Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night

The reflection grinned coyly. Great. A glassy magick eight ball. Mari began to suspect that this reflection was going to prove to be like that little computer paperclip assistant—at first it helps, but after a while you just want the paperclip to die.

In any case, Mari had her own suspicions about why it had been Nïx who'd given her the letter. Valkyrie grew stronger as they aged, and some in the Lore had begun to whisper that Nïx had become powerful enough to affect the outcome of an Accession. Nïx had even mentioned it in the letter.

Mari told the reflection, 'If that's all you have to say, then I'm going to log off.'

'Don't forget the apple.'

As Mari accepted it, she mumbled to herself, 'Don't forget the apple, meh, meh, meh,' aware that she was making fun of her own voice.

Though she craved it, she was nervous, at once tempted to take a bite, but fearing to.

In fairy tales—which were almost always true—wicked witches proffered apples with evil intent. But apples were held sacred by all witches as symbols of knowledge and foresight. There was no more reason to think it evil than to think it good.

Holding it in both hands, she glanced around uneasily. Perhaps she shouldn't be alone in a shadowy cave the first time she made this leap. Yes, she would taste it... later. Decided, she slipped it into her hiking sack.

When she exited the cave, she found the morning mist was thick, the sky cloudy overhead. She blinked and lowered her face, disappointment settling over her that there was no sun to be felt. Vampires got more sun than she had for the last twenty-one days.

And she wasn't likely to get any in the hours to come. In preparing for this trip, she'd read about the jungles in the area and had learned that only a small percentage of the sunlight that hit a rain forest canopy made it to the floor. To catch the light, most of the trees were tall and spindly with an umbrella of leaves at the top. Which made for an odd environment—even as it was gloomy, the forest was open like a warehouse with intermittent pillars to support the roof.

She saw the others were gathered nearby, though MacRieve stood off to the side. All eyes were on her, with Cade's focus on her neck. Unnerved by their scrutiny, she wanted to blurt out, 'We didn't do anything!'

Instead she turned to Rydstrom and casually asked, 'Hey, top, what's the op?'

MacRieve grated, 'Who made him the... top?'

'Rydstrom's like a king.' She looked him up and down. 'And you're... not.'

'I'm third in line... ' He trailed off at Rydstrom's amused glance.

Rydstrom answered her, 'We're going to have to push hard to make it into Belize before you're to call in. But let us know if you need to rest.' When she nodded, he continued, 'Cade's on point. I'll take the lead, with the females between the males.' To MacRieve, he said, 'You bring up the rear.'

She knew the Lykae's eyes were on her ass when he huskily rumbled, 'Any day o' the week.'

Then MacRieve stood right behind her, his toes to her heels, as if taking his job very seriously. 'If you need help climbing, I'll assist you. And doona touch anything—moving or inanimate. Doona pull on vines—ever—and try to step exactly where the others do. Let them take the risk. There are snakes in this underbrush, some that'll go out of their way to strike. The fer-de-lance for one.'

She'd read enough in her research to know that fer-de-lance equaled bad.

'And doona drink any water that has no' been boiled. I've a canteen in the pack that's already been processed for you. Just tell me if you need a drink.'

'Are you done explaining to me things that are not counterintuitive?' she asked, huffily adjusting her knapsack.

Tierney laughed as he finished one banana and swiftly peeled another. 'Looks like the werewolf struck out last night, huh, Scot?' he said between bites, seeming bent on regaining in one morning all the weight he'd lost.

Reminded that MacRieve preferred another version of her, Mari cast an overly pleasant smile over her shoulder. 'He lost the entire series. All pennant hopes... dashed.'

Cade cast a grin at her before starting off.

'Watch your step, witchling,' MacRieve rasped at her ear, his temper obviously flaring. 'I have no' even brought my A game yet.'

Bowe was on edge after just a mile into their journey.

So much could harm her. While they were playing protect the mortal, it seemed everything out here conspired against them. Bad water, serpents, a certain frog could bloody drop her.

He felt as if he were carrying the most delicate crystal through a war zone.

'So are you planning on dressing me in addition to everything else?' she asked once they'd cleared a challenging rise.

'I planned to pack as much as I could this morning, so you could sleep later,' he lowered his voice, 'or take care of what went unfinished last night.' He'd amazed himself by behaving so unselfishly as that. Her unfulfilled desire made it more likely that he'd get her into bed with him, and yet, he couldn't stand to think of her suffering. 'I was attempting to be considerate. Though I've little experience with it.'

'I'm not talking to you about this. I'm just not.'

'I can feel your need as strong as my own.'

'Maybe I do have these needs—doesn't mean you're the one I'll choose to help me work them out.' Her gaze drifted to Cade, who was greedily chugging water.

His voice low and seething, Bowe said, 'You regard him with an appraising eye one more time, Mariketa, and you're going to get that demon killed. All he wants is to 'attempt' you. Do you ken what that means?'

'In fact, I do ken what it means. In the throes, you know. One of my boyfriends was a demon.'

'Boyfriends?' He frowned. 'You mean lovers. How bloody many have you had?' He stopped. 'Are you free with yourself, then? With other males? Because that'll be ending—'

'What'd you think?' she asked over her shoulder. 'That I was a virgin?'

'You're only twenty-three,' he said, sounding very stodgy, even to himself. 'And I try no' to think of any male before me. But if you were no' an innocent, then I'd hoped it would have been once, in the dark, with a ham-handed human who was so bad you had to stifle a yawn or fight against laughing.'

She shrugged. 'I'm sure the number of notches in my bedpost can't compare to yours.'

'Aye, but I'm twelve hundred years old! Even if I had one female a year, you'd understand how they could accumulate.'

'Well, I am young.' Just as he felt a flicker of ease, she murmured in a sexy voice, 'But, baby, I've been busy.'

His fists clenched.

'Jealous?'

She probably wouldn't think he'd admit to it, but in a low tone, he said, 'Aye, I envy any man that's had his hands on you.' She gave him an enigmatic, studying expression. 'Now, if I guess the number you've taken into your bed, then you'll tell me if I'm right.'

She hastily faced forward once more. 'Not playing. Get bent.'

He narrowed his eyes. 'One. You've had one.' Her shoulders stiffened barely perceptibly, and he wanted to sag with relief.

'Why would you say that?' she asked in a nonchalant tone.

'Because any male worthy of you would kill a rival who tried to steal you from him. I'm guessing the demon was your first and last. And how did you get him to let you go, then?'

'What if I told you I was still seeing him?'

Bowe shook his head. 'No' considering the way you were with me that first night. Besides, if he allowed you