Page 62 of Fangs and Family
As we headed further into the swamp, I heard the muttered curses of annoyed shifters each time condensation fell from the tree branches, sliding beneath their collars.
‘It’s starting to smell like wet dog and snot,’ said one of my vampires, and I sent him a thunderous look.
‘It’ll soon start smelling like vampire blood and ripped entrails if you don’t shut up,’ I growled, watching him visibly pale.
‘How far do we have to go?’ I asked after grabbing Tomasz’s attention, and the Alpha nodded toward where the gaps between the trees widened.
‘We’re almost there. I’ve sent a group to secure the other side of the swamp. How do you want to do this? Should I send my team to drag the rat out kicking and screaming, or are we going to walk in and politely ask him to join us?’
‘Neither. I’ll walk in and ask Pawel politely to visit his sister. He won’t refuse. I don’t think we’ve been followed, but just in case, keep your men out of sight and ready to fight,’ I said, considering whether to manifest my wings, but in the end, I decided against it. I could unfurl them in moments, and I suspected Pawel would be calmer if he saw a human, not a winged demon.
Tomasz nodded, and I trudged toward the centre of the swamp. I could see broken wooden posts with hints of dressed stone hidden beneath the tall reed grass.
I cursed as I stumbled, slipping from the broken path into rancid, muddy water.
‘Fuck,’ I muttered as my wings tore through my clothing, my sigh of frustration loud enough to make the werewolves snigger. Still, there was no point worrying, and I used them to lift myself from the grip of the mud, grimacing at the squelching as my leg was released.
‘Stay where you are or I will shoot you, I swear, I’ll fucking shoot you!’ The voice, muffled as if spoken from the depths of the grave, was panicked, so I held my hands up to show I had no weapons as I settled on the path.
‘Hello Pawel, we both know shooting me won’t make a difference,’ I said, slowly moving forward, making sure my wings were clearly visible. ‘If anything, Nina would be upset that you’d injured her favourite vampire.’
A hidden door burst open, revealing the emaciated figure of a young man who looked around with terrified, blood-shot eyes.
‘Nina? If you’ve hurt her, you motherfucker, I’ll fucking kill you,’ He rasped, raising his weapon in one shaky hand.
‘Your sister is safe in my apartment, and if you want to see her, you…’ The gunshot reverberated throughout the forest, and my flank exploded in agony.
It was a weapon designed to kill humans, but having something tear into your body at the speed of sound still hurt, and I was airborne before I realised. I had Pawel’s throat in my clawed fist as I lifted him off the ground. The damn fool whimpered, and I dropped him, landing next to his prone body, giving a quick kick as he attempted to crawl away.
I closed my eyes against the pain, shifting partially into the Shadow Realm, allowing my body a moment to expel the small projectile and begin healing. I tried to ignore the begging from my erstwhile attacker, but it was difficult.
‘Please…please don’t kill me, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. Ask Nina, she knows me. I’m so sorry.’ Pawel repeated mechanically, his gaze fixed on my bleeding side.
‘I’m not your enemy, but the longer you’re here, the more likely your last victim will appear to collect his property and payment in blood. Get up because I promised I would deliver you to your sister, but nobody said anything about you being in one piece.’
My words hit Pawel as hard as the bullet had struck me, and Nina’s brother fell back, looking around like a cornered animal. Not that I felt any pity for him, only a twinge of uneasiness when his pale blue eyes caught mine.
‘Is Nina… God, what have I done? How did she… did you take her blood?’ He asked, and I couldn’t help feeling guilty about Nina’s original offer.
‘She’s fine,’ I answered, annoyed that this thief was making me feel bad when he caused this whole mess. I leaned down and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him effortlessly. ‘Do you still have the necklace?’ I asked, feeling uneasy.
I didn’t like it here. It was too quiet, too peaceful. It all was too simple, with no trap, no attack. The ease of this retrieval was making me worry. I’d come here with a small army, expecting to face Sapieha’s forces, and all that happened was a trembling fool accidentally shooting a gun and rolling in the mud.
‘Yes, it’s here,’ Pawel answered, pulling a dirty silver chain from his pocket.
I grabbed it, hissing when its protective magic hit me, almost freezing my hand to the bone. Nina told me that Sara couldn’t find Pawel through scrying. Now I knew why and how Pawel had managed to hide so well. The magic in this artefact was so strong that if not for modern technology and a shifter’s nose, I would never have been able to find him.
I wanted to see what was hidden inside, but as soon as I touched the lock, a wave of nausea brought me to my knees, almost making me pass out. This little thing had more wards than my apartment, and I’d need Coven witches or even Leszek himself to help me deal with it.
That also meant Sapieha wouldn’t find us here. Instead, he’d likely wait until I retrieved both the necklace and the thief, delivering them into whatever trap he’d laid in Gdansk.
I needed a safe house and a diversion until I knew what I was dealing with.
I grabbed Pawel by his shoulder in one hand while the other held onto the necklace and walked toward Tomasz.
‘Take your men and return to Tricity in three teams. Make it loud and visible. I need to take this one and his little trinket to the Coven,’ I said, Tomasz nodding at my order.
‘Fine, just don’t die, bloodsucker. I don’t want to explain to Leszek why you died on my watch,’ he replied, and I rolled my eyes.
