All 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, still 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'll 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 still 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'll 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 will ."
Brandr was looking at him strangely. Not surprising, considering the circumstances, but still ... 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.
Chapter FIFTY-SEVEN
"Let 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 ass**les, tired of listening to them. Let's do this."
With a rol of her eyes, Lucia said, "I'll be on the porch with Nix, acting as your spotter." Then she opened the gate.
As beings of all 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. Nix negligently tossed a braid, and the wraiths were all 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 f**k.
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 finally 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 all 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 f**k, right?"
Chase nodded gravely. "Joke 'em."
"So anyway, we've got some wicked strong all ies lined up. These tossers here just missed the memo.
The Valkyrie are all on board; a slight against you is a slight against them. all '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."
Nix gave a delicate cough from the porch swing. "No one's sacrificing anything." She cal ed out to any creature who still 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. Nix cal ed after them, "But by all means, smack him around!"