Deep Kiss of Winter Read Online Free Page B

do.”
    His brother had described what happened when he’d been blooded, so Murdoch knew what to expect physically. But Nikolai had neglected to tell him that instinct, raw and bare, would take over.
    â€œYou, please . Arrows poison to me. No time.”
    Poison? No, she couldn’t die like this. If she was a Valkyrie, then she was immortal.
    But what did he know? He also hadn’t thought a Valkyrie could be burned by his touch.
    He ripped away the bottom of his shirt and wrapped his hands, then gently scooped her into his arms. Though their skin never touched, the movement jostled the arrows, making her whimper in pain.
    He clenched his jaw, wanting to slaughter those fucks all over again, to punish them slowly. “Why trust me with this?” he snapped. Why did she want him to care for her? Why would she think him capable of it?
    She tried to focus on his face, her silvery eyes going blank. “I . . . don’t know why.”
    â€œYou’ll probably regret trusting me with your life.”
    In answer, she went limp, helpless in his arms.
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    Lord Jádian the Cold, general of the Icere, had watched the conflict impassively from his vantage in a warehouse above the street.
    In his long life, he’d fought against vampires countless times, and he had the scars to prove it. But the one below had been stronger, faster. Now it crouched over Daniela the Ice Maiden. Crouched protectively. An unlikely ally for the female?
    After tonight, there was no doubt that Daniela was Icere; it was bred into every line of her.
    But she was also fierce like the Valkyrie—she’d wrenched a fire arrow from her own chest to cast ather enemy. He knew exactly how powerful that poison was, had harvested it himself from a fire demoness’s horns.
    Yes, Daniela was strong. As her mother Queen Svana had been.
    When the vampire below disappeared with her, Jádian leapt down to collect the fire blade. It wouldn’t do to lose it—the same knife had been used to take Svana the Great’s head.
    Jádian planned to wield it again.
    He turned from the carnage, ignoring the low creatures that had already begun feeding on his fallen comrades. He walked on with the knowledge that Daniela was a threat that could no longer be ignored.
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    Just as Danii dimly perceived a bed beneath her, pain exploded in her chest. She woke to her own screaming, writhing in agony, bucking away from the source.
    â€œEasy, girl,” the vampire’s deep voice intoned. “Have to get this dress off you.”
    She cracked open her lids, found herself on a mattress on the floor in some dark-paneled room. The vampire was surveying her with eyes the color of obsidian, a knife in one of his gloved hands.
    He’d put gloves on? Good vampire. “In Kristoff’s castle?”
    â€œHow did you—? No, we’re not there.” He finished slashing away the rest of her dress, leaving her in panties. He’d already removed her boots. “We’re in a mill outside New Orleans.”
    He set aside the knife, seeming more uncomfortablewith her nudity than she was. With a swallow, he wrapped his fist around an arrow just above her breast. He used his other hand to press her shoulder into the mattress. “We’ll count to three.”
    She met his eyes and nodded. His gaze was frenzied, yet it comforted her. Never looking away, she gritted her teeth.
    â€œOne . . . two—”
    Yank.
    She choked on a scream, and lightning exploded just outside the house. His eyes darted around uneasily as he tossed the arrow to the floor.
    Between panting breaths, she cried, “Remind me . . . to teach you . . . to count.”
    â€œAre you ready for another?”
    Was she? How much more pain could she take?
    â€œThink of something else, girl.” He clutched another arrow. “Or tell me