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“Yes.” Kalebfluttered those ridiculously long eyelashes of his, dimpling her way. “You mustdescribe in excruciating detail how much you love and adore me. Be specific.Feel free to wax on in regards to particular body parts. And didn’t you mentiona poem you had written in my honour?”
The nausearetreated as irritation replaced it. “Oh, Valkyrie poetry is pretty much allthe same.” Shaw stared deeply into Kaleb’s eyes. “Blood… Blood… Blood… Blood.”
Many a recipienthearing those words uttered by a Valkyrie in that low vicious tone had faintedor at least pissed themselves. Not Kaleb, who laughed heartily, thankfullyjoined in by his mother.
Margrete leanedover to squeeze Shaw’s hand. “Such a delight. Tell me, how did you twolovebirds meet?”
“I broke into hisoffice, interrupting what I thought was Kaleb and some Demon having rough sex.Turns out it was an Gxthian assassin trying to strangle him. Who I helped himkill. And since then, kind of like gum on the bottom of my boot, I haven’t beenable to scrape Kaleb out of my life.”
Together motherand son tilted their heads slightly to the left, releasing a small dreamy sighin eerie unison.
“It’s the stuff oflegends.” Kaleb murmured.
“Certainly awonderful story to tell all those grandbabies you intend on giving me.”
Seriously? Thenshe noticed a familiar sparkle in Margrete’s eyes. “You two are fucking withme, aren’t you?”
“Please don’t beoffended. I adore Valkyries. I don’t know any… other than Galen’s Stephanie,and now you. But so far, statistically, I’m beyond impressed. You must call meGrete.”
“Um… okay.”
“You certainlyhave the Court’s panties in a twist, Darling.” Grete shifted her attention toher son as she sipped some white wine. “Announcing a Valkyrie as your Consort?You must have a wicked plan up your sleeve.”
“Given yoursources, you probably know all about it by now.” Kaleb observed innocently,tucking in to a serving of cold noodle salad.
“Don’t be a tease.I know something big is coming up soon, but you’ve been playing your cards awfullyclose to your chest.”
Raising his glassin a silent toast, Kaleb quaffed some wine. “You mean to say there’s somethingyour network of spies can’t uncover? Sucks to be you.”
“You are a terribleimp. Just give me a little hint.”
“Did you get thebaby shower invitation?”
“You’re changingthe subject.” Grete noted peevishly.
“With a subtly andcharm that you taught me from the cradle.”
“You…” Grete shookher head, laughing. “Yes, I received the invitation, thank you. I particularlyliked how it was designed to look like a war axe, and the calligraphy drippingblood, a lovely touch.” Smiling, Grete began to pick at the contents of herplate. “You’re not hungry, Dear?”
Whilst the nauseahad disappeared, Shaw was still feeling a little discombobulated. This wholemeeting the mother of her pretend Consort had turned out to be both moreinteresting and a little daunting at the same time. Shaw liked new experiences,all Valkyries did, they were a curious lot. But usually there was violenceinvolved, not all this chit chat, smiles, and sharing of a meal. She couldn’thelp but still feel a little… unsettled.
But then Grete’seyes shifted to the left, over Kaleb’s shoulder, zeroing in on the dense wildwood that ringed that side of the pool patio. “Gxthians, you say?”
Shaw was out ofher chair, her halberds in her hands before Grete had finished speaking.Twenty-seven seconds later she resumed her seat. All was right in the worldonce more and damn, she was hungry. Grabbing a nearby platter, beginning toload up her plate.
Her two dinnercompanions surveyed the three now headless assassins for a moment before theyresumed eating. Grete nudging her son’s ankle under the table to get hisattention, whispering under her breath so only he could hear her. “This one isa keeper.”
Kaleb grabbed forhis wine, finishing it in one go, his mother’s words reverberating around inhis head. A keeper? That sounded way too permanent for what he had in mind whenit came to Shaw… but tell that to his Demon side. It was suddenly alert and…Lord Lucifer help him, intrigued by the idea. Well… crap.
No. This changednothing. His Demon side operated more on instinct and had been known to get thingslike prey, fuck buddies and mortal enemies confused.
Remember that timethat dude had looked like a lady. His Demon side missing all signs to thecontrary until things had gotten to a rather crucial and embarrassing stage.
Yeah, so his Demonside wasn’t infallible. The Valkyrie should be noted down for the records asbeing labelled fuck buddy potential. Because he, Kaleb Chipp, single ConflictDemon about the Realms, he didn’t do idiotic things like permanency. TheValkyrie, Shaw, was someone else’s keeper.
***
It was a relief tobe back behind the wheel of the mustang. Which didn’t have a scratch, or a dustmote on her. Shaw having gone over her baby with a shammy to double checkbefore settling into the driver’s seat. The early evening air was cool but notuncomfortable enough to put the top up. Instead, she’d just magically added along sleeve tight t-shirt under her leather waistcoat. Whilst Kaleb, his sandyblonde curls blowing in the breeze, appeared to be immune to the weather in hisnavy trousers and dark purple Henley that annoyingly made his eyes ultra-blueand bright.
