by Gaja J. Kos
The lair was a minor one, only twenty-four vamps or so. He didn’t keep exact count of how many his twin and Tim had already snagged as they barged through the front door while he pushed in through the back.
It was a perfect number for three werewolves. Six or seven vamps apiece—just enough to put a strain on the muscles without putting them in any serious danger. Yet the depth of his bloodlust called for more.
As his claws cut into a vampire, Jens thought, without truly wanting to, of how his life had been a year ago. How it had been before that damned abomination of a bird threw the White were’s head on the table in front of the pack, effectively roping them in as a clean-up crew for something the immortals should have dealt with themselves.
The memories now felt almost like a dream.
Beers with his brother and the weres. Collaborative hunts in the woods. And busying himself with problematic werewolves in the wider area when the situation called for it, hunting down bloody traditionals in the meantime.
He had hardly visited his bike repair shop in the past months. It was trivial, but he missed the work there. The smell of oil and the roar of engines. It was his haven, his passion. A way to cool down after a hard day.
But his days never seemed to end, lately.
Shit, he hadn’t even gone for a pleasure ride since he had returned from Munich.
He flung a vampire to the side, ripping open his abdomen, and bared his teeth at the next one that came running—maybe just a little frustrated by the endless pit of shit his life seemed to have become.
He took in his new attacker and the gnarly group of buddies the asshole had on his heels.
Persistent bastards.
They knew they were all going to die; he could see it clearly in their eyes as if the words were written there in neon light. But their minds were a whole other clusterfuck of issues. What the vamps were doing meant dying with honor. Laying down their lives for a higher cause.
Assholes.
Though he was grateful for the bond of The Dark Ones that now flew freely between the three of them—filling their minds with information that made the takedown seamlessly easy—as well as thankful for the superior strength and speed that came with it, he still hadn’t asked for it, either. Minding his every step just so the bloody Keepers wouldn’t sweat their panties wasn’t his way of life. It was a damned cage.
Not that it mattered much now.
He spat out a piece of vamp, dodged one that came at him with fangs on display, and rammed into the bastard with his massive body. The crack of bones brushed against his ears like opulent music.
Keeping up appearances certainly didn’t matter any longer. The pack was so deep in blood, they would have a hard time convincing anybody that they weren’t a threat.
Fuck that.
He cast a glance towards his brother, his dark fur gleaming as he weaved between vampires.
They were a threat.
They were born predators. And the assholes who wanted to fuck with their world should know that. No matter how bloody high their status.
Dusk had already begun to settle when Evelin reached the border, passing the patrol without the usual long lines. She followed the highway towards Zagreb, veering off when the first waves of suburbs started to stretch on both sides of the safety fences. She didn’t know the area well, having been in these parts only a couple of times before, but Sander’s instruction had been surprisingly clear. Coupled with her keen sense of direction, she was pulling up in front of a half-empty bistro without losing her way even once.
She spotted the Koldun sitting at a corner table, the shadows doing little to mute his bronze skin. Automatically, her eyes assessed the man stretched out in the chair next to him. Lean with light blond hair and porcelain complexion, he gave the impression of a meticulous, flawless young man that fashion magazines would snatch up for their covers in an instant.
But his scent.
All sex and menace.
She blew out a breath. It didn’t particularly surprise her Sander kept such diverse company. The Koldun’s presence, a kaleidoscopic mix of pleasure and pain, was why she had turned to him in the first place. If anybody knew where to find the incubi dragons, it was him.
But despite knowing what to expect, the discrepancy between the Perelesnyk’s appearance and scent was so stark that it rendered her speechless.
The incubus excelled at playing the game of just how much looks can deceive. Evelin’s own tactics seemed like childish endeavors compared to the masterful display of tempting innocence she was staring at now.
She dropped her car keys into her purse, realizing she was more than eager to start the meeting. Not only was she intrigued, but her gut was telling her things might turn out in her favor.
