“We must have been.” Otherwise, Lanthe had so very nearly let Thronos Talos claim her—during her most fertile time. And she’d been about to shove her h*ps up to get him inside her faster!
If she got pregnant with a Vrekener’s baby . . . with his baby . . .
His expression was inscrutable. Was he angry at himself for their offendments? “Of course,” he repeated. “The Valkyrie must be mistaken.”
“Uh-huh.” Untruth.
He released Lanthe so they could find their clothes. She darted for her necklace right away.
The Valkyrie sauntered back to them as soon as Lanthe and Thronos were dressed. Nïx herself wore a T-shirt that read: I lost my heart on Immortal Island!
Recalling how Nïx had helped Thronos, Lanthe narrowed her eyes. “You told him how to capture me. Why would you betray me?”
“Did I?”
“I’ve been running from him for centuries.” Or she had been. Act like partners long enough . . .
“Have you?”
“Will you stop answering questions with questions?”
“Will I?”
“Ugh!” Lanthe wanted to strangle her!
“You both have roles to fulfill.”
“What roles?” Thronos grated.
Nïx waved her hand in an arc above her as she breathed, “Future ones!”
Wait . . . immortal island? “You were on the Order’s prison island, weren’t you?”
“Was I?” Nïx asked with a coy smile.
“You talked to me when I was unconscious!” Lanthe flashed a look of realization. “You hit me in the face with a log!”
“You dare accuse me of such a thing?!” Nïx snapped, her Valkyrie emotions producing lightning above. “Outrageous! I would never!” Then she abruptly frowned. “I might have hit you in the face with a log.”
“You talked to me about realms and fires. Why?”
“You were in the mortal plane, then Pandemonia, now here, and soon . . . there. You really are the cutest wittle devilkin of a catalyst!”
“Catalyst? You’ve been steering my portals! You—you rigged my subconscious.” Hadn’t Lanthe felt like this journey was bigger than just her and Thronos? Had Nïx wanted them in Pandemonia to shake up those demons? To bring peace to hell? After all, what could those armies fight over now?
Or did Nïx want the dainty keys Lanthe now wore? Not without a fight, Valkyrie.
Nïx murmured, “In one realm, hurt. In one realm, leave. In one realm, cleave. In one realm, shine.”
Lanthe had hurt in Pandemonia, as if the festering wounds of the past had been sliced open. At last to heal? “So here, I’m supposed to leave?”
Nïx smiled blankly.
“What are you playing at, Valkyrie?” Thronos sounded like he was struggling not to lose his temper. He must be regretting their actions as much as Lanthe did.
Ignoring him, Nïx asked Lanthe, “How’s your power coming, sorceress? You look at it as if it’s a pot that needs to be filled. When in fact, it’s a muscle that has been flexed very little.”
This news was exciting! “So the more I use it, the stronger it’ll be?”