AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As horrible as it was, Zori was right. She was a pampered pet to Maxim. There would be other opportunities to get her out. Misha was in no condition to fight or to fly back to Kitezh.
There was a knock on the heavy metal door, and Vladik shifted back to his human form before opening it. Kaspian took one look at him and lifted bags of takeout.
"You look like shit. You need to eat something if you're going to be at your best tonight," the big gargoyle said. "Do you have everything ready?"
"I just need a security pass," Vladik replied, leading Kaspian through to the kitchen. "Maybe you should think of coming back to Kitezh for a bit too. Maxim is going to go nuts after the break-in."
"You meanifit's successful. Don't scowl. You know it's a possibility. No one who's gone into that place has ever come out again," Kaspian said. He'd brought Chinese food from a place nearby, and Vladik's stomach grumbled as he opened a box of noodles.
"No one who has gone into the tower has had inside information before," he pointed out.
Kaspian grinned. "And how is our princess?"
My princess, the beast growled inside Vladik.
"Zori is scared but holding it together. I think a part of her hoped I was lying about Maxim. His journals and what she overhead have proven he doesn't really give a shit about her. She's focused on helping me right now and not her own feelings. I can feel her sadness," Vladik replied.
He was worried about her. He could feel that she was holding back in their telepathy as well. He could also feel just how much her magic was growing. She was already a natural with telepathy, and he wondered what else she'd be able to do with some training.
"She sounds like a brave girl. I can't wait to meet the woman who has old Iron Heart tied up in knots," Kaspian chuckled.
Vladik rolled his eyes. "Fuck you. I'm going to keep her away from the likes of you as long as possible."
"You know you're putting her at risk by not grabbing her the way Irina ordered."
"I know, but she won't have it any other way. She wants to help, and she's right. Maxim might be a fucking pig, but he's not torturing her. She's safe if she continues to play his game." Vladik rubbed at the pain and longing that was building in his chest. "I'm not going to leave her in that place. I wanted to get her the same time I got Misha, but he's too busted and broken. He's going to need to be carried out of there."
Vladik didn't mention using the portaling talisman. He would get Misha out of the building wards, and then use it to send him home.
Depending on how that went, Vladik planned to fly up to Zori's balcony and pluck her clean off it. He didn't want to voice any of it aloud because Kaspian was right—people who went into the tower never came out again.
Kaspian patted him on the shoulder. "I know you have some other shit going on that you're not saying, but I'll have your back no matter what."
"I want you to have plausible deniability if it all goes to shit," Vladik replied.
"I know, and that's why I like you." Kaspian grinned wolfishly. "Besides, if you die, I get to be the one to rescue the princess from her tower."
"Just as long as someone does," Vladik murmured. As much as he wanted Zori, if he failed, he needed to know that she wouldn't be left in Maxim's hands. Kaspian was right. Now that Irina knew her granddaughter was involved, she wouldn't stop until Zori was safe.
"If you really want to help, I could use your van," Vladik said. It was unmarked and black like so many of the service vans in the city.
"You tell me when and where," Kaspian said and gestured with his chopsticks. "Now, eat your noodles."
Vladik laughed and finished eating. He needed to focus. He had a long fucking night ahead of him.
* * *
The guard didn't even geta chance to put up a fight. Vladik dropped on him from above, driving the man to the ground and knocking him out in one swift, deadly move. He dragged the unconscious body behind a dumpster before pulling out his bundle of key cards and security passes.
They both had dark hair and beards, and a quick flash might be enough to satisfy anyone too curious. Vladik found the guard's uniform in the bag he was carrying and quickly put it on. It wasn’t a perfect fit, but with Vladik's coat over the top of them, hopefully no one would notice. It only had to get him through the doors. He took the man's beanie and pulled it down over his long hair.
Vladik could sense Kaspian already in place a few streets away. The gargoyle was determined not to stay out of it, and Vladik hoped he wouldn't have to put him in danger unnecessarily.
Vladik moved towards the tower, keeping his stride confident. He swiped the card at the gate leading into the smoking entrance. Zori had claimed it was the least guarded way in, and he believed her. She had escaped the tower twice without breaking a sweat.
Vladik strode through the empty smoking area and into the parking lot. There was no one around this late; the night shift workers had clocked on a few hours beforehand.
Vladik knew that the doors that had the least powerful protection wards were the staff entrances. They needed to let people in after all. Vladik swiped the lock on the ‘Staff Only’ entrance, and gritting his teeth, he pushed his way through the magic. It stung for a moment and was over as soon as he got into the hall. He was in the frying pan now. He just needed to keep his cool a little longer, so he didn't end up in the fire.
