Just as it shook something inside her when that mouth, those hands gentled. When for one trembling moment there was real tenderness.
She squeezed her eyes tight when he held her, when his hands glided light and easy over her back.
“I loved him more than I can tell you.”
“I know that. Anyone could see that.”
“When he’d barely learned to walk, he’d follow me around like a puppy. So full of light, and . . . delight. If I shook him off, I’d feel like a bully. He was like Annika. It occurs to me that’s why she struck a chord with me right off.”
“It wouldn’t have anything to do with being blow-your-pants-off gorgeous?”
“Bonus. I couldn’t hear you, and in that fog, through that wall, you seemed very far away. But I knew you.” He eased back, studied her face. “She couldn’t reach that.”
“She doesn’t get that. That’s how we’ll win. Plus, we’re just smarter. Or I am anyway. A lot smarter.”
“Now who’s being a dick?”
“Truth’s truth. Had enough air?”
“I could use another beer.”
“I could use food. It’s my round for lunch, so it’s sandwiches. You can help me with that.”
“I’m on dinner tonight.”
“So I’ll help you get the pizza.”
He looked back at the house, down at her, and felt something just let go. “Deal.”
• • •
In her chamber beneath the earth, Nerezza raged. The creatures she’d created skittered and scattered. Only Malmon stood, prepared—even happy—to take her abuse.
“He should have slayed them like pigs. He should have done as I bid! Where is this human love? Where is this human grief? It’s weak, weak and false.”
She tore the head off a bat, hurled its still fluttering body against the wall.
“You’ll tire yourself, my queen.”
She flew at him, fingers curled into claws to gouge. An inch before his sickly yellow eyes, she stopped. Her hand gentled, stroked the cold, rough cheek.
“I’m strong again. You tended me well.”
“You are my queen. You are my love.”
“Yes, yes.” She flicked that aside, paced the chamber. In the faceted mirrors of the walls she could see herself reflected, again and again.
Her hair was more black than white now, and nearly as silky as before. Yes, Malmon had tended her well. She’d skimmed the glass so the lines in her face softened, even vanished to her eye.
She’d have her full youth and beauty back, and more. She would have all.
“Wine,” she ordered Malmon. “Just wine. For soothing rather than strengthening.”
Sitting on her jeweled throne, she toyed with changing her skirts from black to red, to black again. A child’s trick, but after her fall, she’d been unable to do even that.
Now, she thought as she sipped the wine. She was strong enough.
“I’ve allowed my thirst for revenge to cloud purpose. I will kill them, of course. Kill them all and feast on them. The immortal? Nothing but a toy to torment for eternity. But first, the stars. I lost sight of the stars.”