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“I will give you exactly zero reasons not to kill me.” Nïx made finger pistols and fired them. Bang bang. Then she blew the imaginary smoke from the barrels. “Instead, I’ll pose a question: What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?”
Emberine cocked her head, sending her fire-red tresses cascading over one shoulder. “Keep it up, Valkyrie. You make even me look like a paragon of sanity.”
Portia added, “It doesn’t matter if you can see the future. What use is that information when you can’t stay focused enough to exploit it?” She sighed. “And you are the leader of our adversaries? I fear this will be a disappointingly short war.”
“Do you still think you’ll war with the Vertas?” Nïx asked. “Or with the Møriør? Because I’m about to offer you the chance to eliminate one of their primordials. In the scenario I mentioned, a giant is the unstoppable force, and one of your mountains is the immovable object. Add some flames, and it will be a popcorn-munching moment for those of you at home!”
Portia asked, “How do you know the Pravus doesn’t have a plan to wipe out the Møriør?”
“Because, little sorceress”—Nïx fluffed her knotted hair—“I’m the Ever-Knowing One.”
“Yet you didn’t foresee your own execution today?”
Instead of answering, Nïx said, “The trick about moneyball is to recruit players that they will never expect you to.”
Emberine frowned. “Who are they?”
“The man,” Nïx murmured meaningfully.
“You’re not fitting sport for an execution,” Emberine said with a pout. “We want the fight we were promised. Off with you. Come back when you’re worthy of our notice.”
Nïx’s gaze took on a faraway look. “Some in the Lore wonder how devoted you two could possibly be to each other, considering your history with the Pravus.”
Emberine rose, her gown rustling as she slinked closer to Portia’s throne. “I’ve changed my mind. No less than a smiting will do tonight.” Her red tresses burned at the ends.
Portia’s lips thinned. “You think that because we’re pure evil, we can’t love?”
“I think that because you love, you can’t be pure evil,” Nïx countered. “Which is why I’m giving you this opportunity. You two will be my giant killers.”
Emberine asked, “Why should we ever ally with you?”
“Because I’ll pay you.”
“Pay?” Interest sparked in the sorceress’s fiery eyes. “With what currency?”
“Death.”
Emberine laughed. Portia gazed on quizzically.
“I’ve foreseen your futures,” Nïx said, all playfulness abruptly gone. “Join forces with me, and both of you will probably die in battle.”
Emberine shared an amused look with Portia, then told Nïx, “Alas, we must decline your gracious invita—”
“Don’t join forces with me,” Nïx interrupted, “and only one of you certainly will.”
That would leave the other to live alone for eternity, a fate more terrible than death.
Portia’s grave gaze met Emberine’s. The ground rumbled beneath their feet; outside, grit fell from the sky like leaden rain. Visible under her pale skin, Emberine’s heart went aflame.
And Nïx knew she’d just recruited two more.
TWENTY-SIX
New Orleans, Louisiana
“Tell me,” Munro said.
Loa wasn’t an overly dramatic being, and she didn’t mince words. If she said ruin, then that was exactly what she meant. But what alternative did he have?
The priestess sighed. “Not long ago, a vampire used a wishgiver to turn his human Bride into a day-walking vampire. No death and resurrection necessary.”
Sign us up! This sounded ideal.
“A wishgiver, then?” Kereny wore a poker face—even as her heart rate spiked.
The beat filled his ears, exciting his beast.
Loa nodded. “It’s called the Ring of Sums, a talisman owned by La Dorada, the Sorceri Queen of Gold and Evil.” Meaning she could control both.
Not so ideal. When Dorada had attacked an Order installation to reclaim that ring—while Will was a prisoner there—she’d empowered all the evil beings, leaving the good ones weakened.
Once the installation fell, Will had nearly been raped by a pack of starving succubae. Of all the creatures.
“How do we get that ring?” Kereny asked, her body vibrating with new tension. She must think it would return her to the past. Which wasn’t possible, even with such a storied talisman.
Loa answered, “To find it, you must find Dorada. Your best lead is Lothaire, the Enemy of Old. He’s the one who used the ring to turn his human Bride. As far as I know, he saw Dorada last.”
“Who is Lothaire?” Kereny asked.
Munro said, “He’s a crazed vampire, possibly the oldest in this realm. He’s known for doing favors in exchange for open-ended vows. He keeps a list of his debtors in an infamous ledger book.”
Loa shook her head. “No longer. Lothaire surrendered his ledger for one night’s use of the wishgiver. Now Dorada controls everyone in that book.”
Munro traded a brief glance with Loa. The priestess herself had once run afoul of the Enemy of Old. Her name resided within those pages.
Loa continued, “The spirits tell me that Dorada has gotten a taste for those vows and will bargain with the ring for one. Since she can already control any evil being in existence, she’ll only consider powerful Loreans who are not evil.”
