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Balery said, “I can detect it in blood, but there’s no guarantee I’ll ever have a working cure.”

Lothaire rose. “Nïx didn’t mention much about Mina, was too busy wondering how we’d come by a giant heart—one thatshehad just brought with her to Dacia. But we’ll cross the Mina-might-have-plague bridge when we come to it.”

Ellie sighed in resignation. To Kristoff’s surprise, she was going to allow this insanity. “When do you leave?”

“Now, Lizvetta.” Lothaire patted his sword. “We go to meet our destinies.”

No wonder he’d made sure Kristoff was armed tonight.

Ellie reached for Lothaire. “You come back from that place, okay?”

He leaned down and gazed into her eyes. “Coax me, hellbilly.”

She cupped his face gently, but her words were steel. “You fuckin’ return to me, Leo, or I’ll be comin’ to get your ass.”

“My fierce queen, you delight me.” He kissed her lustily. Then tenderly. Then he brushed his pale fingers over her face.

She looked awestruck.

“I’ll return anon.” He straightened. Giving a nod to Balery, he intoned, “Hag,” then disappeared.

Before Kristoff could blink, Lothaire had traced across the sitting room, snared him, and teleported them to a forest cloaked in night.

Kristoff surveyed his new surroundings. Lichen draped towering trees, and ferns dotted the rich forest floor. Scents enveloped them.Brooks. Stone. Bear?“Where are we?”

“Canada.”

“And how do we get to Nightside?”

Kristoff’s hackles rose when Lothaire only smiled.

Fifteen

Nightside

Millennia of instinct made Silt lunge to his side when the air whistled. A blade sliced an inch above his head to clang against the cavern wall.

The vampire had swung on him! “You little leech!” He raised his own weapon—just in time to block her next strike.

He scrambled to his feet, managing to defend against a third hit. “Stealing my head while I sleep! After all I’ve done for you?” She was no better than his concubines. Perfidious women all! “I’ve protected you. I offered you blood. I made you a fire.”

“Oh, in that case, feel free to kill my brother!” Their breaths were loud as they circled each other. “You said you would keep watch. I should skewer you just for falling asleep on the job.”

“And to think I’d considered sparing you. You’ve earned my revenge all on your own.”

“If only that frightened me. Empty threats from an empty sorcer—” She charged with blistering speed.

He parried, battering her weapon. “You really want to do this?”

“Quite. I won’t rest until Mirceo is safe.”

“And I won’t rest until revenge is mine. I worship it, female. Vengeance is everything.”

“It would be to a man like you, a cruel cipher with nothing else in his life.” She struck again, feinting high, then aiming low.

He blocked, narrowly defending the artery in his leg. “You call me cruel? When you drink your victims, do you send them home with a bandaged throat and a pat on the head? No. Your eyes are red because you drain your prey to death, down to the very pit of their souls. Admit it.”

Color high, she snapped, “Youare the villain here! I’ve never harmed another living creature, except in self-defense.”