She could swear she smelled a hint of fire woven in the currents as she walked up to the bistro. Hiding a grin, she veered around a battered-looking plant positioned by the patio’s entrance and approached the two men.
“I see you made it, wolf,” Sander said, an easy smile stretching across his face.
Evelin took the empty chair next to the Koldun and faced the Perelesnyk. She had noticed him eying her appreciatively as soon as she crossed his line of sight, yet the incubus lifted his gaze the moment Evelin turned her attention on him. A sign of respect.
“Evelin,” Sander continued, waving his hand towards the blond man, “I brought you your dragon.”
The Perelesnyk extended his hand.
“Rorik,” he said, his dazzling white smile as sharp as daggers in the night.
Chapter 37
“You were what?” Serafina exclaimed, her eyes widening as Rose allowed the whispers of Mokoš to fill in the details her words could never encompass.
The cruel lines of the warlock’s face flowed between them, wrapped in the dark mist that would have carried Rose to her death if the latter hadn’t taken the Vedmak under Morana’s guidance. Although that was something she hadn’t shown the Koldunya just yet. Instead, she fed the whispers her emotions, her thoughts, and all the implications the attack had brought with it. She wanted Serafina to know it all.
When the ethereal language fell silent, Rose curled one leg under her body and gave an apologetic shrug. “I would have told you sooner about the bastard, but something else came up.”
The Koldunya furrowed her brow. “What?”
Rose put out her cigarette and exhaled. She had barely gotten over the absurdity of the past events herself. “Don’t freak out,” she warned.
When Serafina merely remained staring at her, Rose called out Veles’ name. The god materialized next to the door, in the small space between the dining room table and the opposite wall. But he wasn’t alone.
“Morana,” the Koldunya breathed, barely able to bow her head in respect as she gawked at the new arrival.
The goddess smiled. “One of Mokoš’ own, I see.”
She took a chair next to Serafina, easing herself into it with feline grace. Although her complexion was still pale, there was a healthier hue to it, and the goddess’ eyes were positively brimming with enchanting curiosity as she looked at Serafina.
Doing her best to hide the smile that crept up her lips, Rose observed the exchange. She figured the two women had to meet.
Veles walked up to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder, his fingers massaging the tense muscles. She purred at the touch, the god releasing a quiet huff in response. They hadn’t spent nearly enough time alone to sate the hunger pulsing between them.
“It seems it took a new goddess to bring me back,” Morana said from the other side of the table, crossing her legs and smoothing down the fabric of the simple gray dress Rose had procured for her.
Serafina’s head spun towards the Rose, and Veles’ touch eased. “You didn’t tell me that either.”
“Like you didn’t know.” Rose winked.
The Koldunya wrinkled her nose. “That’s not of relevance now,” she shot back, but there was a hint of a smile lingering on he
r full lips. “So you’re officially a goddess? I’m official friends with a goddess?”
“The Keepers haven’t given me the title yet.” Rose shrugged. “But since they aren’t particularly fond of our group, I doubt they’ll move their schedules around just to accommodate my ascension.”
The look that crossed Serafina’s face wasn’t one Rose was particularly pleased to see. She had hoped to keep the conversation as light as possible, focusing on the main, irrefutable facts, not the shadows that lingered in the background.
Clearly, Serafina decided to take the harder route. Not that Rose could blame her. She had years of pack humor to fall back on, years of diluting the weight of threatening and less-than-favorable situations with a good laugh. But the Kolduny, as far as Rose was able to make out, were much more pragmatic by nature.
Though Serafina wasn’t as rigid as the rest of them, she was still wired the same way—trained to never leave a single rock unturned when she made her assessments. It was a good trait, but to Rose, it seemed almost too strenuous.
“You don’t think they will give you a hard time about this?” The Koldunya bit her lip.
