Deep Kiss of Winter Read Free Page A

twist and turn of these downtown streets. As long as she didn’t catch a fire arrow, she could handle the Icere.
    The vampire was another matter entirely. Whenshe’d seen him tracing after her, she’d gaped in disbelief that yet another pursuer had joined the chase.
    A clear-eyed vampire, a true Forbearer.
    Though hidden, she could still see him from this vantage. With a narrowed gaze, he turned in circles below, determining her direction.
    Any superficial and misguided attraction she’d felt for him was drowned out by annoyance. If this male would just move on, the Icere likely wouldn’t find her here.
    Otherwise, he was going to get her killed.
    The assassins would separate to trap her, driving her with the threat of those poisoned arrows. They wouldn’t lob their notorious ice grenades at her—they’d lose valuable cold and she’d simply take the impact with a smile on her face as she soaked the chill into herself.
    But those arrows . . .
    Tipped with a poison that ravaged through an ice being’s veins like liquid fire.
    I would know . This wasn’t the first time a faraway Icere king had dispatched killers after Danii, the rightful Icere queen. . . .
    Instead of leaving, the vampire called out in a deep voice, “I know you’re here.” His words were thickly accented. Russian? Perhaps Estonian. “You’re a Valkyrie, are you not?” He stilled, listening for her. “If so, you’ll want to know that my brother just captured Myst the Coveted.”
    Myst. Danii loved all her half sisters equally, but she owed Myst.
    Wait . . . a Forbearer’s brother had taken her? There was one Forbearer—an Estonian—who wanted Myst above all others: Nikolai Wroth, the Overlord. He’d done Myst wrong, but then she had definitely retaliated.
    And the Overlord had brothers.
    Danii had to find out what had happened to her sister. If Nikolai alone had her, then Myst probably wouldn’t be in danger, since she was his Bride. But if Nikolai had surrendered her to the Forbearer king . . .
    I have to know. Danii could trap the male below in a cocoon of crushing ice, then question him, but how much more cold—and time—could she stand to lose?
    â€œWhy do you cower?” Anger blazed off him. “A true Valkyrie would face me.”
    True Valkyrie? His taunt struck home, like a jab at an exposed nerve. She wanted nothing more than to be like her half sisters. To enjoy all the things they took for granted. Broken doll . . . She rose unsteadily, crossed to a gap in the wall, then stepped out.
    At once, his gaze locked on her, following her down. His lips parted, revealing barely visible fangs, but he made no move to close the thirty or so feet between them.
    Had she truly thought the gray of his eyes was normal? Recognition seemed to flare in them. Recognition? But how? She’d never seen him before—she’d definitely have remembered.
    His gaze was focused . . . predatory . Then his irises turned black. Black in a vampire meant intense emotion. Yet his earlier fury seemed to be fading.
    As they stared at each other, all other sounds—the eerie thrum of barges churning the river, the distant screech of streetcars—were drowned out.
    â€œMy brother warned me that your kind are vicious.” His voice went even lower as he frowned. “I cannot see you as so.”
    â€œWhere is my sister, vampire?”
    â€œI can take you to her, Valkyrie.”
    I’ll bet . Yes, the male before her was a Forbearer, which meant that he was clueless among the Lore.
    He’d have no idea how dangerous Danii in particular could be.

T HREE
    A living, breathing Valkyrie stood before him. And she was so stunningly beautiful. . . .
    Murdoch’s view of her front had proved far more rewarding than he’d imagined.
    He shook himself. Was she one of those who’d shot