Dreams of a Dark Warrior (55 page)

rumbled the wal s, he said, “We’re inside Val Hal .”

Only then did Declan relax a measure, surveying his surroundings. If he hadn’t known he was in

Regin’s bedroom by her scent, he would have by the decorations.

Concert posters covered the wal s, bands from ABBA to Phish. Workout gear and video games

abounded. Strands of Christmas lights dangled from the ceiling, only these had strings of vampire fangs

wrapped around the cords. Tightly closed tie-dyed drapes blocked out al but a few needle holes of

sunlight.

The bedding?
Star Wars
sheets.

“You’re healed now,” Brandr said. “Your wound’s completely mended.”

Declan glanced down. There was no new scar to join his others.

Al his life, he’d suffered nightmares of that blow, of Regin’s screams.

Her grief had hurt him far worse than any cold steel could.

“So I’m a vampire now.” Bitter disappointment settled over him. She might say she wanted him like this,

but he could never walk in the sun with her again. And what if his blood-drinking disgusted her?

At the thought of drinking blood, he grew nauseated, stil disbelieving that Lothaire’s ran through his

veins.

“You’re an immortal, and that’s what matters,” Brandr said firmly.

“How long have I been out?”

“Two days. Here”—he tossed him a pair of jeans—“I know you’re keen to see Regin.”

As Declan rose to dress, he thought he heard someone outside yel his name. “What was that?”

Brandr gave him a rueful look. “There might be a few dozen beings gathered outside. And they might be

bent on revenge against you, even for things you didn’t do. Apparently, you’re the poster boy for the

Order, and Loreans want their pound of flesh.”

This is what I’m bringin’ to the table, Regin.

Brandr continued, “Although there are only about three hundred mortal berserkers left, they are your

men to lead, Aidan. Dispatch any of us against your enemies.”

“I’m no’ Aidan. And I’l clean up my own mess.”

“Not Aidan? But you claimed Regin. The curse …”

“He’s a part of me, but he’s long gone. I’m stil a scarred and surly Irishman.” He reminded himself that

he was what Regin wanted. At least, before he’d been turned into a leech.

“You have his memories?”

“Oh, aye, I remember you from before. You were a young smart-arse whose guard was too low.” Then

he grew serious. “I also remember that you made me a vow ages ago, one you kept for centuries.”

Holding the man’s gaze, Declan said, “I’l protect Regin from now on. I’m releasing you from that oath,

Brandr.” He cleared his throat. “You’ve been a true friend. You have my gratitude and always wil .”

Brandr was looking at him strangely. Not surprising, considering the circumstances, but stil … Yet he

said nothing, just stalked around the room, batting a boxing speedbag, toeing a pink bowling bal on the

floor.

Declan exhaled. “Say what’s on your mind, ber-serker.”

“Your eyes were just glowing as you spoke. And when you were unconscious, I noticed that—”

“Release the hounds, muthafuckas!”
Regin screamed from outside.

Eyes wide, Declan charged toward the sound, with Brandr right behind him. When Declan threw open

the bedroom door, it exploded off its hinges. As he stomped down the stairs, he laid his hand on the

railing, rendering the wood to splinters.

“Regin!” He stormed out the front door onto the front porch … directly into the sun.

FIFTY-SEVEN

“
L
et us have him!”

“This has nothing to do with you, Valkyrie.”

“He’ll pay with his life!”

Loreans were out for Chase’s blood, which meant Regin was out for theirs.

But at her command, Lucia sighed. “Real y, Regin? Release the hounds?” She stood at the gate, her

hand on the mystical lever.

“Nut up or shut up, Luce. I’m tired of looking at these assholes, tired of listening to them. Let’s do this.”

With a rol of her eyes, Lucia said, “I’l be on the porch with Nïx, acting as your spotter.” Then she

opened the gate.

As beings of al stripes stalked toward Val Hal , Regin choked up on her sword hilt, ready to swing for

the fences—

A man’s deep voice rang out.
“Regin!”

“Chase?” Barely daring to believe, she glanced over her shoulder. He was alive!

He and Brandr had come barreling out the front door, but when they tried to make it past the wraiths,

those guards hurtled them back.

Lurching to his feet, his face a mask of fury, Declan charged forward again, hitting the barrier like a

freight train. The wraiths shrieked.
Never heard them do anything but cackle.

The third time he charged, he was in ful -on berserkrage. Nïx negligently tossed a braid, and the wraiths

were al too happy to let him alone speed through.

As he closed in on her, Regin’s jaw dropped, and the fracas ground to a halt. Chase was
huge,
and scarred, and he looked
dangerous
. His muscles rippled, his eyes burning with ferocity as his gaze locked on her.

And gods, she was so freaking in love with him.

“Chase!” She ran to him, and he caught her up in his arms, clasping her tight. “You’re alive!” She

rubbed her cheek against his chest. “And uh, real y
strong
.” He loosened his grip on her. She drew back to see him casting her foes a look of such pitiless menace that even the stronger ones backed down.

Then he set her behind him, bowing up his chest, a low growl rumbling from it.
A creature with which

one did not fuck.

Once the beings retreated in a wave—cloistering themselves behind the gates, as if that’d protect them

—he turned to her. He took several deep breaths, grappling for control. Final y, he grated, “And what

were you doin’, Regin?”

She jutted her chin. “About to grease every last one of them.”

He cast her a chiding look. “And you did no’ tie one hand behind your back? Where’s the sport, lass?”

Then he wrapped the crook of his arm around her nape. “You’re no’ goin’ to fight my battles. I’ve done

these things, and I’m ready to pay the price.”

“The hel ! I’ve final y got you—you think I’m letting you go that easily?”

“We can’t run forever. I have to face anyone who’d chal enge me.”

