Feigning nonchalance, Rune shrugged. —None, my liege. If I’ve discharged my duty here, I’ll take my leave.—

—By all means,— Orion said, his demonic expression giving away nothing.

Rune was tempted to return to Josephine, but he couldn’t predict his behavior. His hunt for Nïx wouldn’t resume until night fell in New Orleans. Only one thing left to do.

He traced to the Dryads, his favorite nymph covey. They lived in a hollowed-out tree as large as an apartment building. Each nymph had her own quarters, her “nest.” They were spread throughout the interior of the tree’s limbs. The main gathering area was a bar at the base of the trunk.

When he appeared inside, nymphs cheered his arrival. They were all topless, their voluptuous bodies painted with leaf designs. Amber jewels adorned them.

The other males present scowled, knowing Rune had just skipped them in line.

“Well, hello, doves.” He cast the nymphs his wickedest grin. They crowded around him, fawning, hoping to be chosen.

This was what he’d needed! He’d already fucked most of them, which meant they craved a repeat.

Josephine, however, had woken from a night in his bed with one question on her lips: Will you really let me leave?

Here, he was the best choice, the ultimate for any female to enjoy. Here, he had one worry: deciding which nymphs to honor with his dick.

Second best? Not among these beauties.

TWENTY-NINE

Rune?” Jo called when she woke in his bed alone. She tested her body, moving her arms and legs.

She was totally healed! Time to return to New Orleans.

Yet Rune didn’t answer. She rose, gazing down at her many bandages. He’d cared for her. So where was he?

She checked the other rooms he’d shown her. No sign of him. She dimly remembered speaking to him when she’d been in such pain, but not much of what they’d said.

Until he returned, she was trapped in his home again. Which meant Thad remained unprotected, under the control of an evil bitch. Jo shivered to recall Nïx snapping her bones like dried twigs.

The Valkyrie wanted her to spy on some guy named Orion and report back. Nïx had said he would impact her life in so many ways. That might be true, but Jo had no idea who he was.

Struggling to make sense of that fight, she headed to the bathing chamber. As she unwrapped layers of bandages, more details filtered into her consciousness. Rune had used her as bait for Nïx! But he’d also saved her in the end. Why else would the Valkyrie have stopped mid-murder?

He’d yelled as Nïx tortured her—as if he were desperate to save Jo. As if he gave a damn about her.

Naked, she gazed down at her body. Black runes covered her. He’d painstakingly crafted shapes from his own blood.

That delicious wine.

She trailed her fingertips over each one, loving his marks on her flesh. She would’ve healed on her own in a few days, but he hadn’t known that. She recalled his panic, and the dread rumbling in his voice.

The dark fey was starting to feel more for her!

After their night together, Jo’s own feelings might have deepened into something more than infatuation. Her dreams of his past had affected her as well. Seeing him so vulnerable and young, yet so cocky, had touched her. The love he’d felt for his mother had softened her.

She’d been swamped with disappointment when he’d traced her to the Quarter and told her to run home to her roost.

Huh. That had merely been part of his ruse.

In the spacious shower area, she pressed some tiles, and warm water cascaded from the ceiling. She was reluctant to erase his symbols, but she needed to clear the cobwebs from her head.

She stepped under the water, staring at the drain. The blood washing from her skin colored the water like ink, and quickened her appetite. When Rune returned, would he give her a top-off? She nearly moaned at the prospect.

Could she trust him enough to reveal Nïx’s deal? Maybe he and Jo could work together on their mutual Valkyrie problem.

After her shower, Jo padded in a robe to his closet to steal an undershirt. His clothes were rough-and-tumble, many ripped and frayed. She loved his devil-may-care look.

Lady-killer with a big swinging dick? Oh yeah.

But she didn’t need to be mooning over a player like him. Nothing mattered more than saving Thad from Nïx. As she dressed, Jo replayed the madwoman’s every word. Some things stuck out more than others.

The ground should be your best friend. . . . Why would you ever become tangible in a fight? . . . Your mind is your greatest weapon. Use it to strike; use it to defend. . . .

Had Nïx given Jo pointers to help with her spy mission? Jo was leery about believing the Valkyrie, yet she got the sense Nïx had been telling the truth. Great. Now all Jo had to do was figure out how to use her mind to strike.

The Valkyrie had also mentioned a woman. Had Nïx been talking about the one in Jo’s waking nightmare, the one who’d emitted power to shore up the sky?

Though Jo wasn’t a trusting person (understatement), maybe she should reveal to Rune everything she’d learned and remembered. Damn it, where was he?

Another memory hit her. Just before she’d passed out, he’d told her he was off to . . . service a nymph harem!

Her eyes went wide. “Manwhore!” He was in bed with another female at this very moment. Or females, plural. Apparently, Rune wasn’t starting to feel more for her.

That gigantic dickwad.

What was it with him and nymphs? She clenched her fists, and the lights flickered. The furniture vibrated.