Page 39 of Fangs and Family
‘He called me his death? What a jerk.’ As we burst out laughing, Sara took my hand.
‘What are you going to do?’ She asked.
‘Be honest and see where it takes me, but first, I need to find Pawel, then deal with the bastard that bit me. Adam is my best bet unless Leszek can intervene,’ I said, looking hopefully at Sara, but she shook her head.
‘He can’t. When he regained his power, the wonderful council of Gedania, our oh-so-wise rulers from the Nether, decided he couldn’t use his power to solve a mundane crisis, but he released Adam from any duties and ordered him to help you,’ she said.
‘Did he? Well, that means he will be home a lot right now, right when I agreed to live with him for the time being. I don’t know, maybe it could be a good test run for us,’ I suggested, hoping for Sara’s opinion.
‘Try before you buy?’ Sara chuckled, and I nodded solemnly.
‘Oh yeah, and he’ll get a helluva run for his money before I forgive him for this Obsidian Princess bollocks,’ I said, noticing wariness on Sara’s face and waving it off. ‘I promise I won’t throw a tantrum or run away like some skittish doctor did. I will let you know if I decide to leave so you can restrain the unruly vampire.’ I said, feeling much lighter now that my mind was set on the task.
Chapter 13
Leszek went on the offensive before I’d even closed the door to his office. I could see how angry he was, but I couldn’t bring myself to regret what happened.
‘We both know the scum deserved to die. They murdered those guards for the thrill, not for any valid reason. Nadolny tells his men to back off if things get nasty, then hit the panic button and let the video surveillance cover the rest. Fuck, everyone knows this, that’s why no one touches his businesses. That and his policy on revenge, so I didn’t overstep. Besides, I know you, if you saw what they did, you’d have ripped them limb from limb.’ I finished my argument with a truth neither of us could deny, but I felt the sweat sliding down my spine until Leszek’s angrily glowing eyes faded back to their usual verdant green.
‘That’s not the point, and you know it. You know the rules. No draining a victim to death. Damn it, that rule was your idea, a way to help keep the vampires hidden. How do you expect to enforce a rule you broke yourself? What got into you, Adam?’
‘We both know it is not a what but who, and spare me your pitiful compassion. I miscalculated my feeding, and blood loss from the fight caused me to lose control of the hunger. I should have shifted to the void to heal the wound, but I didn’t want to leave Nina alone, so don’t start preaching. You were just the same over Sara, and we’re still dealing with the aftermath of that mess. Should I remind you of Grabowa Mountain, when you were happy to let my Seethe bleed humans dry because your precious Firefly was hurt?’ I lashed out, angry because Leszek should understand. He’d been there, falling for a woman who resisted his every attempt, yet here he was, chastising me.
‘It doesn’t mean you have to repeat my mistakes,’ he grumbled, calming down and pointing to the chair. ‘Sit down and tell me how I can help. If I can’t stop you, I may as well help you survive this madness. I can’t let my friend and security chief run around draining humans because he doesn’t want to leave his precious woman alone.’ I sat down, and he poured us both a good measure of mead before sitting opposite me.
I appreciated the gesture, but there was nothing he could do.
‘There’s no need to worry. I think I found the way to change Nina’s heart,’ I said with a smile, and he raised the tumbler to his lips, gesturing for me to continue.
‘Tell me your miracle solution and where you hid your will and all the passwords,’ he said, and I bent forward, placing my tumbler on the table.
‘I submit to her,’ I said, enjoying the moment Leszek choked on his alcohol, his face reddening as he gasped for breath.
‘You what? You… I mean, Adam, you can’t follow my fucking orders, even when you agree with them. What makes you think you can submit to Nina?’ The sheer disbelief in his voice was worth the teasing.
‘Because each time I let go, she steps closer. Each time I react differently to her expectations, Nina tries to rip a reaction out of me. Today, she purposefully nicked her tongue on my fang and let me taste her blood.’
Leszek leaned forward on the edge of his seat. ‘And what did you do?’ He asked while I sat there, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
‘Sucked the droplet down, panting like a dog eyeing a bone without touching her. I was a cursed god of patience, but it was worth the effort. The next thing I knew, she proposed a “no strings,” fuck and feed. As long as no feelings are involved, she said she would welcome it.’
Leszek looked so sceptical it was almost comical, but I was figuring out why Nina reacted the way she did, and talking it out with a friend who understood actually helped me decide what to do. At least now he knew my motivation for any future decisions.
‘When I met her, I thought Nina wanted a human, but my woman craves a monster that will never turn on her. Yesterday was a mistake. I pushed myself to the breaking point, but I don’t regret it because today… she thought I was injured, and she freaked out so much it gave me hope,’ I said, playing with the glass, recalling the moment I saw her fear vanish and the mask slip, revealing the Nina who cared for me, frantically searching my body for any signs of damage. Even through her worry and my drugged-induced haze-I could smell her arousal, and I almost reacted to it.
‘I know what she’s been through, I understand. Even if it kills me, if she wants to take it slow, we will. If she needs control, I will give it to her. The more she feels safe, the more she opens up to me, and the more she enjoys the thrill of being with a vampire. So, I can be the monster she tames. For her, I can be whatever she needs. I will bow to Nina’s will until she feels so empowered that she realises I can be so much more than the fuck buddy she thinks she wants.’
Leszek’s gaze softened when he poured another measure of alcohol and pushed the tumbler in my direction.
‘That’s the most grown-up thing I’ve heard from you in years. I will drink to your success and to your luck because you will need it. Just… in your crusade for Nina’s love, try to remember she is a heart-sister to Sara, and if you upset my wife, one drained burglar will be the least of your worries,’ he said, and I smirked.
There was no sense in arguing with Leszek when it came to his wife. He’d overseen the human realm and the Gates to the Nether longer than anyone who’d ever lived and never shirked his duties, but he would drop it all in a second for his Firefly. I hadn’t understood it before, but I did now. For Nina, I would drown this world in endless night if I lost her.
I would abide by Nina’s new rules for now, joining her in the pleasure she craved, and when I found and protected her brother, she would see just how much I could be trusted. In the meantime, I would give my Obsidian an insight into the life of a monster who loved only her and would never betray his heart.
‘Adam, you’re doing it again.’ Leszek’s voice brought me back to reality, and I realised my body had slipped into the shadows, unconsciously seeking Nina.
‘Sorry, I was a little distracted. Do you have the data I asked for, and did you contact the client who wanted to hire me to find his heirloom?’
