Page 41 of Branded in Love
I follow the scent, away from the road and into the woods.Thisis my arena. “I killed your son, Andrea. He wasn’t fast enough…” I taunt him. “You sired a lousy vamp. Do you hear me?”
Dried twigs crack behind me.
“You’re an arrogant motherfucker,” I mumble as my lips stretch in a knowing smile.
The scent shifts from my back to at least ten feet in front of me. Narrowing my gaze, I make out the creature’s silhouette. I turn away from it, but hold it with a side glance.
Come and get me.
“Do you know why there are no vampires left in Saint Petersburg?” I say.
A gust of wind rushes towards me from the side. Fast as lightning, I twist my torso and swing my axe in silver fury. The vampire materializes in the middle of the forest, blade buried deep in his chest.
Andrea drops to the ground. I trudge to him before the creature has a chance to heal.
Towering over the vampire, I pull the axe away, watching the red ruin that drenches his tailored white shirt. I tilt my head, glaring at him with an icy stare, and wait for his wild eyes to latch on mine.
“It’s because I never miss,” I tell him. My axe swings down, chopping off the demon’s head in a single blow.
31
LUCIANA
Panic riots in my heart as I wait near the parking lot. It’s been quiet for a while now. The silence is deafening and makes my mind flutter away in sheer anxiety. A cold knot clenches my stomach. I clasp my hands, unable to part my eyes from the treelined edge of the park.
All tension flees from me the minute I see Gavriil emerge from the fog-veiled woods. Tall and hulking, he marches down the avenue, alone.
“Gavriil…” I manage, moving to meet him.
“Luciana!” Sasha grabs my arm and pulls me back. “Wait!”
My head swings back to him, perplexed. Why does he stop me? “It’s him!” I tell him, struggling to break free from Sasha’s firm hold. It’s useless. “It’s him! Let me go!”
“Not until I know it’sreallyhim,” Sasha urges, hauling me behind him.
I glare at him in dazed exasperation. “What do you mean?” My furious gaze stabs his back.
Sasha straightens, every inch of him stiffened in alertness. He looks back over his shoulder. “It takes a while for the bear to leave after a fight,” he says in reassurance. “It could be dangerous...Please. Let me make sure.”
My feelings tangle in hope and fear. I nod.
“Wait here,” he says between quick breaths. Sasha’s expression hardens when he moves towards Gavriil.
As Gavriil trudges closer, I notice his white disheveled shirt, drenched in blood. He wears a brown leather harness strapped around his shoulder, where he carries a modest throwing axe.
Within minutes, Sasha and Gavriil stand face to face. Sasha talks to him in a gentle tone. I can’t hear the words. He presses a hand on Gavriil’s chest, making him stop. This does not sit well with him. Gavriil sneers and shoves Sasha away, thrusting his shoulder back with his hand.
Gavriil keeps walking. Sasha stops him again. They argue. But Sasha is adamant and doesn’t stop until Gavriil does. Then his gaze drifts downwards, and slumping his shoulders, Gavriil shakes his head. He sweeps a hand across his eyes, his expression a grimace of pain and weariness. Sasha takes a hand to his shoulder. Gavriil wraps him with his arm and pulls him close in a heartfelt embrace.
When they part, Gavriil and Sasha walk together towards the parking lot.
Gavriil stops a few feet away from me, avoiding my stare. The silence between us is long and brittle. His eyes meet mine for a second, and I recognize immense grief in them. I don’t know how many of his brothers fell tonight, but I know a single one would be too many.
“The car’s waiting,” Sasha says with no inclination. He takes the lead. We follow him, trudging all the way.
Gavriil’s tension slowly thaws when we sit in the car. Sasha sits next to the driver. He closes the door. The vehicle starts to move.
Sasha’s phone rings, and he answers with a quiet voice.
