Or worse, what if he didn’t die?

He bellowed with frustration when he’d sunk to his waist and his arms uselessly passed through rock. “Josephine!” To his horror, she crawled up his body until they were face to face, her ghostly hands clinging to his chest.

She was faint, her visage almost colorless, except for her irises. In her phantom form, they glowed, brilliant blue and amber.

“We’ve talked about your hurting Desh. It’s not happening, understand?”

“Release me!”

“If I do, you’ll go solid. Sure you want me to?” They began to rise, like heated air. Once clear of the ground, she let him go.

As he materialized, she levitated, face frightfully beautiful. “You”—she pointed at Deshazior—“vow to the Lore you’ll never say anything about me. You”—she pointed at Rune—“vow you won’t hurt Desh.”

The demon readily said, “I vow to the Lore that I’ll say naught about ye to anyone.”

Rune’s gaze was locked on Deshazior. “You and I both know what she is. And we both know that vow’s not good enough.” He traced to his knife, telling Josephine, “Will you trust me for once? The demon has to go.” When he lunged for his foe, she gave a panicked cry.

Rune’s body went flying, crashing into the rock face. Stone cracked; ribs cracked. The entire mountain vibrated.

He fell to the ground. Telekinesis too? Struggling for air, he grimaced from the pain in his side. “Enough, woman!”

Her otherworldly face was filled with menace. “Get it through your skull: you’re not going to murder him, okay? I’ll keep doing this until you make the vow!”

When she raised her hand at him, Rune bit out the words: “I vow to the Lore not to harm this demon. Today.” As soon as night fell . . .

She rolled her vivid eyes at that. “Another qualifier.”

“Accept that vow; it wasn’t easily given.” He forced himself to his feet, his ribs screaming. “We three will live. Today.” Though his bow was nigh indestructible, he checked it for damage. Unharmed. He exhaled in relief, then cringed with pain.

Deshazior cautiously approached her. “I’m good with the vow, Jo.” His awed gaze flicked over her pale face. “Ye never know what will pop up during an Accession, eh?”

She embodied, sinking to her feet. “You really know what I am? Because I don’t.”

“Ye’re part”—the demon’s voice dropped to a murmur—“phantom. Ye’re a shapeshifter betwixt life and death.”

“Phantom.” Her irises wavered again. “Phantom.” She said the word like she was trying it on. “Yeah. I like that.”

Nïx had said, Death and death all rolled into one.

“Ye saved me, l’il bit, and I’ll not forget it.”

She grinned. “Told you I was wicked strong.”

Rune regarded her with disbelief. She has no idea. He’d already had no intention of letting her go; now there was even more motive to keep her close.

Which had nothing to do with the fact that—in the heat of the moment—he’d thought of her as his.

THIRTY-EIGHT

Ye think she’ll be hunted?” Desh said to Rune. “I’d like to see who could catch her.”

Damn straight, Jo thought.

With malice in his gaze, Rune ran his fingers down the bowstring over his chest. If she had to guess, he was planning an assassination at his earliest opportunity.

She’d have to extract more vows or something. “Maybe you better go, Desh.” She was even more respectful of Rune’s strength. He’d somehow fought her possession! No one had ever come close before.

The demon glanced past her at Rune. “This is where an old salt makes his exit.” He took one of Jo’s hands into both of his own. “Ye ever need anything, ye know where to find me. Fair winds, me beauty.” He kissed her hand.

Awww. He was like a big, hot, horned teddy bear.

“Till we meet again.” Desh disappeared.

Meet again? Try this weekend at Lafitte’s.

“What the hells, Josephine?” Rune snapped when they were alone. “You attack me? I’m on your side, remember?”

“Currently, you might be. But as soon as this mission ends, we’ll go our separate ways. You made that clear.” And it’d really hurt. She’d suspected he would nail and bail her, but to know . . .

“Don’t speak for me.” He lumbered over to a boulder to sit. “I was protecting you, and this is how you repay me? You couldn’t reveal things about yourself to Deshazior fast enough, but you left me in the dark! How could you not tell me about these powers?”

She was stoked she hadn’t telekinetically Hulk-smashed him! An A+ for Jo! “I kept my abilities close to the vest because I figured I might need to use them against you. Obviously, I did.”

“Where is your family? Which parent was the phantom? Where did you come from?”

“Why should I tell you anything about myself? We’ve traded some orgasms. We both want to off the same Valkyrie. As you were so quick to point out—there’s no bond between us. We’re only together currently, which means temporarily.”

“Bond? Let me explain something. You’re going to need allies. And quickly.”

“Why are you making such a big deal about this? Wiccae or Sorceri must have similar powers. Can’t your witch ally move things with her mind?”