A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Ghastly, Anton, Skulduggery, Corrival or Samedi.
Ghastly and I were emerging from the back room to see to breakfast when it happened. There was a burst of shadows and a group of men appeared in the shop. Even as I yelled and massed my own shadows to launch a counterattack a shape flew at me. I tried to hold it off with my shadows, but it was struggling and starting to overpower me.
I realized that it was a Gist, Anton's Gist, and as his black eyes locked on mine he made a helpless, mewling sound, reaching out his taloned hands beseechingly to me. I dropped my shadows and he tackled me in a tight embrace, nuzzling in while he made his raspy purring sound. "You're nothing but trouble, I should have gotten a kitten." I grumbled as I stroked his hair.
"Well, there is still time for that, cher." A nasal voice said and I looked over to see Samedi looking rather pleased with himself. "Oh, he likes you." He chuckled as the Gist went from purring nuzzles to happy kisses. I wanted to be mad, but the instant I'd seen him I'd forgiven him. We'd both overreacted and behaved like children.
"Sorry, sweetheart." I murmured before capturing his lips with mine. He returned the kiss as he always did, with great enthusiasm, and as Anton reeled him in Samedi spoke again.
"Bon. I would have come sooner, but you two children needed a lesson. You'll not do this again, non?" He asked, tilting his sunglasses down slightly to stare at us over the top, and I knew how very angry he was with both of us right then.
"No, never." We both agreed at once.
"C'est bon. Because next time I take the pretty one as my bride. You two grow up. Talk about the past. Stop being so...emo." He said, then shivered with distaste. "And you, you caused a lot of trouble." He growled, pointing his cane at Skulduggery. "When I take the others back, you stay. Go to your woman. Keep your mouth shut, yappy skeleton." He growled.
Skulduggery, realizing the Baron was actually being kind, nodded happily, though he had the good sense to look chastened. We all did. "Running away. Like little children." He grumbled as he gestured for us to all stand close together. "The feels." He minced. Then blackness swelled and receded and we were in the Midnight Hotel. Samedi stepped back and looked at all of us and shook his head. "Children." He grumbled, then disappeared.
I blushed and looked at Anton who took me in his arms. "He's right, we both acted like children. I'm sorry, Valkyrie. Please forgive me." He said in that gentle voice of his. I cuddled up tightly, hearing the pleased murmurs of the other Dead Men.
Corrival cleared his throat. "I agreed with Samedi when he arrived last night in my room. You two children needed a lesson about reality. That said, this book on Gists is most edifying. Especially the part about them having only one true mate in a lifetime." He said, handing over a slim, grey volume.
I realized then that Samedi had not only helped start our romance with his ruse in the Sanctuary, but he'd interfered again to save our marriage. And I was glad we had such a powerful if sometimes frightening ally.
Ah, so Samedi saves the day. But what other secrets does the book contain? One can only wonder.
