Page 16 of Call of the Ride
Concentrating on our bond, I firmly yanked on the invisible tether between us, noticing his sigh of relief as he registered the connection. “I won’t let you go,” I promised as we hurriedly backtracked toward the main avenue, and the public setting needed to make our escape.
Tendrils of purplish-black smoke began pouring off of Nox’s skin, wrapping around me as well, seamlessly merging us with the shadows lining the alleyway. A shot rang out a split second before we were completely swathed in darkness, and I heard Nox curse as his body hit the wall with a sickening smack before he slid to the ground.
Fuck fuck FUCK!
Despite his injury, Nox maintained our shadowy cover, so I was left blindly groping his massive body, desperately trying to locate where he’d been hit so I could cauterize the wound with my heat. Our attackers were drawing closer and realized I needed to get my brother the fuck out of here before they reached us. With that frantic thought, my horse—Praline—randomly popped into my mind. Before I knew what was happening, I felt us both being lifted into the air and deposited on the back of my trusted steed before taking off into the sky.
There was no time to consider the insanity of our situation. Nox was shuddering against me as his body went into shock, and I held onto him with everything I had—refusing to lose him again, and realizing I no longer knew who to pray to in order to return us safely to our witch.
Chapter 13
Vasilisa
After an extremely satisfying lunch where Tan made more “stuffed potato” jokes than I could count, he announced he was driving me to Portobello Road to browse the antiques market.
He’d convinced me to stay in the dress from the shop, and I suspected my Bright Dawn was trying to coax me into being more comfortable in public. Thanks to his running commentary and insistence that I explain what some of the more obscure items on display were originally used for, I soon forgot about everyone else around us. There were a few times I felt as if we were being watched a little too closely, but whenever I turned around, no one was there.
It’s most likely my own self-consciousness.
“Hello there, lovelies!” A familiar voice called out, and I turned to find Marena enthusiastically waving as she jogged across the street to join us. “I see you’ve discovered my favorite neighborhood.” I noticed she had a few parcels tucked under her arm—no doubt filled with various treasures to bring home for Veles, whether or not he appreciated the gesture.
I slyly smiled at the goddess, gesturing to the table covered in jeweled birds’ nests beside us. “Yes, I was just explaining to Tan that witches used to keep severed penises in nests as pets.”
Proving yet again how perfect my Riders were for me, Tan simply nuzzled closer. “Ya, well,mydick is fully leashed and trained, ready foranynest you want me to…”
“All right!” Rena interrupted, good-naturedly shaking her head. “I was just thinking of finding somewhere to sit for teatime. Care to join me?”
After buying a birds’ nest to remind my men who was in charge, we followed Marena down a winding side street until we came upon a quaint outdoor cafe tucked within a lushly forested lot. I prepared to comment on how utterly perfect her choice was when I spotted a familiar figure seated at one of the wrought-iron tables in the far corner.
Anthia?
My friend hadn’t noticed our arrival, her long blonde hair hiding her face from view as she poured over a collection of papers spread out on the table in front of her.
I frowned. While Anthia certainly wasn’t obligated to join me shopping today, she’d made it sound like she was completely indisposed. Yet, here she was, reading at a cafe. For a sickening moment, I wondered if she didn’twantto spend time with me—if everything that had occurred to both of us over the past several weeks had created a rift in our relationship somehow.
I’d suddenly lost my appetite for tea, but Marena was already striding toward the swan, loudly calling, “Yoo-hoo, Anthia! Fancy finding you here. You don’t mind if we join you, I assume…”
Looks like it’s teatime, after all.
Anthia’s gaze shot to the approaching goddess, her violet eyes narrowing as she briskly gathered up her papers and slid them into her large purse before snapping it closed. Her scowl visibly softened as she spied me and Tan trailing behind, and I decided perhaps I’d been imagining things were strained between us.
“You look...cute,Vasi!” Anthia’s expression was equal parts surprised and amused, her face lighting up the way it used to before she was imprisoned by the Facility. Smoothing my hands down the lacy fabric of the dress, I realized Ifeltcute—and that I didn’t mind the idea as much as I expected to.
But I will take that secret to the grave.
The three of us sat around the cafe table, and a waitress appeared with sparkling water and menus. After instructing Tan to order me anything he thought I would like, I took the opportunity to curiously glance around the courtyard at the other seated parties. Whenever I’d previously ventured into public as Yaga, my focus had always been on defending myself from any humans bold enough to attack. It was startling to realize that by appearing human again, I was free to interact as one of them, to simplyenjoymyself.
Unable to shake the feeling we were being watched, I allowed my gaze to drift to the trees enclosing the outdoor seating area. Whereas earlier I had found no culprits for my paranoia, I froze when I immediately noticed an ethereally attractive, red-haired man leaning against a tree, boldly staring back at me. He wasn’t making any effort to be inconspicuous, but before I could alert the others, he was swiftly moving toward us, faster than should have been humanly possible.
Because he’s not human.
“Hello, dearest…” The man suddenly appeared behind Marena’s chair, his hands threateningly wrapped around her neck. I sprang to my feet, my claws lengthening, emboldened by Tan’s power pulsing beside me.
Rena shook her head at me, her pale face paler than usual, although her reply was calm. “Unhand me, Jarilo, before Vasilisa tears you to ribbons.”
Her attacker chuckled, winking a golden eye at me across the table before removing his hands and gracefully sliding into an empty chair next to Rena. “Are you not happy to see me after all this time? It’s notmyfault you thought you could simply waltz through one of father’s trees without anyone up in the Prav noticing.”
“Perun is not my father, nor is he yours,” Rena sighed, the exhaustion in her tone implying they’d had this conversation many times before.
