Page 32 of Between Bloode and Death (Between the Shadows #5)

CHAPTER

THIRTY-ONE

Val woke to an empty room. It took her a moment to realize she’d survived a trip to Irkalla with Khent, Rolf, and Mormo, only to return to the house and leave everyone while she and Khent fucked like rabbits.

She groaned, embarrassed and confused. Not that Val didn’t enjoy sex, but she had been so focused on her mission to end Vladimir for so long she hadn’t sought it out. And she’d never expected to ever find pleasure with a vampire.

So what was going on? When Khent kissed her, she forgot about everything but having sex with him. That wasn’t normal. A spell of some kind?

Yet she didn’t get the impression Khent had tried to capture her that way.

The door opened, and he walked in, dressed impeccably as usual. Dark clothing, his hair in a perfect sweep off his regal forehead. The guy looked like a long-forgotten king in contemporary clothing. Too easily, he gave the impression of royalty.

As he did now, looking down at her with a superior smirk. She didn’t get too upset though. His eyes flashed red, hot with desire, and he hastily glanced away.

Perhaps not as in control of himself as he’d like to be?

“Valentine, come. Stop lazing about in bed. We have things to kill.” He pulled back the sheets, stared down at her, and gave a soft groan. “I—I’ll await you in the other room.”

In a blink, he was gone.

She stared down at herself, seeing nothing off about her appearance except she was naked.

Had Khent run from her? Actually run from a human?

In a much better mood, though a little bummed he hadn’t stuck around for a quickie, she took a fast shower to clean up and dressed in the clothing left on the bed. A new pair of jeans and tee-shirt, this one black.

She even had clean undergarments in her size.

Weird. But she needed to get moving. She couldn’t linger at the vampire house having sex all day.

Or night. Since Khent was moving around, the sun had to have set. Unfortunately, she’d lost track of days. After turning on more lights so she could see more easily, she found her phone charging on the nightstand.

The time showed a little past eight p.m. on Thursday. She must have slept the day away.

She shot Talon a text letting him know she was still fine and mentally checked in to learn that Grizz, Aisha, and the others remained on high alert, patrolling for danger. So she signed off with word to get back to them all later.

After convincing herself not to be embarrassed for having a marathon sex session after leaving Irkalla—when everyone else had seen Khent drag her away—she joined Khent and a few others in the kitchen, congregated around the island.

Rolf, Khent, and Orion drank from goblets. Mormo munched on grapes, while Onvyr seemed to eat plate after plate of meats and vegetables. His dark skin fascinated her because it was so inhuman, ink-black, which set off the light indigo of his eyes.

He was such a handsome male specimen. And what a find to have a dark elf as a pet, the necromancer inside her whispered.

She smiled at him, secretly amused when he inched closer to Mormo.

Everyone turned at her entrance. She fought not to blush. “Hello.”

The others nodded at her, though Rolf gave her a wicked grin.

Khent glared at him before drawing her close to him by the counter. “Would you like something to eat?”

Suddenly famished, she nodded. “Please.”

Mormo studied her then grabbed a tray from the refrigerator and slid it in front of her.

To her surprise, she noticed a steaming plate of eggs, bacon, and blueberry pancakes.

That he’d taken from the refrigerator.

“It’s magic,” Onvyr garbled, his mouth full. “Splendid stuff.”

“Eat, female.” Khent’s use of “female” didn’t please her, but the affection he lent to the word was different.

The others studied him.

To her shock, she swore he flushed.

“What?” he snapped.

“Nothing at all, oh, winged one,” Rolf answered.

“Yes. That.” Mormo crossed his arms over his chest. “Explain the wings.” He had long white hair now, Val noted with surprise. His deep red robe fit with the hair and…pointed ears? He looked like some cult member from a bad LOTR role play.

“Why are your ears pointed?” Onvyr asked before she could. “You’re not fae. Or are you?”

“What I am is not important.”

“You got that right,” Orion muttered, shared a grin with Rolf, and shut up when Mormo glared him to silence.

“Wings,” Mormo said again.

Everyone waited for Khent to explain. Especially Val. Those wings meant something she should understand. It had something to do with his connection to death.

“I’m a reaper.”

“And?” Val said. “Come on. I’m not a vampire, but even I know reapers don’t have wings. Unless that’s some kind of weird shifting thing reapers can do.”

“Is it, Khent?” Orion asked.

Khent sighed. “No. I don’t think so. It’s just who I am. Kind of like you convey the power of the water gods, Kraft takes on a monstrous wolf form, and Varu commands Bloode Stones.”

“And of course, I outshine all of you with my brilliance.” Rolf nodded. “But what about Duncan? He’s left out. Poor little revenant.”

Orion chuckled. “He’s such a snot. He’s just smart and fast is all.”

“Faster than any revenant I’ve ever met,” Mormo said. “All of you are exceptional in some way.”

Val snickered into her food as she ate. At the sudden silence, she glanced up, alarmed to find everyone studying her. “What?”

“You find our excellence amusing?” Khent asked.

He wore conceit like a second skin. “I find your arrogance amusing,” she corrected. “But in some instances, I guess it’s not misplaced.”

Rolf pointed to himself. “Some? Oh, you mean mine isn’t misplaced. I agree. Yeah, they think a lot of themselves. You have to admit though. The wings were pretty cool.”

“They were beautiful,” she said with all sincerity, keeping her amusement to herself when Khent preened under the compliment. He really was cute with all that arrogance, especially when he wasn’t trying to be annoying about it.

And since when is his conceit funny and not irritating?

