At eleven years old. Though she was only twenty-five, she’d experienced more shock and uncertainty than some immortals who’d lived for centuries.
“That same day, I slit the asshole’s throat.”
Already dead. Pity. “Go on.”
“When his blood sprayed, it hit my mouth.”
“You didn’t bite him?”
“I was squeamish about putting my lips on him, much less my tongue and fangs.” She peered up at him to say solemnly, “I’m a very picky eater, Rune.”
“Noted. Why were you separated from Thad?”
“After I ‘died’ from gunshot wounds, this librarian took him in. MizB. When I went to steal him back, he didn’t recognize me ’cause I was all vamped up—my looks change with proper nutrition, I guess. MizB and her husband were good for him, and I thought I was some kind of evil resurrected demon or something. I thought Thad should be with his own kind,” she said evenly, but she was alternating between intangible and embodied, betraying her feelings. “I should’ve been in a grave; what right did I have to him?” She lifted her necklace. “That’s why I wear this. It’s a reminder of the day I became something that should never be around an innocent boy.” She frowned. “Or it was a reminder.”
Not to know about the Lore . . . or her own species? How had she developed such a strong sense of herself? Where did her confidence come from? As before, these answers only begged more questions.
“I tore myself away, letting Thaddie live his life. Somehow I kept my distance, never seeing him again.” She fixed her gaze on Rune’s. “Not until the night I thought you were trying to kill him.”
FORTY-THREE
Jo had left out certain parts of her story, like her fear of floating away, but she was proud of herself for revealing so much. Baby steps. Alcohol had made it easier to confide stuff and had her feeling . . . spectacular. Specter-tacular! So what would Rune think about her history?
Though his expression gave away nothing, his grip had tightened on her. “What will you do now that you know Thad is a Lorean, the same as you?”
“I’m not sure he is. I don’t think he drinks blood.” A few months ago, he’d been in a hot-dog-eating contest for charity. “And he’s not pale like me, was never sickly like me.”
“But if he’s your full blood brother . . .”
“He is. I sense that strongly. Sometimes I have the vaguest memories of a woman with shadowy eyes. I think she might be . . . our mother. But why would I have powers while he has none?”
“Perhaps your shooting was a catalyst, speeding up your transition.”
“You talked about females freezing into immortality in their twenties. How’d I regenerate so young?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I can’t think of another species where the young regenerate. That must be a hybrid power.”
“So I couldn’t have been transformed from a human or anything?”
He shook his head. “Transformed into a vampire? Perhaps, though females aren’t known to survive the transition. Into a phantom? Again, it’s unlikely. Into both? Impossible.”
“Then Thad is like me,” Jo breathed, ghosting again.
“Nïx’s unusual interest in him only serves as more evidence.”
“I stayed away from him for so long.” Grief rose up inside her. All those lost years . . . “I can’t explain how hard it’s been.”
He laid his warm palms on her shoulders. “Did you have no one to lean on? You took three males into your bed—did you have a relationship with any of them? Love one of them?” Earlier, he’d laughed when she’d told him her number. Now his eyes flickered as he awaited her answer. “Well, have you been in love?”
Jo shook her head. “I didn’t fit in with humans, and I’d never even talked to a Lorean before you.”
Josephine had been completely alone.
Those two nymphs in New Orleans had told Rune she would roam the streets, appearing sad. He hadn’t been able to understand it then. . . .
She was gauging his reaction. He sensed she’d stop talking if he looked like he pitied her, so he kept his expression neutral. “The woman you remember—do you think she was a phantom?”
Josephine nodded.
How had that female been separated from her two offspring? Had she been in a war? An invasion? “Aside from the Valkyrie, is there anything to prevent you from reuniting with Thad?” From both of you joining our cause? Thaddeus would become as much a target in the Lore as Josephine; the Møriør could keep him protected until he’d transitioned.
“He has that human adoptive mother. Even a grandmother. He’s really close to them. MizB didn’t accept me when I was eleven—I doubt she will now when I have so much blood on my hands. In any case, I want what’s best for Thaddie. I’d keep away if I thought that would help.”
It won’t. “You can take it as it comes, once we remove the Valkyrie from the equation.”
“I know you think I’m telling you all this ’cause I’m drunk, but that’s not why.” She eyed him. “When we were watching the sunset, I made a decision to be more open with you.”
She’d been thinking about me? “Why now?”
A light snow began to fall. She raised her pale face to the flakes.
He gently pinched her chin to get her attention. “Why now?”
“Because the more you know about me, the more you like me.”