All it does is indicate who you ’d be most likely to have a successful relationship with—biologically and emotionally. That doesn’t mean you’re capable of a relationship,” she said with a pointed glance at him. “Look, if Nikolai’s falling, then it’s just love. Real simple.”
“I don’t believe that. Then have you ever seen a fated pairing that didn’t work out?”
“Oh, it happens.” To my mother for one . Svana and Sigmund had been fated mates, and a much-celebrated love match. She’d taken him as her husband and prince consort. Then he’d stolen her crown and murdered her. Danii shook herself. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have things to do.”
“You wouldn’t help me to help your sister?”
Danii stilled. I owe Myst. Unbidden, a memory washed over her.
Centuries ago, Danii had been captured by a sadistic Roman senator. He’d kept her among his slaves, bringing her out of her sweltering prison cell just to play with her, burning her naked skin with his touch.
She’d remained a virgin only because he’d intended to offer her to the Emperor, due to visit that season. Before he’d arrived, Myst had seduced her way past the senator’s legions of guards, then killed him.
“I want to help her,” Danii finally said. “But I won’t work with you.”
“Why not? You can’t go about alone on these streets. The Icere could return.”
“I’ve got a couple of days before they can get this far south. Besides, who’s more dangerous to me? Them? Or the vampire who was about to attack me just hours ago?”
“Damn it, I told you why—”
“Have you ever bitten anyone before?”
“You know I haven’t. My eyes are clear.”
She shrugged. Actually, the Forbearers had it wrong. Vampires only turned red-eyed when they killed as they drank.
“We’ve pledged to our order that we would never take blood from the flesh.”
“What would happen if you did?”
His brows drew together. “We . . . well, after tonight, it’s complicated . But I vow to you I won’t bite you. Just help me.”
Danii hesitated. She was a skilled fighter, as were most Valkyrie, but because she risked overheating, she could seldom go into a protracted conflict here in southern Louisiana. And her special talents—conjuring blizzards as battle offense and frostbiting enemy armies—had been relegated to the past.
Since the coven had moved here seven decades ago, she’d felt . . . underutilized . Finally she would have a chance to assist her sisters in a meaningful way.
And she could do damage control. If he hadn’t told anyone about what she’d divulged last night, then she could extract a vow from him never to do so!
Yet she feared there was nothing so noble ultimately steering her decision.
Sad, sad Daniela . . . so lonely and lame that she still yearned to be around the vampire.
No! Remember Farmer Ted, Danii!
In the end, it wasn’t what Murdoch said that convinced her, but what he did. When three trashed frat boys leered at her as they passed, Murdoch’s fists clenched.
He did feel something for her. Perhaps he did truly like her, but was afraid to settle down after so many centuries alone. Maybe he had bachelor’s panic.
Maybe it’s him, not me. “I’ll help you, on three conditions.”
“Let’s hear them.”
“You protect me if we encounter any more Icere—”
“Of course. I will protect you from any threat.”
“Hold on there, I don’t need your help with anyone but them. Second condition: you’ll answer any questions I ask you. And third, you’ll vow never to tell another about anything you learn tonight—or learned this morning. Or anything about me.”
Seeing he was about to balk, she said, “I’m risking a lot by being seen with you. I could search on my own. And I would, if I thought you wouldn’t follow me.”
“Daniela, that’s not—”
She turned to walk on.
He grated, “ Agreed. ”
She faced him once more. “And if you even peek at my neck, I will go
“I don’t believe that. Then have you ever seen a fated pairing that didn’t work out?”
“Oh, it happens.” To my mother for one . Svana and Sigmund had been fated mates, and a much-celebrated love match. She’d taken him as her husband and prince consort. Then he’d stolen her crown and murdered her. Danii shook herself. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have things to do.”
“You wouldn’t help me to help your sister?”
Danii stilled. I owe Myst. Unbidden, a memory washed over her.
Centuries ago, Danii had been captured by a sadistic Roman senator. He’d kept her among his slaves, bringing her out of her sweltering prison cell just to play with her, burning her naked skin with his touch.
She’d remained a virgin only because he’d intended to offer her to the Emperor, due to visit that season. Before he’d arrived, Myst had seduced her way past the senator’s legions of guards, then killed him.
“I want to help her,” Danii finally said. “But I won’t work with you.”
“Why not? You can’t go about alone on these streets. The Icere could return.”
“I’ve got a couple of days before they can get this far south. Besides, who’s more dangerous to me? Them? Or the vampire who was about to attack me just hours ago?”
“Damn it, I told you why—”
“Have you ever bitten anyone before?”
“You know I haven’t. My eyes are clear.”
She shrugged. Actually, the Forbearers had it wrong. Vampires only turned red-eyed when they killed as they drank.
“We’ve pledged to our order that we would never take blood from the flesh.”
“What would happen if you did?”
His brows drew together. “We . . . well, after tonight, it’s complicated . But I vow to you I won’t bite you. Just help me.”
Danii hesitated. She was a skilled fighter, as were most Valkyrie, but because she risked overheating, she could seldom go into a protracted conflict here in southern Louisiana. And her special talents—conjuring blizzards as battle offense and frostbiting enemy armies—had been relegated to the past.
Since the coven had moved here seven decades ago, she’d felt . . . underutilized . Finally she would have a chance to assist her sisters in a meaningful way.
And she could do damage control. If he hadn’t told anyone about what she’d divulged last night, then she could extract a vow from him never to do so!
Yet she feared there was nothing so noble ultimately steering her decision.
Sad, sad Daniela . . . so lonely and lame that she still yearned to be around the vampire.
No! Remember Farmer Ted, Danii!
In the end, it wasn’t what Murdoch said that convinced her, but what he did. When three trashed frat boys leered at her as they passed, Murdoch’s fists clenched.
He did feel something for her. Perhaps he did truly like her, but was afraid to settle down after so many centuries alone. Maybe he had bachelor’s panic.
Maybe it’s him, not me. “I’ll help you, on three conditions.”
“Let’s hear them.”
“You protect me if we encounter any more Icere—”
“Of course. I will protect you from any threat.”
“Hold on there, I don’t need your help with anyone but them. Second condition: you’ll answer any questions I ask you. And third, you’ll vow never to tell another about anything you learn tonight—or learned this morning. Or anything about me.”
Seeing he was about to balk, she said, “I’m risking a lot by being seen with you. I could search on my own. And I would, if I thought you wouldn’t follow me.”
“Daniela, that’s not—”
She turned to walk on.
He grated, “ Agreed. ”
She faced him once more. “And if you even peek at my neck, I will go
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