"You've seen me only a handful ... ah, you mean as Aidan."
"Hel , even when you were dying, you looked more enthusiastic than this." When Declan said nothing, Brandr bit out a curse. "Listen, it isn't over. She has feelings for you."
"Oh, aye. Very strong ones. Hatred, for instance."
"If that's the case, then why couldn't she kil you?"
"She told me I didn't deserve her mercy-" Declan tensed when Lothaire closed in from behind.
"Are we talking about the Valkyrie, Magister?"
"Don't cal me that! I'm no' one any longer." What am I now? He was ... nothing.
"You're on a clock," Lothaire said. "Once she escapes this island, she will leave you behind without a second thought."
And I'll follow. That'll be the way of things now.
Brandr said, "After a thousand years of warring with leeches, I never thought I'd say this sentence, but ... the vampire's right. You have to win her back before we reach the boat."
"Win her back?" Declan snapped under his breath. "I never had her to begin with!" Dead between us.
There'd been only one night when he'd felt they had a real connection-when she'd been in his home, in his bath. She'd spun him tales so appealing that for a split second, he'd thought about freeing the miscreats she aligned with and flying her to bloody Belfast.
At the time, it'd seemed like madness; now it looked like a missed chance.
But, he reminded himself, there'd been no connection. It had all been an act-one designed to kill him.
She might have pulled back at the last minute, but the intent had still been there. "Just save your breath."
"You can win her," Brandr insisted.
Declan actual y held a measure of trust for the berserker. Yes, Brandr had proven himself repeatedly, but even Declan would admit there was something more. As if they'd known each other ...
Now a thread of hope arose at the man's words. Maybe he knew enough about Regin to aid him. Aye, and maybe you're chasing the wind. "How can I?" Had he said that out loud? Fuck.
Thad scuffed back to join them, still burdened by his pack. "So, what are we talking about?" He fel in beside Lothaire.
The vampire said, "About how Chase can win back the Valkyrie."
Chase cast him a kil ing look over his shoulder.
"Wel , men," Thad began in a solemn tone, "this sounds like a brewski moment to me."
Declan frowned when he heard a pop-top opening. "You brought beer with you? That's what fil ed your pack?"
"Regin said there's no drinking age in the Lore. And I was thinking I was going to die and all. It's not just beer, anyway. I've got condoms, cologne, toothpaste. Essentials."
So we have no food.
Brandr said, "Sounds like you were planning on getting laid before you die."
"I was, until you-how'd Regin put it?-until you cockblocked me."
That's my foulmouthed lass.
"What can I say?" Brandr shrugged. "But by all means, pass the beers around."
Thad handed the berserker one, then offered another to Lothaire, who merely raised his brows. "You want one, DC?" the kid asked.
Declan stiffened. "You didn't just cal me that."
With a cheery grin, Thad handed him a warm can.
This situation was surreal. Here he was, hiking a mountain trail at the bottom of the world with a reviled vampire enemy, a vampire lad, and a berserker.
And this was the closest Declan had come to male bonding since he'd run with a gang back in Belfast.
Losing my mind. Fuck it. Consider it already lost. A sunk cost. He raised his bound hands and accepted the beer.
"Sorry it's warm."
"How I like it," Declan said, though he could scarcely remember the last time he'd drunk alcohol of any kind.
Thad swigged from his can. "So how far did you guys get?"
Brandr said, "If you want my advice, Chase, you need to convince her that the old Aidan is in there.
Maybe make an attempt to be more like him."
In a disbelieving tone, Declan said, "Be more like Aidan." I can barely figure myself out ... He had no idea what or who he was, but now he was supposed to emulate someone else?
"Start being honest with her. Aidan always let her know what he was thinking. And he fairly much treated her like a queen."
Lothaire sneered, "That's the worst bloody advice I've ever heard!"
Agreed.
Brandr bowed his chest. "And why's that, leech? She cared for Aidan once-she will again."
"Precisely. She cared for Aidan, " Lothaire said. "I knew of Aidan the Fierce-no mortal could kil that many of the Horde without my hearing about it. And I know that he was a bold, blond Viking who was like a god among men. Women wanted him and men wanted to be him." He sighed. "Reminded me of myself."
Then he jerked his chin at Declan. "Chase here is a coal-haired, scarred, underhanded, emotionally deficient Irishman. Who, incidental y, is loathed universal y by immortals and mortals alike."
Just lay it out there, leech. But Lothaire was right. Who was Declan to compete with Aidan-the man Regin had so clearly loved?
Not for the first time, Declan felt a blistering hatred for the man. A jealousy that ate at him. Even if I might be Aidan. Sunk cost.
Lothaire said, "I have a much better plan."
"Why help him?" Thad asked pointedly. "When you don't help anybody else?"
Lothaire exhaled rueful y. "Incurable romantic."
Incurable romantic, my arse. What was Lothaire's game? What would he gain by this?
Brandr said, "A mil ennia-old source of unadulterated evil dispensing relationship advice? We'l pass."
"If he takes my advice and it doesn't work, then I'll release him from one of his vows to me."
Declan's thoughts had been so fil ed with Regin, he'd forgotten how in deep he was with Lothaire-a vow for all the blood the vampire could drink and an open ended one, for anything.
Which meant ... I'll be killin' Lothaire as soon as he stops being useful.
Brandr shook his head. "If your advice doesn't work, Chase could drive her further away."
"Is that even possible?" Lothaire countered. "Now, the first thing. Brandr tell s her nothing, none of that greasing the wheel." Imitating Brandr's voice, Lothaire said, "Aw, Regin, he's been tortured. His life's miserable. He just wants you so badly, and psst, the poor guy's a drug addict-"
"You do drugs, DC?" Thad was appalled. "Did," Declan bit out. "Past tense."
Brandr looked like he wanted to kil Lothaire. "If I tried to grease the wheel, it's because Chase could use some help right about now. all the help he can get."