A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Wreath, Serpine, China, Fletcher, Darquesse, Ghastly or Tanith.


Skulduggery looked ready to explode with rage when he found Wreath with me in a training room. "Valkyrie, step away from him." He said his voice low and dangerous.

Wreath smiled thinly. "Tell me, Detective. Why is it you were in such a hurry to get vengeance against Serpine, but yet the Grand Mage lives and breathes? Couldn't be that you love her, could it?" Skulduggery's gun sprang into his hand and as he thumbed back the hammer I stepped between them.

"Move, Valkyrie." He rasped.

"No. Would you be that angry if it weren't true?" I asked quietly and his head rocked back as if I'd slapped him.

"Is that what you think?"

"I thought there had been enough vengeance. At least there is where China is concerned. You still love her, Skulduggery, and I'm fine with that. You're the one who has to come to terms with it." Skulduggery looked at me, spun on his heel and left.

Solomon just shrugged. "I doubt he'll kill her, but you've given the man food for thought. Just don't bring it up again. I know he can do no wrong in your eyes, Valkyrie, but he's a dangerous man."

"I didn't mean for him to go after her."

"And he won't." Solomon soothed. "But he'll avoid you until he's calmed down. No insult meant, but had a man said to him what you just did he'd either have shot him or set him on fire." I sighed and took off after Skulduggery. I found him in the library, looking out sightlessly over the town.

"Skulduggery, I'm sorry, but Wreath has a point. You only seem to get around to vengeance with people you weren't involved with."

"Duly noted. Should I go on a killing spree, Valkyrie? Will that make you happy?" He asked tensely.

"Only if I get to go with you." I said and he bundled me in a tight hug.

"Thank you. I would have shot him. And he was right. Part of what China did to my family was out of revenge, no matter what else she says. So I've always felt just as guilty."

"So if Fletcher goes crazy and kills you one day I'm also to blame? Lovely, that."

Skulduggery titled his head in a slight frown. "No, that would be Fletcher's fault entirely. Oh, I see. Still, I'd rather you avoided Wreath if it's all the same and yes, I realize that's unfair of me. I work every day with China yet I won't let you see Wreath." He sighed.

"You won't let me?" I growled. "Who made you the boss of me? God, Wreath was right, I'd be better off in a temple. Why don't you go fawn over China?" I sneered. Skulduggery cringed like I'd hit him and I stormed out of the library.

It wasn't right or fair to keep getting angry with him, but I couldn't help it. If he just admitted he loved China and wanted a relationship with her maybe I wouldn't have to keep walking on eggshells around her.


Wreath looked at me when I returned. "I give you my permission to use this, Valkyrie. I suggest you aim for Skulduggery's head." He added sweetly. I glanced over to see Skulduggery in the doorway and was tempted to.

Instead I aimed at a target Wreath had set up at the far end and shadows shot out of the cane, destroying it. "Welcome back, Valkyrie Cain." Wreath said, stepping back into a formal bow. "I'll have a ring forged for you. Power can never be completely drained, just copied if you'd like. I'll see you soon, try to stay alive in the meantime." He went to step past Skulduggery who blocked the doorway.

Wreath smiled thinly. "You're being childish. I have no idea what she sees in you."

"I don't like you and I don't trust you."

"The feelings are mutual, Detective. If you truly cared for your partner you'd let me take her to a temple and keep her safe."

"She's a Dead Man, she doesn't need coddling in a temple."

"Have you ever let her decide? Tell me, Detective. Did Valkyrie return to Ireland because she wanted to or because you needed her to? I've never understood your unhealthy obsession with her. You clearly don't love her, yet you refuse to let her go so another man can." Wreath snapped.

"Are you saying you're that man?" Skulduggery growled dangerously. His gun flew into his hand and he pressed the muzzle against Wreath's temple. "You don't get to love her. You haven't earned the right to love her."

"I stand corrected, you do love her." Wreath said calmly. He broke eye contact to look at me and sighed. "Try to live through the evening. I'll return as soon as possible." He tipped his cane towards me in a salute and disappeared in a swirl of shadows.

"What was that all about?" I asked and Skulduggery looked at me calmly as he holstered his gun.

"Hmm? Oh, nothing."

"You didn't get that angry before because you love China. You got that angry because you love me, didn't you?" I asked, stepping closer.

"Nonsense. I'm your mentor. It wouldn't be appropriate."

"You are not my mentor!"

"So you say, and yet I am."

"Skulduggery!"

"Fine, yes, I love you, all right? Are you happy now? I love a woman who will never love me in return. Aren't you thrilled beyond words?"

"Lord, you're thick." Ghastly said as he entered the room, trailed by Tanith. "Doesn't love you? She's the only person on the planet who actually does. Or hasn't she told you that often enough to penetrate that thick skull of yours?"

"What's going on? We heard shouting." Tanith asked and I grinned at her.

"Skulduggery lost it and almost killed Wreath, it was awesome."

Skulduggery stared at me. "You have a strange idea of awesome." He said doubtfully. "Five minutes ago you wanted to run away to a temple with him." The other Dead Men were trailing in behind him, each more interested that the last in what was going on.

"Skulduggery tried to kill Wreath." Tanith announced happily.

"I did not. If I had tried he'd be dead by now. I threatened, there's a difference."

"I wasn't running away, Skulduggery. If we're all back wouldn't Necromancy come in useful?"

"Yes, I suppose."

"And it isn't like I can go psycho bonkers crazy and become Darquesse anymore, is it?"

"True."

"So I did what you would do. I went for whatever we can get. Admit it, you're proud of me."

He sighed. "I'm annoyed with you. Why didn't you just tell me all this in the first place?"

"Before or after you and Wreath started fighting?"

"Point taken. And yes, I love you. Happy now?"

"Very."

Skulduggery tilted his head in a smile and pecked me affectionately on the cheek then leaned in closer to whisper in my ear. "And if you're a very good partner and stay by my side there's more of that later." He pulled back to look at me smugly and sauntered out of the room.


Naughty skeleton.