She couldn’t say why her feelings for him had changed. Unless it had to do with his exceptional ability to give her mind-numbing pleasure. With a cough, unwilling to think about sexing him up against lest she give in to the impulse, Val studied the group with her.

“Can someone please explain what happened with Morpheus? And where is he anyway?”

“The dick left.” Orion shook his head. “While Mormo was healing Rolf, and you and Khent were necro-fucking in Khent’s room of wonder—”

“Orion,” Khent warned.

Rolf snickered.

Orion continued, “—the annoying god of dreams vanished. There one minute then gone the next.”

Mormo huffed. “He won’t answer my calls. Hecate’s either. Something has him worried.”

“He should be,” Khent said, his voice like ice. “He took us into a realm over which he had no control. He nearly got himself killed. Nearly got us all killed.”

“Khent was so afraid,” Rolf said to Val.

“Afraid I would not live to see him pay for his insolence. Nergal is powerful, and in his own realm, nearly unstoppable.”

Orion socked Khent in the arm. “Nice job with the galla demons. Rolf told me all about it. Good moves, dead boy.”

“Shut it, vryko.”

“He was magnificent.” Val figured he’d earned the compliment. “He fought copies of himself. And those wings had real substance in Irkalla. You could see Nergal wanting to keep Khent there.”

Mormo frowned. “This is true. Did he make you any promises, Khent?”

“Of course. Who wouldn’t want me as an ally?”

Orion rolled his eyes.

“He promised me the same power he’s been giving Vladimir. References to immortality and strength beyond measure. But he expects me to obey him.”

The vampires laughed at that, even Khent.

Onvyr shook his head. “He’s gonna be upset you said no. Gods don’t like that.”

Val wondered if they ought to be more worried about Nergal taking revenge.

No one seemed to be bothered by that, though. Instead, talk turned to the Bloode Stones.

Mormo stopped suddenly and turned to her. “Nergal wants the stone he thinks you possess. I want to look at this storage facility.”

“Okay.”

“After she finishes her meal,” Khent said firmly. “Valentine, you need your strength. Replenish yourself.”

Rolf got a sly look on his face. “Why does your girlfriend need to restock her precious blood supply?”

The guys all stared from her to Khent.

“Wait. So you’re sexing her up and drinking from her? Really?” Orion gaped. “Are you… Nah. Wait. Seriously?”

Khent glowered.

Mormo clapped his hands, and a giant burst of energy flew at the vampires while Val and Onvyr remained unaffected.

“I will go with Valentine to the storage facility. Orion, you stay here. I don’t trust Nergal not to try to infiltrate our stronghold.

He’s not pleased with Hecate’s interference in what he sees as his ability to shine. ”

“He’s a dickhead.” Rolf nodded. “Kept talking about the coming Darkness. His cousin, he said.”

“Great.” Mormo groaned. “I—”

Onvyr suddenly stood, his expression fierce. “They’re attacking Belyy Zamok.”

“What?” Val asked.

“Belyy Zamok,” Rolf explained, which explained nothing. “It means ‘White Castle’ in Russian. It’s a magical island in the ocean, in a pocket realm. Onvyr kind of inherited it when he killed its owner.” Rolf looked around. “Kaia’s mom,” he whispered loudly.

Orion sighed. “She’s over it, Rolf. Plus, she knows Onvyr killed her.” To Val, he said, “Kaia’s mom was the old White Sea Witch. A real bitch, you ask me.”

“Well, she did try to ensorcel and sex you up,” Rolf said. “You have the right to a grudge.”

“Thanks,” Orion said drily. “Anyway, Onvyr killed the old bag. Now he owns the island.”

“That’s under attack.” Onvyr looked large and strong, a warrior with violence on his mind. “I feel death coming.”

“I should go with you,” Val said automatically.

“No. You’ll come with me,” Mormo insisted. “Rolf, Onvyr, Khent. You three go to the island.” He frowned. “I wonder what Vladimir’s endgame is. Why attack Belyy Zamok?”

“Because of the staff, probably.” Onvyr looked around. A giant striped tiger waltzed into the kitchen gripping a large, sheathed sword in its mouth. “Oh, there it is. Thanks.”

The cat gave it to Onvyr, rumbled, then walked away.

“Is that real?” Val asked in a low voice.

“Yes, it’s a sword made of dragon’s blood.” Onvyr smiled.

“Wait. The staff?” Mormo’s loud question froze everyone. “What staff?”

Orion blinked. “Oh, um. Kaia had the ADR remove the Staff of Blight from the basement. They gave it to me, but I didn’t want that thing here. So Onvyr took it to his island.”

“Where it’s safe. For now.” Onvyr frowned. He withdrew the sword from its sheath, a dark red blade that felt hungry to Val. The dark elf smiled. “Time to battle.”

“Night Bloode, do not let that staff get into Vladimir’s hands,” Mormo ordered.

“Yeah, yeah. Easy, Mormo. He’s a necromancer. A human.” Rolf grimaced and mouthed “sorry” to Val before adding, “What harm can he really do?”

Mormo glared at them. He flashed his hand at a corner of the kitchen, where a portal took shape. “Go. Orion, you’ll watch the house?”

“And Kaia.” Orion nodded and left the kitchen.

Khent, Rolf, and Onvyr rushed through the portal toward a sandy beach, Val noted before it closed.

Mormo created another opening into her storage facility.

“How…?”

“Let’s go. I don’t like this. Not at all.”

Understatement of the year. Val followed him through.

And stared at the shambles of the last of her prized possessions, now just fragments of charred wood and ash.

Which suddenly made her panic.

“Mormo, I need to get a message to Talon.”

But when they arrived at the Beast Brigade HQ, she saw they were too late.