Page 57 of Fangs and Family
Chapter 20
Nina was growing restless, and I couldn’t blame her. After the shock of discovering the magical world two years ago, my incredible woman had taken it in her stride, settling into her new reality with confidence and a silver knuckleduster, but now? The danger posed by Sapieha left Nina trapped in my apartment with only the occasional trip to escape her growing frustration.
It had been a week since I’d broken free of the Master Vampire’s control, thanks in no small part to the woman sitting next to me with a surprisingly delicate smile on her lips. It had taken that long to gather my resources to retrieve Nina’s brother. I had to admit I quietly admired the little rat’s skills in finding a way to hide in the Kashubian forest without being eaten or driven mad by the creatures that called that eerie domain their home. Thankfully, I didn’t need to sell my soul to find Pawel. When you had a working relationship with the Alpha of the local werewolves and called their god by his first name, the price was significantly discounted. I’d been more than happy to give Tomasz a controlling interest in the largest meat supply company in order to use his pack.
So, now I had a location and several wolves hidden in the houses surrounding the one place Nina’s brother frequented, a little family-owned shop that looked more like a ramshackle hut than a thriving business. All it took then was patience, and after learning his schedule, we knew he was due to visit the shop again tomorrow. Pawel would be getting a little surprise with his supplies this time, and so would Nina. As I watched her munching on the egg royale sandwiches I’d made for her, I knew just how happy she would be when I brought her brother home safely.
It’s strange how much you learn about yourself when you are held captive with your life hanging by a thread. I wish I could forget the feeling of Sapieha rifling through my memories, thoughts and desires, making me suffer through countless nightmares as he searched for anything he could use. How he mocked my longing for family, my dedication to the Syndicate, and all it represents and protects. I could still feel his fangs sinking into my throat over and over as he tried to break my loyalty to the Leshy. He did it so many times that, despite my enhanced healing, it would leave a scar.
And Nina? I still couldn’t believe she came for me. Out of all the supernaturals in Tricity, all the people who owed me their lives, it was her, a regular human, powerless but full of courage, who stood up to Sapieha and his thugs before Leszek arrived. The spirit, the steadfast loyalty I’d seen when we first met as she fought for Sara’s life, was still there, but this time, my Obsidian fought for me.
I didn’t deserve it, but I promised myself she would never regret choosing me.
My hand tightened on the cup of herbal tea I’d been sipping, and the delicate ceramic shattered, splashing liquid all over the counter.
‘Adam, is everything alright?’ Nina jumped off her seat, taking my hand in hers, but I’d already directed my body to heal the superficial cuts.
‘It is really freaky watching you heal like that,’ she commented, watching as the skin closed, completely fascinated, while I cleaned up the mess. The frown Nina gave me when I remained silent should have warned me, but I didn’t elaborate.
‘Don’t make me guess. What triggered this? Is something wrong with the search for Pawel, or is there a problem with the Syndicate?’
‘Nothing’s wrong, the operation is on track, and I promise you’ll see your brother tomorrow. It was just a bad memory. Nothing your tender, loving ministrations couldn’t fix, Matron,’ I said, giving Nina a playful smile, which just made her roll her eyes.
‘Just be serious for a moment. We’ve been humping like a pair of randy rabbits, but I can see something’s bothering you, so come on, Adam, spill.’
I held myself back, but I knew I couldn’t avoid the conversation for much longer. I’d been joking when I used Nina’s job title, yet whenever she used her no-nonsense Matronly tone, I knew better than to argue. I walked to the sofa and pulled Nina onto my lap, wrapping one of her colourful, fluffy blankets around us.
‘I’m worried about Sapieha. He ripped open my mind with such ease, pulling out everything I wanted to hide and dissecting it. That itself gives me nightmares, but there’s more. He thought he had me enthralled. That made him careless and allowed me to peek into his thoughts whenever he was distracted. He is obsessed. There is a thing vampires don’t like to talk about. A sickness, or more accurately, an addiction we call the Blood Fever,’ I said, pausing for a moment, savouring the feeling of Nina’s fingers stroking my chest.
‘There were moments I thought I was afflicted. After we split up, I could do nothing without thinking of you,’ I recounted, kissing the top of her head. Nina looked up, and I saw the amusement in her dark eyes.
‘Well, I’ll take it as a compliment that I’m not your vampire version of herpes, but go on,’ she said, and I chuckled at her joke.
‘I’m still obsessed with you, my Obsidian, and I crave you with every fibre of my being, but you’re free to live your life with or without me. That’s the difference. However, since you insisted you’re mine, I’ll never let you go,’ I teased, playfully tapping my finger on the tip of her nose. Nina rolled her eyes, and I heard her mutteringYeah, rightbefore she snuggled closer.
‘Sapieha had Blood Fever, no, hehasBlood Fever. Even though his wife has been dead for centuries, the Prince still craves the taste of her more than he cares for the world around him. I don’t know how he’s survived the madness for so long without going on a rampage or being put down for the excesses the sickness usually causes.’
I shuddered at the memory of my ordeal and what I’d seen.
‘When Sapieha feeds, he always picks women that remind him of his wife and… it’s brutal. It’s as if he’s punishing his victims for not being her. He should be put down like a rabid dog, but I don’t have the manpower or resources to do it. That’s why I’m worried.’
‘Is his search for the locket what’s important, or is Sapieha so desperate for revenge that we’ll have a bigger problem if we don’t kill him?’
Nina’s insight was spot on, and I wasn’t sure I had a straightforward answer, but as she slid from my embrace to pace, it appeared she wasn’t finished.
‘What are we going to do about it? Is there a way to talk to him, to pay him off?’ Nina looked at me, and I saw the moment she came to the same conclusion I had. ‘We have to kill him. It’s the only way to ensure Pawel survives,’ she finished, and I nodded.
‘Yes, however, therein lies the problem. Sapieha is much older than I am, and that makes him ridiculously powerful. Add in his psychic abilities, and to say we don’t stand a chance is more than an understatement. What good is a pair of wings against that?’
‘You could ask Leszek for help,’ Nina offered, but I shook my head.
‘You heard those arseholes that attacked us in the playground. I’m not recognised as the Master of Tricity Seethe. The only way to prevent a never-ending stream of challengers for the position is to sort this issue out for myself. Besides, I can’t ask Leszek. His status as the Guardian is at stake. The council of gods wasn’t thrilled when he gave Sara a piece of his soul, unwittingly making her a minor deity. He can’t interfere in a vampiric power struggle without being accused of abusing his position.’
Nina smiled as she retorted. ‘But I can ask him. I’d kneel and pray for divine intervention if it would help. They can’t blame mortals for asking a god for help.’ I chuckled at the image but shook my head.
‘Even if you were one of his tree-hugging zhrests1, it would still put Leszek and me in a difficult position. I will do what I do best. We have a potential weakness, so I will find out what’s so special about the silver locket and blackmail him to leave us alone. I don’t want to fight him, not now, Nina. I’m not strong enough to face him, but I’m smart enough to buy us some time, and once I build up my Seethe’s power and hone my skills, I promise to take him out,’ I insisted, frowning when the Lorelai appeared, announcing that we had a visitor.
I looked at my watch, accessing the lift security camera, and noticed the Coven Mistress, Veronica Sandoval, heading toward us with a sour expression on her face. I stood up, letting Nina slide to the side before I moved in front, moments before the lift door opened.
