Page 189 of Volik

“Maleficus,” he corrects.

“Right. So I’m assuming you know about all the scary shit that happens out here.”

Volik looks down at me. “I know what resides here.”

I lower my voice. “So you’re admitting that things live here?”

“Mea Unica,” Volik sighs. “I am the scariest thing in these woods.”

“You’re not scary,” I snap.

Volik grins. “Not to you, My Flower. But trust me.” A pulse of energy rolls out of him. “I am scary.”

Another pulse, stronger this time, shakes the ground.

Okay, that’s hot.

Volik grips my shoulders and pulls me in front of him, so my back is to his front.

“The things out here are more animal than man. They can feel the danger I am to them. But if it will make you feel better…” He inhales, then he projects his voice through the trees. “I am Volik Vadas, vampire of the kingdom of Saxony of old. Son of the Fire Touch. Brother to Vameer, Interfector Mali. I am here to pass through and no more. If you attempt to harm me, my mate, or the one we came to speak with, I will end your existence.”

There’s a beat of silence.

Then the crickets start again.

And… I have to clench my thighs.

Volik groans. “Nix.”

“Sorry,” I laugh. “I can’t help it that you’re sexy when you’re being scary.”

Yes, I can admit that being on the wrong end of Volik’s attention would be scary. But I know I’ll never be there, so it’s hard to really imagine it.

“Come.” Volik steps out from behind me and grips my hand. “Let us talk to your Miss Branock, then we can go home. To bed.”

Squeezing his fingers, I glance behind us at the blacker-than-black portal. “Animals won’t just walk through that, right?”

“Doubtful. Only a very dumb one would try.”

I snort. “That’s not nice.”

Volik shrugs.

I look back again. “Um… Just one second.”

Volik releases my hand, and I jog back to the portal.

“Nix.”

But I don’t go through it, I go around it. “I just want to see what the back… looks like.” I stare. At nothing.

Careful not to accidentally step through it, I move back around to the front.

Still there.

Straight on, the gold glow outlining the portal looks to be about half an inch thick all the way around. But when I move to the edge so I’m standing perpendicular to the portal, there is just the tiniest sliver of gold. Like the portal is no thicker than a sheet of paper.

I move another step farther so I’m looking at it from the back again.