.”

She rolled her eyes. “Didn’t any part of you miss me?”

“Like you said, what you did was unforgivable. You destroyed my relationship with Hel, the closest person in my life. Even if we have reconciled that bond will always be tainted because ofyou.”

Swipinghis sweaty brow with his sleeve, Thane made his way back up the steps to his room. Varlett was really the most vile person he’d ever known, and he’d known a great many cruel and terrible people in his life.

A couple of guards bowed to him as he passed. “Good morning,” Thane greeted them. Three maids carrying fresh linens stopped and stepped against the wall allowing him to pass. “Morning, ladies.”

They curtsied. “Morning, sire.”

One of them whispered, “Is it just me or has he gotten even more attractive since he and Layala split?”

The others giggled and he couldn’t help but smile.

“I’d lay in his bed without a stitch of clothing on if I thought he’d take me,” another said.

He hoped she didnotdo that and turned the corner. Blonde hair was the first thing he saw then a clatter of porcelain came next and suddenly the front of his shirt was soaked. Thane jumped at the hot liquid on his already hot sweaty skin. Katana caught her teacup before it fell, and gasped.

“Oh, goodness, I am so sorry, Thane. I did not see you.” She quickly set her teacup on the window’s ledge but kept the napkin and started wiping at the front of his shirt. “Does it burn? It was still a little hot. Ugh and it is going to stain. I am so clumsy sometimes.” Flustered, she continued wiping. “And,All Motherhelp me. It even spilled on your pants.”

“It’s fine.” He stiffened and caught her wrist to stop her from wiping below his belt. “They’re only clothes.”

Lifting her big, lavender eyes, she let out a sharp breath. “Oh, sorry,” she blushed, “you can clean yourself, ugh, downthere.” She tucked her hands behind her back. “Now that I am completely embarrassed, I will go to my room and die a little.” She whirled on her heel and hurried away.

“Katana,” he said, and she froze. Now that he told Leif he had already asked her, he had to now, or he’d get shit for it later. The image from his dream of her sitting naked on top of him came to mind and he started to clam up. But he wasn’t going to ask her to be his date. It was just so neither of them would have to go alone.

Right, that was all it was.

He cleared his throat, but the words wouldn’t come out.

She finally faced him again. There was still a flush to her cheeks. “Yes?”

“Would you escort me to my mother’s memorial tonight?”

She fidgeted with the ends of her long hair. “Are you sure? It is a public event. People may think, well, you know what they will think. When the High King brings someone, it has meaning.”