Blood Lust - Alexandra Ivy Page 0,87

his family. And screw the world. “Once I’m healed I intend to take Myst and Molly away from here.”

Kaede blinked, as if caught off guard by Bas’s decision. “Are you certain the Mave will allow you to leave?” he demanded.

“I hadn’t intended on asking for permission.”

“Okay.” Kaede tilted his head, studying Bas’s stubborn expression. “Say that you get out of Valhalla—what’s the plan?”

Bas shrugged. “We’ll go someplace we can’t be found.”

Kaede cocked a brow. “That’s it?”

Bas was instantly on the defensive. Probably because his friend had a point.

It was a shitty plan.

“You got a problem?”

Kaede didn’t back down. “I’m not an expert on visions, but I don’t think hiding can change the future.”

“What do you suggest?” Bas lifted a hand to shove his fingers through his hair. For the first time in his life he felt as if he didn’t have control. The sensation was making him more than a little testy. “That I let Myst take her life?”

There was a blast of heat as Kaede narrowed his gaze. The enforcer clearly wasn’t amused by the stupid accusation.

“Is that what you think? That I would want Myst to die?”

“Christ, no,” Bas breathed in regret. “Sorry.”

The heat eased as Kaede studied Bas’s strained face. “I can travel to the temple,” he startled Bas by suggesting. “They’re uncovering ancient texts every day. Maybe one of them will give us a clue as to what this weapon is supposed to be.”

Bas frowned. It was possible the temple that’d been discovered by the necromancer could reveal new prophecies. Maybe even some that were related to Myst’s vision. But he’d never expected Kaede to willingly offer to go there.

Not with his past.

“I couldn’t ask that of you,” Bas said. “If I decide it’s necessary, I’ll go.”

“You’re not asking,” Kaede corrected. “I’m volunteering.”

“But—”

“It’s okay.” Kaede held up a hand, interrupting Bas’s protest. “It’s time I went back and faced my past.”

Before Bas could respond, the sweet scent of honeysuckle was distracting him. Turning his head to the side, he watched as Myst stepped into the room, some restless ache deep inside him slowly easing.

She was wearing a pretty raspberry sundress that emphasized the ivory satin of her skin and the stunning silver hair that tumbled down her back. Her tiny feet were bare, although there was a delicate gold chain around her ankle.

She looked like a wood nymph who’d accidentally strayed into captivity.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, glancing from Kaede to Bas. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Kaede sent Bas a wry smile, both of them realizing that Myst had no idea the electric static in the air was because she was gut-wrenchingly gorgeous, and both Bas and Kaede were too male not to react.

“No problem,” he murmured, strolling toward the door. As he passed Myst he reached to run his fingers over her amazing hair. It wasn’t sexual. More a silent promise of protection. “I was headed out.”

“You won’t leave Valhalla until I’m out of this bed,” Bas reminded his friend.

“Aye, aye, captain.” Kaede turned to send him a mocking salute. Then he glanced toward Myst. “Take care of him,” he requested in a low voice before leaving the room.

Myst walked toward the bed, her gaze straying back to the door where Kaede had just disappeared.

“He was saying something about confronting his past,” she murmured. “What did he mean?”

Bas reached to wrap his fingers around her hand the second she was within reach.

“I’m not entirely certain,” he admitted, his tone husky as his thumb stroked the pulse beating at her inner wrist. She was alive and well. Thank God. “I assume it has something to do with our first meeting.”

“Where was that?”

He studied her pale face, suspecting she was trying to keep him distracted. She had a habit of building barriers the second she feared he was getting too close.

But he could find nothing but genuine interest etched onto her ivory features.

“I was sneaking out of the harem of a particularly powerful sultan,” he murmured, hiding his smile as she predictably rolled her eyes.

“Why am I not surprised?” she muttered.

Bas settled his head against the pillow propped behind him. He was still weak, but having her near was easing his pain. As if she was helping to speed his recovery.

A realization that should have shocked him. Only a connection at a soul-deep level could allow high-bloods to share power.

But he wasn’t shocked. He’d already accepted that this female was far more than just a transitory lover.

She was the mother of his child. The other half of his