As she thrashed to get free, he caught a glimpse of white between her breasts. “And there’s my treasure.” He reached for the talisman, but couldn’t resist a grope. He groaned. A perfect handful.
She slapped at him till he reluctantly released her, collecting the talisman. Back into his pocket where it belonged.
“Take this cuff off, Ruin!”
He laughed at her. “Not a chance, dove.” He yanked on the chain, forcing her closer. “And it’s Rune.”
Still she fought him. “What are you doing?”
“Exactly what I said last night.”
Her eyes went wide. “Imprisoning me? Until you decide to kill me?”
He grated, “Till death us do part, Josie.”
SEVENTEEN
Rune can trace?
Jo wobbled when they appeared on the roof of the building. His teleporting was harder and sharper than hers, as if they’d been shot from a cannon.
Compared to his tracing, hers was like shifting a finely-tuned Caddie into gear. But she couldn’t manage it when stuck in these cuffs! Even her ghosting had failed.
He collected his bizarre arrow from beside the crash site. As he surveyed the empty street, sirens wailed toward their location.
He cursed under his breath. “Drawing the attention of humans?” He shook his head at her. “Reckless female.” Then he traced them again.
When she opened her eyes, they were in an echoing room with a glass floor. Beneath them was another story with a glass floor, and on and on.
Her lips parted. Each story below was populated with all manner of creatures. Freak-show central.
Some had wings, others four legs. She saw beings with glowing skin, scaly skin, pus-covered skin. She recognized centaurs from comic books and behorned demons from Rune’s memories.
Females were interspersed among the males. Most of them sported breasts and wore less clothing.
Everyone seemed inebriated, with goblets in hands, pincers, or tentacles. Peculiar music and loud partying sounded.
“What is this place?” None of her voyeurism had prepared her for scenes like these. When she saw copulation happening everywhere, her heart raced. At least, she hoped that was sex; otherwise creatures were bludgeoning each other to death.
“Ah, you’re nervous about what’s to come,” Rune murmured, mistaking her alarm. “You should be. You’re soon to discover something I’m very, very good at.”
“Where have you taken me?” And how would she get back to her brother?
Since her resurrection (or her transformation?), she’d often wondered why she’d been given all this strength and speed, all her talents. I can safeguard him.
If she could reach him.
Why would Rune target Thaddie anyway? How had her brother gotten mixed up in so much danger? Like sister, like brother? Had he kicked his own ant mound?
She consoled herself with the knowledge that every second Rune was with her gave Thad time to get farther away. Maybe she should stall.
“We’re in Tortua, a pleasure den,” Rune said. “I maintain a residence here. This is the observatory.”
Were any of the freaks below observing up her dress?
Reading her mind, he said, “Each floor can view the ones below, but not the ones above.”
She craned her head up. A solid dome stretched overhead.
“I’ve got the coveted top floor. Welcome to your new home.”
Wait, Rune meant to keep her in a pleasure den? “In other words, you have digs in a whorehouse. If the dark fey fits . . .”
A muscle ticked in his wide jaw.
Oooh, did I jab a tender spot?
“A wiser vampire would be convincing me to spare her life. Not insulting me.”
“You won’t kill me.” How could he? She’d taken six slugs to the face. Unless a wooden stake to the heart could end her?
“Will I not?” he asked.
“You like my bite too much.” Not that she’d be giving it to him again. No matter how close she’d come in that basement. She’d been tempted only because she hadn’t drunk in twenty-four hours, and she’d used up a lot of energy.
“I could replace it with another vampire’s.”
His dismissive tone made her nervous. Last night he’d all but told Jo her life depended on keeping him interested.
She’d seen how easily he’d gone from a tender look to a lethal one.
However, there was a surefire way to protect herself from death and Thad from assassination: take out Rune first. “How many people have you killed?” she asked him.
“Can’t count that high.”
Figured. She’d have to get the better of him. Would he prove as hard to kill as she’d been?
“Come.” He turned toward a solid brick wall, pushing a symbol carved into stone. Bricks disappeared to form a doorway. A portal!
A strange memory flashed into her consciousness like a lighthouse’s beam—too bright one instant, then gone the next.
But she remembered a place of total chaos, flames, and earthquakes. Though winds had blurred her vision, she’d seen a pale hand raised to the sky. Above, stars had streaked across the night. Behind Jo, there’d been a wall of portals.
No, they were . . . black holes.
They’d been arrayed in tiers one on top of another, black upon black. Like spiders’ eyes. Someone had screamed, “It’s worldend!”
Was that Rune’s memory? Or hers?
Before Jo could delve deeper, he forced her through the portal. It closed behind her with a hiss.