“Just hear me out. While you were napping, I was busy chatting up our al ies. Didn’t you know—your

woman’s a golden-tongued ambassador! My sisters always said I graduated from the shock-and-awe

school of diplomacy, but joke ’em if they can’t take a fuck, right?”

Chase nodded gravely. “Joke ’em.”

“So anyway, we’ve got some wicked strong al ies lined up. These tossers here just missed the memo.

The Valkyrie are al on board; a slight against you is a slight against them. Al ’s forgiven with the witches.

In fact, Malkom Slaine even feels bad for fileting you! He and Carrow literal y shuddered to think what

their lives would have been like if you hadn’t dispatched Carrow to hel . There was talk of sending you a

card at Beltane! So the Valks are down, and the witches are down. Oh, and I talked to Brandr. Get this—”

“The berserkers are down?”

“Way to steal my thunder, Chase.”

“Regin, I can’t depend on you or any others to fight my battles. I made my own mistakes. That means I

must also make sacrifices.”

Nïx gave a delicate cough from the porch swing. “No one’s sacrificing anything.” She cal ed out to any

creature who stil remained within earshot, “Declan the Fierce is under
my
aegis. If you kil him, you risk my displeasure.” Lightning bolts scored the sunny sky like bomb blasts, sending beings scattering. Nïx

cal ed after them, “But by al means, smack him around!”

Sunny day?
Sunny
— “What are you
doing
?” Regin shrieked to Chase. “Why aren’t you burning?

Where are your fangs?”

He rubbed his tongue over his teeth. “Do no’ have any.”

“So how’d you heal?”

When Nïx rose to enter the house, Regin grabbed Chase’s hand and hurried after her. “Whoa, there,

soothsayer. How can he go out in the sun?”

Nïx blinked. “Where’d everyone go? What were we talking about?” Her eyes went wide. “I remember!

Chase is an immortal now.” She gazed at Brandr, Lucia, Natalya, and Thad. “We’l al have an ice-cream

cake to celebrate! Except for we don’t have a freezer!”

“Nïx, why didn’t he turn into a vampire?”

“I suppose because he never died.”

Regin turned to him. “I get to
keep
you? You’re immortal!”

“Aye, though I don’t understand how.”

“I believe I do,” Brandr said. “While you were unconscious, I looked at your dog tags. The charm on the

back of one is the mark of Wóden. You’ve carried it on a standard, a naval flag, a cavalry crest, and

tattooed upon your chest. Your battle with the Pravus might just have been your two hundredth.”

Declan’s heart started hammering. If this could be true …

“I believe you earned ohal a, brother,” Brandr said. “The battle count must have been cumulative, the

number fol owing the soul, not the body.”

“But Wóden wouldn’t gift me with it. Not after my deeds in the past.”

Regin quickly said, “Let’s don’t ask too many—or real y
any
—questions. You’re an immortal, and

you’re a berserker. That’s al we need to know.”
Thank you, Wóden, thank you, thank you …

Chase murmured, “An immortal berserker.”

Brandr punched him in the arm. Hard. “Took you long enough.”

Regin asked Nïx, “Why didn’t he turn into Aidan?”

“Chase is too strong. Always wil be. And he wants you too badly to ever slink into the background.”

Chase frowned at Nïx. “Why did you … why would you vouch for me?”

“I’ve been looking out for you since you were a boy.” Imitating an Oirish accent, she said, “Want yer

fortune told, me boy? A medal ion for luck?”

“
You
gave the charm to me.”

“Yes. And before you ask me why I would let everything else happen to you, know this. That misery

hardened you, made you grow strong. Without it, your life would’ve faded to a whisper in Aidan’s mind.

And Declan Chase suits my sister better.” She patted Regin on the head. “Regin doesn’t do perfect.”

Chase was quiet for long moments, then his lips curled into a breathtaking smile that made Regin’s

heart flutter. “Then I’m her man.”

***

Mourne Mountains

One month later

A crackling fire cast light over the cabin’s rough-hewn interior. A tray of oyster shel s and an empty can of Guinness sat on the table.

Declan and Regin lazed in a big tub before the fireplace, her back to his chest, his arms wrapped tightly

around her.

As promised, he’d made love to her more times than she could count. And as she’d told him, they’d

been through too much together to ever hold back from one another.

Her tone utterly relaxed, she asked, “So what mayhem are we going to get up to today?”

“Lady’s choice. I’m game for anything. But after the mayhem, we should start markin’ things off our list.

Get married, house-hunt, shop for the new swords I’m keen to buy you. …”

Content merely to celebrate a future together, they’d accomplished little. Though before leaving for

Ireland, they had gotten Thad and his family settled in New Orleans—into the newly established Lore

Relocation Program.

Regin and Nïx had decided the boy should be moved close by so that the Valkyrie could keep him and

his family safe from the Order, and to guide him into immortality.

Turned out that young Thad was half vampire, half phantom—one of the rarest Lore mixes ever to live.

He’d grow to be a powerful hybrid, with untold abilities. Definitely a key player to have on Team Vertas.

So the Declan Chase Restitution Fund had purchased a
quaint
little mansion in the Garden District for the Brayden family. Regin hadn’t quite gotten around to informing Declan that he’d bought it before Thad

had loped up to him and wal oped him on the back. “DC, I’m real y glad you pul ed through. And thanks big-

time for moving Mom and Gram to New Orleans.”

Declan had raised his brows at Regin. “Did I move Mom and Gram to New Orleans?”

Regin had nodded up at him. “The Brayden women about fel out when they saw pics of the place.

We’re tel ing them you’re a long-lost uncle from the Emerald Isle. …”

Unfortunately, some beings couldn’t be bought off by the restitution fund. Like Uil eam MacRieve, who’d

been out for blood—and nothing less would do.