Page 26 of Fangs and Family
‘After I finish with him, you can choose how you want our interactions to continue, and I will abide by your decision. Until then, you will do what I say because not only is your brother’s life at risk, but your own is too,’ I replied, driving the point home as her expression darkened. ‘I know you hate what I do, but I do it to protect you. Deep down, you must know this,’ I added. My beautiful brittle Obsidian looked so broken that I reached out and placed my hand on her cheek, tilting her face up.
My breath hitched when she nodded, her lips brushing the inner side of my palm as she spoke.
‘I know, but it’s still a bitter pill to swallow.’
‘Then I will sweeten it for you. This isn’t our first rodeo, after all. This time, we’ll get to sleep in comfortable settings.’ My little tease didn’t chase away all the clouds from her expression, but I saw the corner of her lips twitching as she pulled away from me.
‘You will regret this, bloodsucker,’ she teased without a hint of malice in her tone.
Michal’s entrance interrupted our discussion, an elderly lady following him inside.
‘Adam, this lady is here to administer the assistance you requested,’ he said, politely indicating the woman beside him before bowing to Leszek and giving the rest of us a very reserved, respectful nod.
‘I understand this issue is urgent. Where is the victim?’ She asked, and Nina stood up from the sofa with a wry answer on her lips.
‘That would be me, although I wouldn’t describe myself as a victim.’ I moved to follow her before the witch stopped me.
‘Not you, Seethe Master. Only my sister’s presence is allowed,’ she said, with a pointed look towards Sara, who immediately stood to attention.
‘Of course. Let’s go to the office,’ the Soul Shepherd said. Both Nina and the witch followed Sara as she led them to Leszek’s private sanctuary.
Leszek observed the women disappearing behind the heavy oak door before he sat in the armchair. ‘What are you going to do because I hope holding Nina under a protective umbrella isn’t your only solution?’
‘Give me all you have on this treasure hunt you signed me up for. The timing is too coincidental for it not to be connected, especially since I found Nina’s useless brother teamed up with those Lost Ark idiots.’
‘The ones that named themselves after the movie?’ The eye roll that accompanied Leszek’s question was of epic proportions, but I couldn’t blame him. The Lost Ark group were a group of feckless dilettantes that, thanks to their various vices, were now more grave robbers than amateur archaeologists. Unfortunately, somewhere along their descent into criminality, they learned about the Nether, and in the last few years, the group began targeting the elder race’s sacred grounds, graveyards, and temples, searching for magical artefacts to sell on the black market.
‘Yes, those. However, whatever those cretins’ latest little caper was, it got them killed. Nina’s brother is the only one not wearing his entrails as an overcoat.’ My brutal answer didn’t phase the Forest Lord in the slightest, his slight shrug indicative of his feelings.
‘Small loss. I take it you think the killer is here to finish the job?’ He asked, sipping his whisky. I noticed a frown appear on Leszek’s face as he reached up to massage his chest.
‘We have Pawel’s sudden appearance, then disappearance, rogue vampires and some old Master seeking a family heirloom. There are too many coincidences, and that leads me to only one conclusion. That idiot stole something from the Vampire Master, who is more than happy to trample over the laws of hospitality in order to retrieve it. So I need the contact details of the man who wanted to hire me, and if I confirm his involvement, he will die.’ I said, looking at him, expecting Leszek to stop me.
‘Protect your woman as you see fit, just… don’t involve Sara. Use whatever Syndicate resources you need to do it. I don’t like strangers disturbing the peace, so send him on his way or to Veles’ pit, whichever is easiest,’ he answered, deeming the matter finished.
‘I doubt your father would accept a vampire into his realm. After all, Veles’s pit is for the souls of the living, not the dried-out husks of the monstrous dead,’ I said, the smile on my face one of bitter amusement. ‘Maybe you could ask him to make an exception.’
Since his union with Sara, the Forest Lord had regained most of his divine power, so much so that his home was reborn as a sacred grove, allowing the elder gods to roam freely over his island whenever they wanted. Which meant he really could ask Veles to accept a soul if he didn’t mind dealing with his father.
Suddenly, Leszek jerked forward, grabbing his chest, the sound of retching from the office making us both turn in that direction. In the blink of an eye, I was at the door, ripping it from its hinges.
All three women turned sallow, nauseous faces toward me, and I noticed Sara holding Leszek’s favourite Yuka plant on her lap, the ceramic container full of vomit.
‘You owe me big for this one, vampire, and don’t you forget it,’ said the witch as she attempted to leave, but before she passed, I grabbed her arm, only to feel the trembling muscles beneath my hand.
‘Who was it?’ I asked.
‘An elder, a powerful one with psychic skills that almost broke me. If not for the Seer, your little human would never have escaped his control,’ she answered, shaking her head. ‘Let me go. I need a scalding hot shower and a bottle of vodka after that, and so does your human.’ She pointed toward Nina, who sat on Leszek’s chair, dazed and exhausted.
When I went to scoop her up, she didn’t try to fight me, her head dropping against my shoulder, so I held her a little tighter, feeling Nina’s erratic heartbeat thundering against my chest. ‘It’s alright, sweetheart, let me take you home,’ I murmured, feeling the rightness of those words.
Leszek was already crouching next to Sara, taking the violated plant from her hands. ‘Are you alright, my love?’ He asked, and she grunted something in response that caused my boss to sigh heavily.
‘That’s fine, but why my favourite Yuka? Out of all the plants…’ He hadn’t finished before I heard Sara’s voice.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, you don’t get to berate me because of a plant. You can sleep on the couch tonight,’ she snapped.
‘Fine, but remember, each time you kick me to the couch, you end up complaining there’s not enough room there for both of us.’
