Shellbelle

“Nix and Lothaire:

When the collar dropped to the ground, Lothaire rolled his head on his neck. But instead of disappearing immediately, he traced to stand mere feet from Nïx.
A towering vampire with skin like marble and chillingly flawless features was staring down a petite Valkyrie with crazed eyes and a cryptic smile.
The tension between the two was palpable. Even on the verge of flipping the fuck out, Regin couldn’t look away.
“The Accession grinds on, does it not?” Lothaire said.
“Just like old times.” Nïx winked. “Alas, Dorada will come for you once she rises again.”
“I’ll be ready.” He narrowed his red eyes. “You’ve likely foreseen this moment. Tell me, are we to fight now? As in the past?”
“You defy foresight, Lothaire.”
“That’s only fair, Phenïx, since you’ve long defied insight.” Phenïx?
Nïx canted her head. “What does your Endgame tell you?”
“That white queen will never take black king.” He gave her a formal bow. “Until our next match.”
“There won’t be a next match, vampire.”
His brow creased into a frown, the Enemy of Old disappeared.”
― Kresley Cole, Dreams of a Dark Warrior