Page 31 of Rurik
“You must stop her, Barinov. You know that as well as I do. If there’s only one thing we could ever agree upon, it’s that the Brotherhood of the Blood Moon is ourenemy.”
That much was true, Grigori had toadmit.
“I assume you’re leavingMoscow?”
“Of course. I’m going home, back to my lands. If I am to die, I wish to be on my own soil when it happens. Take care, Barinov.” Drakor hungup.
“What did he say?” Madelyn demanded, her voicebreathless.
“Charlotte is not what she seems to be. She lied tous.”
“Lied?”
“She is a hunter for the Brotherhood.” He stared deep into her eyes, his every nightmare reflected inthem.
“Are you sure? Can you trust Drakor? He tried to killme.”
Grigori looked away. “That I will never forget, but…” How could he explain it to her? That some things were deeper than hate? Shifters lived long lives and did not easily forget past transgressions. The Brotherhood could not betrusted.
“Butwhat?”
“Our families have stood against the Brotherhood for centuries. He wouldn’t make thisup.”
Madelyn’s gaze was serious. “So then we assume for now that he’s telling the truth,” she replied slowly. “What’s next? Do we need to confrontCharlotte?”
“Talk?” Grigori scoffed. “She plans to ensnare Rurik in her web, and he doesn’t even have aclue.”
“To whatend?”
“I don’t know,” Grigori admitted. “If he were to bond with her, then she would effectively hold his life in her hands. Our entire family might be held to ransom or be forced to fight for their causes. And we would dare not retaliate. There are many possibilities, and none of them aregood.”
“Oh God, Grigori, we have to stopher!”
“Iwill stop her. You must stay here.” He touched her belly, his heartbreaking.
“But—”
“Madelyn, I won’t let you go anywhere near the Brotherhood. I need you to stay here and call Mikhail. Tell him everything. If something happens to me, you must immediately go with Mikhail andPiper.”
“If you die, then I die anyway,” Madelyncountered.
“Perhaps not. We do not know if the bond will work the same way between us. And it’s possible that your love for our unborn child could keep you alive. Regardless, there are fates other than death that might await me. I won’t have you put yourself at the samerisk.”
Grigori dialed Rurik’s number, but it went straight tovoicemail.
“Rurik, pick up your damn phone! Where are you?” He hung up and came back to Madelyn, catching her in hisarms.
“My heart,” he whispered against her lips. “I love you with all that I am. Please don’t forgetthat.”
He knew she was feeling his fears. They had known the joy of love so short a time. It was unfair that they had only been together a few months. Grigori didn’t let himself finish the thought of what would happen if he couldn’t come home. It was too dark, tooawful.
“Stay safe. Let Mikhail and Piper protect you and thebaby.”
Before he could stop himself, he left her, his heart still aching. He had to find Rurik and save his family. He only prayed he wasn’t toolate.
10
I have been mortal, and some part of me is mortal yet. I am full of tears and hunger and the fear of death, although I cannot weep, and I want nothing, and I cannot die. ?Peter S. Beagle,The Last Unicorn
