"But it wasn't?"
"I got down here and learned that the Amazon can even kill immortals. She does no' care which lives she takes and is strong enough to pluck any she chooses." He met her gaze. "It can be lethal - even for us." His brows drew together, as if at some memory.
Had he lost a loved one? Or a lover? A flare of jealousy startled her. Had he kissed another under this very sky? Her gaze fell to his lips.
"You're doing it again, Lousha."
"What?"
"Looking like you want me to kiss you."
She flushed. Was she that transparent? "Dream on, werewolf."
"I do, constantly."
Hastily returning to the subject, she asked, "Did you lose someone in your party down here?"
"Nay, I came alone." At her questioning glance, he said, "A type of penance, I guess. It's a moot point now...." He trailed off, his gaze leaving her face to scan the river. His body tensed around hers, his face hardened, and his irises flickered pale blue.
9
He stared out with pure malevolence, as if he'd not only kill something for threatening her - he'd make it hurt. Not for the first time, she thought, Gods help any being that means me harm.
He asked, "You get the feeling we're being watched?"
She did. She'd thought it would fade now that MacRieve was on board with her, but she was definitely sensing an oppressive presence nearby.
He turned back to her, studied her face, and said, "Aye, me too. You know of anyone who'd be trailing you?"
Cruach had followers in his Cult of Death who would do anything to stop her, but they were usually human and easy enough to lose. "Actually, yes," she answered softly, and MacRieve leaned in with interest. "This jackass Lykae who can't take no for an answer is stalking me."
He drew back with narrowed eyes. "Maybe if he ever truly heard a 'no' coming from the female he was stalking, he'd give her up."
With that, he began leading her back toward the cabin. "So you want to tell me why you tensed when the Rio Labyrinto was mentioned? And unless I missed my mark, the mention of the Barão da Borracha and Captain Malaquí dinna coax a smile from you either."
She shrugged. "You can suppose things all you like."
At the door, he said, "At least tell me this - did you get a read on Damiãno?"
She answered quietly, "He's a Lorean."
"Aye, but I doona know what manner of being he is. Intend to find out. Stay here, Lousha. And be prepared to answer some questions when I return. If you ever want to see your bow again." He patted the case.
All that nervousness about being alone with him, until she was nearly sick with it, and now he was just taking off? With my bow? "You're... leaving?" Had she sounded disappointed?
He grinned, leaning his tall body against the door frame. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes to see to you, beauty. Can you wait that long for it?"
"I don't... I never..." Inhaling for calm, she said, "Leave my bow, then."
"No' a chance," he said over his shoulder.
Once he'd gone, she paced the stifling cabin, her emotions roiling. Though she could see in the dark, she flipped on the bedside lamp, casting subtle light over the interior. Without the benefit of the sun pouring in, the room seemed smaller - almost cozy.
And he expects to share it with me.
She picked up her phone to call Nïx again and saw another text had arrived from Regin. RegRad: Gettng tranqued 2nite with the witches. Bet U wish U were here! LOSER!
Lucia did wish she was there - away from MacRieve, away from the temptation he presented. He was the key to her destruction, the closest she'd gotten to ruin in centuries.
But he wouldn't force her to have sex. She knew that about him. So if she could resist... The thought gave her a feeling of some control. Yes, I can control this.
Wanting information from Nïx, and needing to vent, Lucia dialed the soothsayer. Surprisingly, Nïx answered.
Lucia wasted no time. "How could you book me as Lucia MacRieve?"
In a pedantic tone, Nïx said, "When dealing with humans, you have to provide a last name. I thought you would prefer MacRieve to your real name. Lucia av Cruach."
Lucia of Cruach. That had been her identity - as his possession, an extension of him. "How long have you known?" She'd told no one but had always suspected Nïx knew. Still, it'd been a shock to hear her call him Lucia's husband.
"Since the night you jumped to escape him."
So long ago... "Nïx, my alias with mortals has always been Lucia Archer. It's on my credit cards, my driver's license."
Sounding confused, Nïx said, "But... but MacRieve is funnier."
"And a paleopathologist? What do I know about pathology, much less the paleo kind?"
"You've killed as many beings as some diseases," Nïx pointed out in a chipper tone. "Shots to the heart, and you're to blame."
"I'm going to shoot you."
"That doesn't sound patient and levelheaded, Lucia."
"And what about MacRieve? You could have warned me he'd be here."
"Oh, is he? Would you have missed him if you'd been on time, I wonder? Or maybe you need him."
"More than my archery? And right before I'm to face Cruach?"
"You'll have to show some restraint."
"That's rich, Nïx. One of the most unrestrained Valkyrie preaching this to me. Just tell me what I'm looking for, so - oh, I don't know - I might know it when I find it!"
For effect, Nïx went quiet for several moments before finally saying, "Have you ever heard the term... dieumort?"
"Is that a joke?"
"Good guess, yet actually, I believe it's a god killer."
Lucia rolled her eyes. "I am fully aware of what it is!"
"Thunder stolen." Sigh. "I already told you, didn't I?"
"Regin and I have been looking for a dieumort for years! I've been breaking my neck over the last twelve months to unearth one." Then Lucia sucked in a breath. "It's down here," she murmured, excitement drumming inside her.
"Uh-huh. They're rare - like Amphitrite's-tears rare - but a dieumort is in Rio Labyrinto."
A god killer exists, and Nïx knows where it is! "Is it an arrow?"
"Dunno what form it's in," Nïx said. "But I figured we could off Cruach with it."
"Off Cruach? Like exterminate, forever?" Lucia gripped the phone hard.