Page 58 of Fangs and Family
‘I’m assuming you have a good explanation for demanding an obsidian athame, then forgetting to pick it up and not returning my calls?’ She snapped without even saying hello. If anything, this let me know how royally pissed off she was because Veronica was so uptight she never missed an opportunity to use social pleasantries to make a person feel small.
‘Hello to you too, Veronica. It appears you’re losing your touch. Or are you ignoring the reappearance of an ancient Polish Prince and his obsession with kidnapping other vampires? If you’re here to deliver the athame, then you have my gratitude. I will double the payment to reflect the inconvenience you’ve suffered,’ I offered, unsuccessfully trying to keep the hostility from my voice.
‘Veronica, so nice to see you. Would you care for a drink?’ Nina smiled as she slipped past me to greet the Coven Mistress warmly. ‘Please ignore His Grumpiness. Adam is a little twitchy since he had his arse handed to him by his sire, but it doesn’t mean he can be rude to our guests,’ she said before turning toward me with daggers in her eyes. ‘So, my love, be a darling and make us some tea, preferably without poison.’
I saw the corner of Veronica’s mouth twitching in barely restrained amusement when she moved her gaze from me to Nina before she shook her head and burst out laughing.
‘That was so worth my time. Seeing you being put in your place by a human was worth every moment of driving in city traffic,’ she said, still chuckling to herself before turning to Nina. ‘Good to see you again. I am, as Adam stated, here to deliver the athame he purchased for you, but if you don’t mind me asking. What are you doing here? You seem too comfortable for this to be a brief visit.’ Veronica was too observant for her own good, and I grimaced, trying to hide my pride as Nina answered, directing the witch to the lounge with another smile.
‘I’m living here for now as Sapieha is targeting me in order to get hold of my brother,’ Nina said, and I winced at how temporary her statement sounded.
‘Adam moved you into his home? Interesting.’ Veronica glanced at me before changing the subject. ‘Your vampire mentioned you were having a little trouble when he commissioned the athame, but I assumed you needed it to keep him from being too forward.’ With an amused snort, the witch placed an engraved wooden box on the table. ‘Be careful with the blade. It is sinfully sharp but quite brittle. As it’s not meant to keep Adam honest, you should make sure to keep it away from any part of him you find precious. Vampires cannot heal wounds made by obsidian.’
Nina looked entranced when she opened the box, gazing upon the black blade with its contrasting aspen handle. The wood almost glowed next to the reflective surface of the obsidian, and she couldn’t resist tracing her finger along the blade, hissing slightly when the sharp edge cut her finger. A single droplet of blood beaded on her skin, and I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. Her scent was so tempting, but Nina didn’t invite me to taste it. Since I struggled to restrain myself when it came to her blood, I concentrated instead on the kettle, willing the appliance to boil. It wouldn’t be appreciated by either woman if I lost control over something so insignificant.
‘Sharp little bugger,’ Nina said with a chuckle, sticking a finger in her mouth and sucking it, testing my already tenuous control as I pictured her lips on my wrist as she drank my blood, choosing to stay with me forever.
‘Oh, get a grip,’ I muttered through clenched teeth. I knew Nina didn’t want to become a vampire, but I couldn’t help fantasising about it.
‘Adam?’ Nina looked at me with concern as if she sensed my struggle, and I flashed her a smile.
‘The tea is coming, ladies,’ I said, pouring the hot water and heading over, giving Veronica the evil eye as she chuckled.
‘This day will go down in history; the day Adam Lisowczyk became domesticated by a woman. Even serving tea like the perfect househusband.’ The witch’s tone was biting, but as used to it as I was, I had a retort ready, an insult on the tip of my tongue. However, before I could speak, Nina jumped in with a comment of her own.
‘I know, right? He’s amazing. One day, he kills three dangerous vampires; the next, he breaks the psychic bond of his maker. Then, to top all of that, he serves tea and makes the most heavenly pancakes. Adam is a man of many talents, and I’m lucky to have him. He can even convince the Mistress of The Coven to run a delivery service and bring me such a precious gift.’ She said without even batting an eye. It was all I could do to not snatch her up from that damn sofa and cover her with kisses, telling her how much I loved her.
‘Touche, my dear. He is an exceptional man, and I see he’s finally met his match,’ Veronica said, leaving me speechless because not once had I heard praise coming from her.
‘Thank you,’ I said, settling next to Nina and pulling her to my side, only for Veronica to surprise me again.
‘Do you need the Coven’s help?’
‘No, if it comes to a confrontation, I will need to face him alone, but I appreciate the offer,’ I replied, and something akin to mutual understanding passed between us.
Conversation from that point was strangely mundane and pleasant, with Nina nestled in my arms, asking questions about the athame and magic in general until Veronica bade us goodbye. As soon as the Coven Mistress left the apartment, Nina turned toward me.
‘Why did you have a knife made for me that could kill you, Adam?’
‘It was before you trusted me, and I needed to give you a weapon that would help you feel safe. After we found out Sapieha attacked you, it… well, if you’d never wanted to see another vampire, I’d have understood, even if it would have meant you were defenceless,’ I answered and saw tears suddenly appear in Nina’s eyes.
‘What’s wrong, love?’ I asked before she pushed me down on the sofa and sat on my hips, straddling me.
‘You! You happened. You are the most reckless, most romantic man I’ve ever met, and to give me a knife that could actually kill you? What is wrong with you?’ She questioned, emphasising each word with a firm punch in the chest.
‘I just wanted you to feel safe. I wanted to look after you, hoping that one day you would accept me for who I am and maybe love me enough to stay with me. If an obsidian blade could help you feel more secure, I was ready to place one under every pillow. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. If one day you decide to take my life with this knife, it would mean I deserved it,’ I said, biting my lower lip. My words came so naturally, but they still resembled an ancient vampiric oath, one I wanted to share.
‘There is also a custom that a vampire will offer an obsidian dagger to his At’kar as a symbol of his absolute trust. In essence, he offers her his life to take.’
‘At’kar? You called me that in the shower,’ she queried, and I took her hand, placing a kiss on her fingertips.
‘It felt right at the time, but I will understand if you don’t like it. It means “beloved.” It is an old vampiric term of endearment used only between mated couples.’
‘Mates, hmm…’ Nina took the knife from the box and balanced it on one finger.
I tensed when she moved it over my chest. It would only take a little pressure to pierce my heart, turning me to dust. I had never been closer to dying a true death than now, but somehow, it didn’t scare me.
‘My At’kar, I trust you completely,’ I said, closing my eyes.
