“I’m not going to let you leave until I’ve bedded you.”

God, he confused her! “Didn’t get your fill of nymph?”

“I haven’t swived anyone since I first saw you! Four days!”

She glared. “So you went out just to take a shower?”

“I did go to a nymph covey. I was with an old friend, and we started to fool around.” As if the words were pulled from him, he said, “But I didn’t go through with it.”

“Should I believe that?” I want to believe that.

Shrug. “Don’t care if you do.”

He was telling the truth! Their night together had meant something to him. He’d been true(ish) to her. Because he was already falling for her!

Speaking of falling . . . What if she was his fated mate? What if destiny really did pair people up? Rune had told her a mate was the one female in all times and places a demon was most compatible with.

Compatible? Oh yeah. He’d reacted to her much more intensely than he had with those nymphs. Plus, Jo was the only one immune to his poison.

Seriously. Dude couldn’t kiss another female without offing her. Ding ding ding.

He believed dark feys didn’t get a mate, but she mentally waved that away because men often believed stupid shit.

She bit her bottom lip as she thought about his museum. She’d probably found the other half of her unbreakable bond, and she’d kind of destroyed all his things. Maybe she should tell him about her telekinesis?

He interrupted her thoughts: “You’re way, way, way too young for me. And you’ve got this weird jealous bent. You annihilated my belongings—like a godsdamned hellhound pup escaped from a kennel. But I still believe I want to bed you.” He gazed to her side as he gruffly said, “More than once.”

“Is this your idea of asking for a relationship? Is that why you were faithful?”

“Faithful?” He looked aghast. “Slow down, vampire. I don’t want to give you the impression I would be monogamous, because it will never happen. If we spent time together, we’d have to work on your jealousy.”

She wanted to strangle him! “You’re one to talk about jealousy—you’re eaten up with it! Over my ‘male.’ ”

“Bullshit. I’m pissed, because I don’t appreciate being used. Everything we did in bed . . . the things you said. All lies.”

“Like what?”

“You said you’d drink me, only me, for eternity. You said you couldn’t live without my kiss. Pretty words to get back to your male.”

Rune could deny it all he wanted, but he was jealous. Which meant he did give a damn.

Maybe after so long, he couldn’t see himself as anything other than a bachelor, and was struggling against his feelings. After all, he’d left here, intending to have sex, and he hadn’t been able to follow through. If he went in the future, wouldn’t the same thing happen? It’d be even worse if he fell for her!

Her thoughts drifted to that wedding she’d ghost-crashed. Once Rune loved Jo the way the romantic groom loved his bride, he’d never be able to stray.

Now if only she could learn to trust the way that bride had.

In any case, Jo’s path was clear. Make Rune fall in love with her—perhaps through bonding activities such as Valkyrie assassinations.

“Why would you care if I was with a nymph or not?” Rune asked. “You’re in love with another. You’re already taken.”

Josephine rolled her eyes again. “I’m not.”

He couldn’t believe he was quarreling with her like this. Nightfall approached in New Orleans. He needed to be on the ground, stalking his target. “But you want to be taken by that male.” Rune’s fists clenched. Kill Nïx; kill this vampire’s would-be lover. All in a night’s work. “You set out to seduce him. Admit it.”

She headed toward the fire, but he caught a glimpse of her disbelieving expression as she turned away.

Wait . . . What if the male was connected to her in another way, maybe by blood? She wasn’t old enough to have a son that age. Perhaps a brother.

Rune joined her by the hearth. Curling his forefinger under her chin, he lifted her face for his scrutiny. Not much resemblance to Thad overall. But if she removed her glamour, especially around the eyes . . .

Their eyes’ unique color was the same.

The ringing in Rune’s ears started to subside. Perhaps he’d cared about this more than he’d admitted to himself. “He’s your brother.”

She shrugged. He was beginning to realize her shrug meant Yes, Rune. Suddenly, the destruction of his things felt like a mere irritation.

She hadn’t been using him. There’d been no artifice. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I didn’t want you to use this as leverage.”

“We’re not enemies, Josephine.” She doesn’t have a male. Rune was going to kiss her tonight till her lips got sore.

“He’s my little brother. There’s no such thing as being too protective.”

This development brought its own set of challenges. “Thaddeus allies with Nïx?”

Her expression hardened. “Not for long.”

“You might be protective of him, but I’m not seeing the reverse. Did he know Nïx was going to attack you?”

She shook her head. “He doesn’t even know I’m alive.”

“I don’t understand.”