Lothaire (Immortals After Dark #12)(116)

Dorada canted her head, sending glossy waves of hair tumbling over lifeless strings. “I would choose my own debtors, decide the division.”

“If you grant me the use of the ring,” Lothaire said, “I’ll give you the entire thing.”

Ellie gasped. “That ring is nothin’ but trouble. It’s dangerous!”

“You have no idea,” Dorada muttered. “I bear it, but I use it no more.”

“Then there’s no reason not to lend it to me, sorceress!”

Ellie shook her head sadly. “No, Lothaire.”

His voice rising in volume with each word, Lothaire said to Dorada, “Now that we’re in negotiations, and you have the ring—I’d like to be able to f*cking move again!”

Another wave from Dorada, and he was freed.

He grabbed Ellie’s arms. “I must have this power. Lizvetta, you must be made a vampire. And though I’m elated that Saroya is gone, the Horde crown disappeared with her. I’m not going to shelve my ambitions like a goddamned board game.”

“Please, we’ll figure that out together,” Ellie said, but he was unmoved. “What if there are more vows you’re hiding that I don’t know about?”

“There are none. Trust me on this.”

“I’ve been trusting you, and I’ve almost died twice tonight because of you.”

He winced. But still he told Dorada, “Allow me the use of the ring until tomorrow at midnight, and the book is yours.”

Dorada briefly closed her eye, going silent. “Bring it to me,” she finally told Lothaire. “If it is as your mortal says, then I will bargain with the ring.”

On the periphery of the room, the Wendigos chuffed, as if pissed they wouldn’t get a kill.

Overriding Ellie’s further protests, Lothaire retrieved the book from his safe, displaying it for Dorada. The sorceress’s eye lit up. The two of them made their vows.

Lothaire’s ledger, freely given, would buy twenty-four hours with the Ring of Sums. After which, she would return for the ring here.

With a pointed expression, Dorada slipped it off and handed it over. “This time I’ll keep my thumb, Enemy of Old.”

And when Lothaire surrendered his priceless accounting book to Dorada, he did it without a second glance.

Because his gaze was rapt on Ellie.





48


How does it feel to be free of Saroya?” Lothaire asked. He’d just gotten through showering off his healing flesh and redressing; the smell of smoke that had lingered on him seemed to particularly bother Elizabeth.

He hadn’t relished the reminder of his repeated, crazed suicide attempt either. But now everything was falling into place, the pressure of the last few weeks lifting at last.

“I promised her I’d win the war against her,” Elizabeth said. “Still, I can hardly believe she’s gone, her and Dorada. I can’t believe all that is over.”

“Because of you.” His cunning Bride had yet again surprised him. “You bargained with Dorada, bullshitted the Queen of Evil. I couldn’t be prouder of you, Lizvetta.”

She blushed, self-consciously tucking her hair behind her ear. He could tell she was pleased with—but surprised by—the praise.

Then he frowned. She was acting as if he’d never praised her. He must have. Surely.

But he couldn’t quite put his finger on an instance.

As someone who knew the importance of protecting one’s ego, he was aghast at himself. That will be changing. Much will. . . .

“Lothaire, I don’t suppose you had a chance to mark Balery out of the book when you fetched it from the safe?”

“What do you think?” he asked, in all seriousness.

“I think you . . . did.”

“Wrong.”

Her face fell. “Oh.”

“Yet I did manage to cross out a fey oracle named Hag.”

“I knew you would!” She gave him that mind-scrambling smile of hers.

“It was meant as a gesture to you. Nothing more.”

“Doesn’t matter why, just that you did.” But then her smile faltered. “Explain to me what happened earlier, with you and my . . . soul.”

“Eventually, I will tell you all”—how I was blinded by prejudice and the thirst for vengeance—“but we have no time now.” He held up his finger, brandishing the ring. “We must complete this one last step for you, and then plan for our future.”

Lothaire would have to amend his strategy. With Saroya gone, the Horde would not fall under his thrall—but then, he’d spared a wish when freed of his vows. Spared Elizabeth. . . .

Now, plots and schemes began to unfold with a shocking clarity. His tasks, in order of importance: make Elizabeth undying, devise a way to trick Horde into submission, find and conquer Daci.

So I can kill Serghei.

He could still have his eternal mate, two thrones, and his revenge. All was yet well. . . .

But when Lothaire took Elizabeth in his arms, he frowned to find her trembling. “You’re safe now, love. I restored the boundary. And you’ll be tucked away at Hag’s when Dorada and her Wendigos return. I intend for you never to see another one of those beasts as long as you live.” He curled his finger under her chin. “And, Elizabeth, you’re going to live for a very, very long time.”