Rose felt the pressure of Veles’ fingers increase once more as the god replied—almost a little too dryly, “The title of a goddess is Rosalind’s birthright. They would be fools to go against their own rules.”
Rose placed her palm on the top of Veles’ hand, a light wave of energy seeping from her skin telling him to calm down. The effect was immediate, the silent embrace of their powers continuing even as she turned to Serafina once more.
“I’ve thought about it, yes,” Rose admitted. “But right now, I don’t care whether they label me a goddess or a fraud. If they want to punish me by not giving me my title, fine. Honestly, I can’t see how any of it might change the situation we’re in.”
“And it won’t stop the Vedmaks even if they do,” Serafina whispered, lowering her gaze.
“No, it won’t stop the Vedmaks.”
Nodding, the Koldunya turned towards Morana. The goddess was eying her with curiosity and also something Rose herself was no stranger to. Appreciation.
“I don’t know how well informed of this world you remained after your detachment, but the Vedmaks have finally parted ways with us,” Serafina offered, her cheeks gaining a lovely shade of pink. “We’re trying to find them before…” The Koldunya cast a glance towards Rose.
“It’s fine,” Rose replied to the unvoiced question. “Morana knows who my parents are.”
“Sorry,” Serafina breathed, meeting the goddess’ eyes again. “I didn’t know if you—”
“I understand,” Morana said softly, throwing a strand of white hair over her shoulder as she propped one arm on the backrest. “How is your realm?”
Serafina gave her a small smile. “The sacred circle stands as well as all the entry points, even if they lead nowhere now. But its magic is strong, and the elders say time hasn’t truly touched it. The other lands, however, remain lost to us… To the few of us that are left, anyway.”
Giving the two women a moment to discuss the world they both knew, the world they had both lost, Rose peered up at Veles. The olive green eyes looking at her were calm, but the wickedly curved corner of the god’s lips told her his mind was racing with ideas. Ideas that wouldn’t get her out of the mess she was in, but that most definitely would get her out of her clothes.
She winked at him and mouthed later. A promise she fully intended to keep.
Veles gave her one of his classic ‘lord of the underworld’ faces that made it clear just what he thought of having to wait.
Yet the words that came out of his mouth weren’t ones she expected. “Any news from Sebastian?”
He had even called the Kresnik by name.
Arching an eyebrow, Rose shook her head. “He told me he’d take things as slow as he can. Since Ileana couldn’t say just how many of his brethren are involved, he can’t even turn to the ones he otherwise trusts.”
“Why didn’t Ileana contact him herself? He is the protector of her bloodline, and if I’m not mistaken, that includes your mother as well.”
“She’s still a mortal being, which means the Kresniks can watch over her. Yes, Sebastian is her protector, but none of us know how their system works. Maybe they have a whole bloody surveillance room set up, an ethereal network of files… For all I know, they could have a damned operator feeding them relevant information.” Rose groaned. “It’s not like Sebastian ever volunteered to explain their system to us. That’s why Ileana feared that by sending him a message, someone else might tap into it. If she’s being monitored anyway, then her little maneuver won’t make a difference. But I hardly think the Kresniks can keep tabs on so many people at once the entire time. It’s precisely why they have assigned bloodlines…”
“So the possibility exists that none of Sebastian’s brethren had learned of Ileana’s discovery,” Veles added, the assured tone of his voice easing the slight discomfort that had already begun building up in Rose. “And you, being a goddess, are hidden from their sight.”
“Exactly,” she breathed and rubbed her cheek against Veles’ hand.
She drank in the consolation his warmth offered, the soothing scent of his skin. Gently lifting her head up, the god ran his fingers down the line of her jaw, and finally swooped in for a kiss. She was only vaguely aware that Serafina and Morana had stopped talking in the background. Her mind was swirling, dazed by Veles’ taste, the caresses of his power brushing against her own.
When she finally broke away from the god’s teasing lips, the good-natured disbelief on Morana’s face completely stole her attention.
