Page 6 of Branded in Love
“Gavriil.”
The mellow voice comes from the doorway. I turn and find Sasha, tall and strong, leaning against the door jamb. He’s giving methat look. I hate when he gives me that knowing look.
“What is it?” I mumble, avoiding his stare.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sasha slip his hands into his pants pockets. “Gavriil, I like to believe that other than your Enforcer and personal guard, I’m a good friend of yours.”
“Of course we’re friends,” I mumble, grabbing my cellphone as a distraction. I’m scrolling through my emails, not really caring enough to even read the words. “I thought that would be clear by now, especially after what happened.”
“Yeah… We should talk about that,” he adds in a whisper.
I drop the phone beside me and throw a full glare at my Enforcer. “What is there to talk about, Sasha?” The bear in me bristles. I rise from the bed and move to the window. “Dating Bella was a mistake. I should have known better… I risked my crown for her and all for what? In the end, she betrayed me with Grisha.” A pause. “I’ll never forgive myself for being so foolish… Not a day passes that I do not regret meeting her. Is that what you want to hear me say?”
I catch his reflection in the pane of glass. Sasha shakes his head. “It’s been two years,” he says, subdued. “You must stop…”
“Sasha, she’s dead!” I growl, digging my nails into the windowsill. “Grisha killed her. And the fucking beast vanished.” My chest heaves as undiluted fury rushes in my blood.
“Wewillfind him, brother.” For all the calmness in his tone, Sasha remains cautious, standing on the room’s threshold. “I’m glad you’re finally talking about it.” He sighs. “Coming here was the best choice, after all.”
Something catches my eye outside. My gaze narrows. “I’m not so sure about that…” I say, pulling the curtain aside. A man on a motorcycle pulls into the building’s driveway. He climbs off the vehicle and approaches the gates.
Two more men strolling on the sidewalk turn into the street and join the first. I don’t like this at all.
I crack the window open, hoping I might hear them, but they’re absolutely silent. However...
“It’s been almost a decade since you took some time off, Gavriil,” my Enforcer says, stepping inside. Even then, I do not move. “This is exactly what you need.”
“Sasha,” I mumble, eyes locked on the fiends standing on the sidewalk.
“Yeah?” He stops beside me.
“There are three vampires outside,” I say, slightly stepping back.
A low growl rumbles in Sasha’s throat. “Pesky blood demons,” he mutters. “They’re everywhere nowadays. How did they even find us?” He inches closer and looks through the window.
“I don’t think they’re after us,” I tell him.
Sasha furrows his brow. “Wait,” he says. “How do you know they’re vampires? I see only three men gathered on the sidewalk.”
I sneer. “Can’t you smell the stench of blood sticking to their fangs?” I breathe in a menacing whisper. “Anyway, I know exactly why they’re here…” Another step away from the window.
“Why?” he asks, facing me with distinct concern. Now he tilts his head. “What did you do, Gavriil?”
“I’ll explain later.” I slip on my shoes with haste and dash to the door. “Help me take care of them. She’s in danger.”
“She?” My Enforcer winces. “I understand absolutely nothing…” He dives his fingers through his blonde mane of hair. “But I don’t have much of a choice now, do I?”
I look back. “You don’t.”
* * *
Wrath streamsthrough my veins like brushfire as I cross the street. “What business do you have here?” I demand the minute I reach the blood fiends. My hands are free, ready to strike if it comes to it. Sasha stands beside me.
The blood demons start and look back. The preternatural gleam in their cunning eyes gives away their nature in an instant. “Human...” the leader mutters in the lowest voice. The sound drifts unhindered to my heightened hearing.
“Go away now,” he says in Italian. “You don’t want to be here.” The creature’s pupils widen as they fix on me. But a vampire’s persuasion does not work on warlocks.
“I don’t think you understand…” Sasha says, moving closer. In a flash, he stands behind the blood drinker, a powerful arm wrapped around its throat, a hand seizing the creature’s jaw. He twists hard and fast, breaking the vampire’s neck. One more jerk, and the head comes off.
