“You understand why, though, don’t you? It’s important to me that you understand.”

“I do.”

“Good,” Skulduggery said. “Good. You’ve been busy, apparently. I heard about your encounter with this Shakespeare person. Did he hurt you?”

“No.”

“You’re sure? If he hurt you, tell me. I’ll kill him.”

Nero chuckled, and Skulduggery turned his head slightly.

“Why are you laughing?” he asked. “I’m quite serious. If anyone hurts Valkyrie, I will kill them. That includes you.”

Nero’s chuckle faded.

Skulduggery looked back to Valkyrie. “Cadaverous Gant wants to kill you, too, but don’t worry about him. If he tries it, I’ll shoot him in the head. You’re safe. For the moment. Although we might have to kill you in order to resurrect Abyssinia. Melior’s going to see if he can make do with the life forces of the two Neoterics we have shackled up back at the prison, but, if we need more, I’m afraid you’re on the menu. Your magic is unique, after all. You draw your magic straight from the Source. You may not be Neoteric, but you qualify.”

“Lucky me.”

“Indeed. Or I might kill everyone before any of this moves forward one more step. I’m getting into that sort of mood.”

Smoke placed a hand on Skulduggery’s shoulder. “Behave, Skulduggery.”

Skulduggery stiffened, and Valkyrie’s heart plummeted. She activated her aura-vision just in time to watch the corruption overtake him once more.

Smoke took his hand away. “Stick to the plan. Understand?”

“Of course,” said Skulduggery. “Apologies, Valkyrie. I had a brief moment of awakening. It was nice, but it’s gone now.”

Valkyrie’s mouth was dry. She could have tapped the auxilium sigil on her hip there and then. She could have called in three dozen Cleavers, have them teleport in to the middle of Ballyfermot and engage in a battle in broad daylight. She could have put innocent lives in danger and risked exposing magic to the mortal world.

She could have done all these things with the tap of a finger. But her hands stayed where they were.

“So you’re going to do it?” she asked. “You’re going to be the one to kill me?”

Skulduggery nodded. “I think it’s only right, don’t you? After all we’ve been through together?”

She tried smiling. “I kinda wish you wouldn’t.”

“Don’t do that,” he said, and took a step forward. “Don’t pretend. It’s me, OK? It’s still me. You can be yourself around me, Valkyrie. I’ve been trying to get you to be yourself since you came home. Nothing’s worked, has it? You still won’t come back to me.”

“I’m doing my best.”

“I don’t think you are. I think you’ve given up.”

She didn’t say anything.