“It seems the line of Mokoš runs true.” The goddess shook her head, sending blonde and black strands dancing across her shoulders. “Equals. I have sensed it from the way Veles had spoken of you. But seeing it…”
She fell quiet, the laughter bubbling from her lips like the joyful chirping of birds after a long winter. “Everybody believed Mokoš and Perun were an exception. But you… You give us all hope.”
Rose felt like the last person to give anyone anything. Yet she found herself smiling at the goddess.
If she gave hope to Death herself, she wasn’t arguing.
Evelin came into the kitchen to find Mark sitting solemnly behind the table while Til snored lightly in his crib in the next room. She had returned home late last night, when both her weres had already been asleep, and judging by the amount of daylight illuminating the room, she must have been out for a fair amount of time.
Thick tension coiled through the room, but she had expected as much.
Knowing Mark would worry, she hadn’t given him the specifics of her trip to Zagreb, only that she went to meet with a contact who had ties with the Perelesnyks. The were would have insisted on coming with her otherwise, but Evelin didn’t dare leave Til with anybody else but the cub’s father. In light of that, the display of teeth she was sure was about to follow could hardly be called a price to pay.
Pia’s warning had etched itself into Evelin’s mind, becoming a guide through difficult situations and decisions. Just like this one had been.
Mark would understand. Eventually.
“Morning,” she said, then went over to the counter to pour herself a much-needed cup of coffee. And counted the seconds.
The mug was halfway filled when Mark growled, “I smell the Koldun on you, Ev. Sex and fire as well.”
Evelin poured the other half.
“I tried reaching you over the bond yesterday. You didn’t answer,” he pushed on. “What the fuck, Ev?”
She walked over to the table, took the chair opposite Mark and cradled her coffee. “You smell Sander because he’s my link to the Perelesnyks.”
“And you didn’t think of mentioning that particular detail to me?” The were sneered.
Evelin closed her eyes. Though Mark hid it well, she knew Rafael’s absence, the threat on Rose, everything about this Chernobog-damned situation was kee
ping him on edge. The were offered great council to others, but when it came to himself, he was just as lost as anybody would be under so much duress. His tendency to get jealous didn’t help, either. It wasn’t unmanageable on its own, but under the circumstances, the leash Mark usually kept on it was right on the verge of snapping.
Another reason why she hadn’t wanted to discuss her trip beforehand.
Yesterday’s events and decisions had been hard enough for her without Mark’s concerns thrown into the mix. She had no desire to get into a growling match with the were on top of everything. Although she hadn’t done anything but postpone the inevitable.
“He was already helping us with Rafael,” she replied softly, though her words were firm. She needed him to hear her. “It’s the aid that matters, not the individuals offering it.”
The older were let out a bitter laugh. “You come home in the middle of the night, smelling like the bastard, and this is your answer?”
“Mark,” Evelin began, but she could see the were was too far gone to listen to reason. She exhaled through her nose, pinning him with her gaze. “I saw a Perelesnyk in dragon form.”
Mark’s jaw went slack.
“I smell of Sander because he used his glamor to shield all three of us from any curious passersby. And I smell of fire because the Perelesnyk showed me just what we might gain as a token of good faith.”
“Ev…” Mark breathed, furrowing his brow. “You trusted the Koldun’s word that it was safe? Shit, not even you could stand up to a dragon.”
“Unless someone kills all of you guys, I can’t die by myself, remember?” she hissed back, her own temper faltering.
“He could have harmed you.”
Evelin crossed her arms. “I’m not some fool, Mark. I wouldn’t have done a damn thing if I didn’t know I could return home safely. Honestly, do you think I would be that reckless?”
She saw a hint of realization sparking up in the were’s eyes, the slight guilt that accompanied it as well. The one thing she had sworn to do in her life was not to let her children grow up without their mother. What she saw on Mark’s face hinted that the memory of that particular resolution must have returned to the were.
