Watching the woman pine for Chase made Regin il . As if those two would ever have a shot.

Even worse was when Dixon gazed at Regin. Like the woman hungered to examine her.

It gave Regin the creeps. She wasn't a puss by any means, but the threat of vivisection was really starting to get to her. Prisoners went off to those labs one way, and they came out another. Altered. ...She'd just heard Thad's audible swal ow and a whispered, "My jeans completely off?" when two guards arrived at the cell. Regin leapt from the bunk. Had Chase sent for her? Or am I about to be vivisected?

One guard said, "Here for Brayden. We're moving him."

Thad shot to his feet, his eyes panicked. He subtly reached for Natalya's hand.

"There, lad. It'l be okay."

Regin couldn't say she was surprised by this transfer. Not many of the other cel s were coed, from what she'd seen.

The second guard said, "Are you looking for this to be a gas extraction, or are we all going to play nice?"

She and Natalya shared a look. They both knew resisting the guards would be useless. Plus, it'd probably freak Thad out even more.

Regin shook her head. "Just be cool, kid. Remember, I'm not leaving this place without you."

Natalya added, "Same here. You have my word." Then she reluctantly pulled free her hand.

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As the guards led him away toward the entrance of the corridor, Thad craned his head over his shoulder, keeping them in his sights for as long as possible.

Regin swal owed. His eyes had been glinting at the end.

She turned to Natalya, who looked bereft. "Come on, Nat, we both knew he'd get sent back to the minors. I've been expecting them to separate him from us ever since he woke from his stupor."

"Doesn't mean I like it. ..."

Hours later, they heard gasps from inmates up-corridor from them. She and Natalya ran to the glass in time to see the same two guards dragging by Thad's limp body, on their way to the opposite end of the ward.

He was soaking wet and shaking, his pupils the size of saucers. "They told me I'm a vampire," he mumbled to Regin and Natalya. "Now You'll w-want to kil me. ..." His head lol ed as he fel unconscious.

Screaming obscenities at the guards, Natalya slammed her hands on the glass, spitting and kicking, her irises gone black with fury. Regin shrieked right beside the fey, her hands bal ed into fists so tight that blood dripped to the floor. She was murderously enraged that Thad had been hurt-and that Chase had broken his word to her.

Vincente strode by then. In a low tone, the man said, "He's only going to a new cel now. Worry for yourselves."

Regin sagged against the glass. Gods, just give me one more chance to take Chase down. Just one more ...

As Declan strode through the facility, finalizing preparations for Webb's arrival this week, he decided it was time to bring the Valkyrie round once more.

His trap had been sprung for Malkom Slaine; now all he could do was wait. He'd compiled and edited the information Regin had given him about the Valkyrie, bersekers, and any impending apocalypses.

And by now, enough time had passed that he likely wouldn't throttle her on sight.

Their last meeting had infuriated him; his subsequent dream-wet as it'd been-had only compounded his resentment. Spend up to my chin. ...

Once again, the Valkyrie had sent him reeling. And again, he'd found his footing. If she meant to convince him he was a berserker, she'd have to do better than her tales, her induced dreams.

He would require irrefutable proof. Until then, he'd fight it every step of the way. Going down swinging-

"Magister Chase," Vincente cal ed from behind him.

Declan slowed his steps.

"You've, uh ... you received a message, sir."

"I'll check it when I get back to my office."

"The message didn't come through the usual channels." He handed Declan a sealed transcript folder.

"Then where'd it come from?"

"It was recorded. From the listening device you planted in Louisiana. I matched it to an Aston Martin, red, current year, Orleans Parish tag."

"So? Someone must have driven that car, and we picked up a conversation. Those bugs are voice-activated."

"The car wasn't started. And only one person was inside it. Just read the transcript, sir. I suggest in private."

"I have another task at hand. tell me who it's from, and I'll decide."

Vincente lowered his voice. "It's from a Valkyrie named Nix. She left the message specifical y for you, using your own bug."

How the hel had Nix found the hidden device? He could only imagine what she would have to say to him.

Without a word, Declan turned back toward his office, ripping open the folder as soon as the door closed behind him.

He started to read. ...

-Begin transcript-

Testing. Hel o, hel ooo, anybody out there? Check, check, one, two. Soft pee. Puh, puh.

Resonance! Sooooooft pee. Alpha bravo disco tango duck.

This is Nix! I'm the Ever-Knowing One, a goddess incandescent, incomparable, and irresistible. But enough about what you think of me. It's a beautiful day in New Orleans. The wind is out of the east at a steady five knots and clouds look like rabbits ... But enough about what you think of me!

Now, down to business-

Squirrel!

Where was I? [Long pause] Why am I in Regin's car? Bertil, you crawl right back out of that bong this minute!

Oh, I remember! I am hereby laying down this track for Magister Declan Chase. If you are a mortal of the recorder peon class, know that Dekko and I go waaaaay back, and he'l go berserk (snicker snicker) if he doesn't receive this transmittal. ...

Chase, riddle me this: what's beautiful but monstrous, long of tooth but sharp of tooth and soft of mind, and can never ever tell a lie?

That's right. The Enemy of Old can be very useful to you. So use him already.

P.S. Your middle name's about to be spelled r-e-g-r-e-t.

And with that, I must bid you adieu. Don't worry, we'l catch up very soon. ...

[Muffled] Who's mummy's wittle echolocator? That's right-you are!

-End transcript-

Declan sank back in his chair, muttering, "Jaysus." Why in the hel would she communicate with him?

And she'd all uded to him being a berserker. Fighting it all the way down ... Why would she say she'd be seeing him soon? Perhaps she planned some kind of incursion to free Regin?

Regret about what?

He cal ed Vincente to his office. "Did anyone else see this?"

"Only the one who transcribed the message."

"Bury it." Declan scowled at the transcript. "And bring me Lothaire."

Chapter TWENTY-TWO

Gods, Magister," Lothaire said as soon as a cadre of guards left him in Chase's office, "try to contain that."




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