Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark #6)(21)

“You know what’s at stake.”

“What’s at stake for you,” she said. “This is my kin.”

“Then why are we even discussing this?”

She blinked at him. “Because I’m mischievous?”

N?x started toward Holly, and short of violence, there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to stop her. Cade was a lowlife mercenary, but he drew the line at hurting females.

Immediately, he thought of that vampire’s Bride he’d killed. Or rather, Cade didn’t hurt them purposely. Block it out . . . .

At the car, N?x said, “Come, dearling.”

Holly opened the door, pulling Cade’s jacket tighter as she got out. She met N?x eye to eye, almost exactly the same height as the Valkyrie soothsayer.

“Welcome to the family.” N?x kissed both of Holly’s cheeks with loud mwah sounds, seeming not to notice Holly’s startled expression. “I’m your aunt N?x, the Ever-Knowing. I’m also the Proto-Valkyrie and Soothsayer without Equal.”

“You’re a Valkyrie?” Holly asked, her gaze on one of N?x’s uncovered ears.

“Only the oldest and greatest,” N?x answered.

Cade said, “She’s a powerful prognosticator.”

N?x’s eyes grew silvery with emotion. “And you are the spitting image of your mother. Strawberry blond hair and violet eyes.”

“You were related to my mother?”

“Greta was my half sister.”

“Greta,” Holly said slowly, as if stunned to finally know her mother’s name.

“She was a famous warrior. She died two decades ago, a glorious death in battle.”

“Warrior? Battle? I thought Valkyrie were docile.”

N?x laughed. “Did the demon tell you that?” She made a tsking sound. “Cadeon Woede! For shame.”

“Just having a bit of fun with that.”

“What was Greta like?” Holly asked.

“She was part Fury—”

Cade made a strangled sound but covered it with a cough. “No way.” The most fierce race of females in existence. Valkyrie were violent. Furies were . . . incomprehensible.

Hell, if Cade turned her over to Groot, Holly might off the sorcerer herself.

“Look at Holly’s violet eyes, with the dark ring around the iris. A Fury’s eyes.”

“Why did she give me away?” Holly asked. “I know there must have been a good reason.”

And there was Holly’s signature confidence. She expressed no bitterness or self-doubt over the fact that she’d been given over.

“I’ve put together a welcome package with a letter that will explain more. But for now, you need to leave. It’s dangerous for you here.”

“Where am I going?” Holly demanded.

N?x nodded in answer.

“Um, that wasn’t a yes-or-no question.”

“Indeed.”

“I thought we were supposed to meet Cadeon’s brother here.”

“You were,” N?x said. “But he’s not here.”

Exhaling impatiently, Holly said, “Just tell me, how did I become like this.”

“You make it sound like it’s a tragedy.”

“I . . . no, I didn’t mean to, but I just want to go back to my old life. I’m a single code away from getting my doctorate, and I have classes to teach—”

“Yes, well, if I had students like your delicious football players, I’d be eager to return, too. Re-rowr.”

Cade prompted N?x, “Again, how’d she get like this?”

N?x looked confused as if she didn’t understand the question, then finally answered, “The seed was always there but was given water and sun with the lightning bolt.” She turned to Holly. “And now you’ll grow into the Valkyrie you were always meant to be.”

“Cade told me that it’s reversible?” she said in a tone tinged with disbelief.

“Did he, then?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, prepared to be busted.

“He’s right,” N?x said, shocking him, going along with his lie. “Only one man can reverse this. His name is Groot the Metallurgist. He’s a powerful sorcerer. If you get to him before you become fully immortal, he can change you back,” she said, though Cade knew that she knew that wasn’t true.

Without a word, N?x sauntered back to her car, leaving them no choice but to follow. “Now, I took the liberty of visiting your vampire-infested building and packing a bag for you. I know you’ll want to change.”

N?x popped the trunk, displaying a large suitcase atop another pile of sand. She lifted the weighty-looking bag with a finger, setting it on the ground. “Oh, and here are your spare glasses.” She pulled a pair from her jacket pocket, handing them to Holly. “Style name Smitten Kitten—love it!”

Enunciating every syllable, Cade repeated, “Smitten Kitten?”

Sliding him a discomfited glance, Holly donned them.

N?x continued, “Of course the glasses will become redundant, since your eyesight should continue to improve each day. And here are your pearls.” She handed over a strand that looked exactly like the ones Holly usually wore. Naturally, she would have backups. “These items are your talismans.”