She inched away from the shifter, increasing the distance between them, and Brochan returned to a normal speed.
Okay. All right. Her nearness might get Fluffy’s meal axed sooner rather than later.
Confidence cracking, Narcissism retaliated against her, releasing a kernel of fear. Vines slithered from it, one after the other, each tipped by a memory. Growing stronger. Stronger.
She had battle skill, grit and wiles, but she might not have enough skill, grit and wiles to defeat this male. But retreat? Never! Still, a timeout could help matters. A few months, years, or centuries to really think things through before she hunted him down and continued their war, soundly defeating him. Of course. Later today, once her chosen target had escaped the bar, she’d find him and reintroduce herself.
Yes. Perfect plan. No flaws, as usual. Fate must agree. The shifter’s aura hadn’t changed, so, he wouldn’t be dying via Brochan’s rage.
“Go home,” she told the male. “We’ll chat later. I promise.” Viola flashed to a remote island in the mortal realm, leaving the shifters to deal with the beast. My gift to you.
Waves lapped at glistening white sands, instantly soothing her nerves. The scent of coconut and salt saturated over-warm air. Breathing deeply, she dropped into the gritty warmth, hitting her knees and—
“No!”
Brochan appeared a few yards in front of her, bathed in sunlight. But, but… How had he found her so swiftly?
Heart thudding, she rocketed to her feet and yanked off her bracelet. The same one she’d used to remove his head. With a flick of her wrist, the jewelry locked into a sword, and she squared off with him. Why, why, why didn’t he have an aura? Was he death itself or something?
“How are you alive?” she demanded.
He narrowed his eyes. “Nothing has the power to kill me, goddess. Especially not you.”
Oh, that cut. She could do anything. “I bet I’ll find a way.” In fact, an idea already percolated…
“You cannot escape me. Not now, not ever. No matter how many times I die, I’ll always come back for you.” He took a single step closer, nothing but aggression and menace. “I’ll just be angrier.”
Shivers of dread slipped down her spine. Definitely dread. Not excitement.
“You ensured my brother’s end, and you took my life,” he continued. “From this moment forward, I own yours.”
She inched backward. Not because she was cowed but because she had a brain. Common sense said: Stay away from the murdering monster.
Her core offered multiple objections. Get closer…
Raising the sword, she grated, “I can strike at you in ways others cannot.”
He remained unperturbed. “Strike at me all you wish. Before, you caught me off guard. This time, I’m prepared.”
Not exaggeration but the unvarnished truth. Anyone who fought an entire pack of wolfshifters without breaking a sweat wielded a skill set far beyond hers. Again, she inched backward. “I won’t hand over the key to Nevaeh.” She couldn’t. But, if he persisted in assuming she owned it, well, he would fight to keep her safe, even from himself.
Gorgeous bombshell—brilliant mastermind.
“You will hand it over, goddess. That, I promise you.” All that gravel in his voice had taken on a guttural edge. “Until you do, you’ll live in my home. If you run, I’ll drag you back. If you ambush me, I’ll punish you. If you disobey me, even once, I’ll punish you worse.”
Narcissism peeked from a corner of her awareness. More self-assured by the moment, the fiend prowled through the corridors of her mind. Soon, it brimmed with possibilities. To win the heart of a beast…was there a more ultimate conquest? To crush his heart afterward… The demon grew positively giddy.
No. She would rather kill Brochan than work her wiles on him. Fluffy couldn’t dine on his poisonous immortality. What’s more, Viola didn’t want to win and crush him. Which she could totally do. If she tried, even a little. He wasn’t worth her time. He planned to lock her up.
A shudder racked her. Why not confess the truth? What harm could it do? “Your brother was weeks away from a true death. Without my aid, thank you. When I took his immortality, I altered his fate and actually prolonged his life. I did you both a favor. So. I’ll hear your thanks now.”
“You’ll hear my thanks. Now.” Flash. He appeared directly in front of her, glaring as he clamped a big, callused hand against her throat. The tips of his claws rested against her skin, and her pulse jumped. He held her weapon at bay with his other hand.
Of course, he’d doubted her. Why wouldn’t he? They were foes of circumstance. The very reason she hadn’t tried to explain her motives before this.
“You would say anything to save yourself,” he growled.
“Yes ,” she admitted, and he blinked as if startled. “But truth remains truth, regardless of your acceptance or rejection.”
“How convenient for you, then, that this particular truth can’t be proven.” He tightened his grip on her. “McCadden loved you, and you betrayed him.”
Had the Sent One truly loved her? Maybe. Had he tempted her to spare him, to fight side by side and change his fate another way? Definitely. Every male she’d ever charmed had tempted her to show mercy. Viola might be a wee bit self-involved, but she had a lot of love to give. Just ask Fluffy. So, always before she siphoned someone’s immortality, she offered a loyalty test. A lone question with a single correct response. Throughout the years, she’d heard only wrong answers.
“Countless individuals have loved me,” she said, lifting her chin. “Should I cater to them all?”
Brochan caressed his thumb along the side of her throat, leaving a trail of warmth. That heat spread, drawing shivers. “Do you feel a shred of remorse, goddess? I bet you’d harm my brother a second time if given the chance.”
No need to ponder her reply. “You’d win that bet.” To save Fluffy, she would do anything to anyone at any time.
Again, Brochan blinked, her honesty a surprise. He squeezed her throat, just enough to constrict her airways, and hissed, “Perhaps I should give you to my comrades. They’re coming for you, and they crave your blood as much as the key. Perhaps more so.”
The others had resurrected too? How could that be?
Desperate to process the information, Viola braced to flash, the perfect destination in mind. A land for those on the run. He’d never be able to find her. Then the ramifications of his words registered, and she planted her feet, staying put. Maybe she didn’t need to evade Brochan, after all. Perhaps she should stay with him, using him as a shield against the other winged Fallen Ones.
She would let him imprison her until she decided to ditch him again.
A mother must sometimes suffer for the health and wellbeing of her child.
“Fine,” she said with an exaggerated sigh. “I’m convinced. I’ll go with you. But only because I’m so generous. Just know I expect unparalleled living quarters. Pure luxury. Also, I get to feed my baby without any more interference from you.” Too tired to follow as usual, Fluffy awaited her at their current hideaway. “The nonsense stops now.”
His gaze all but spit fire. “Be thankful I allow your pet to take its next breath, goddess.”