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Mate, mate, mate, the swan demanded, trying to push its way through.SAFE.
"Okay, we'll see if he's back home yet," Zori said. She scribbled a note to tell Irina where she had gone before climbing back up the stairs toward the roof.
Zori grabbed her cape from the hook and wrapped it about her shoulders. She doubted he would have returned yet, but she needed to be there when he did. There was no chance she was going to sleep without him that night.
The transition into the swan was the smoothest one yet. She was in the air in a blink, the swan knowing how to find Vladik's house unlike Zori. There were gargoyles with weapons flying in formations, patrolling the streets. She prayed there was no otherupiórin the city.
They all seemed so sure that none of Chernobog's followers could get in. Maxim had found a way. She knew he was smart enough to figure it out. He would've loved the challenge of trying to get through the magic because that was the way he was built. Methodical, precise, and relentless.
Zori landed on Vladik's roof, shifting back into a human. A search through the dead potted plants produced a rusty spare key, and Zoria opened the door.
"Vladik? Are you home?" she called. Her magic thrummed under her skin, but she couldn't feel anything in the house. Zori walked in anyway and switched on the lights. She went downstairs to his lounge room and lit the fire that had already been laid in the grate. The house smelled of Vladik, and Zori let it soothe her frazzled nerves. She took off her coat and sat on the couch. Wherever he was, she hoped he was okay.
27
Zori woke hours later to heavy footfalls on the stairs. She'd fallen asleep on the couch, waiting for him.
"Zori?" Vladik called.
"I'm here," she said. He had a wild look in his eyes as he closed in on her. Zori held her arms out to him, and he picked her up off the couch and into his arms. "I'm sorry I broke in. I just needed you."
"Thank the goddess. I just went to Irina's and couldn't find you. She sent me back because she doesn't know how long she will be. I almost went crazy when I found the house empty," he said in a rush, pulling her tighter to him before sitting back down on the couch.
"I left a note," she murmured against his neck. His hair smelled of night and winter air.
"I didn't see any note. Are you okay?" he asked, rubbing her back.
"I'm fine. A bit shaken up by a god speaking through a corpse, but I'm unharmed. I knew nothing was going to feel right unless I was with you." Zori rested her forehead against his. "I need to tell you something, but I'm scared you will freak out."
Vladik's grip on her tightened. "What is it, puppy? You can tell me anything. You know that."
"The goddess told me I needed to claim my mate so that I could be stronger and protected," she said, not daring to open her eyes. "I love you, Vladik. More than I can understand or articulate. I want you as my mate, but I'm not going to force you. Not because I'm scared, and certainly not because some goddess told me to do it."
"Zoria, look at me," Vladik said, and she opened her eyes. He didn't look freaked out by her announcement. He looked relieved. "I knew you were mine from the second I saw you at the club. I've never prayed for something so hard in all my life. I've been waiting for you to catch up to how I've been feeling. I love you, puppy, and I will protect you and care for you until there's no breath left in my body."
Zori laughed with relief and kissed him, her arms going around his neck. "Take me upstairs and make me yours," she begged.
Vladik stood up and tossed her over his shoulder, making her squeak. "You don't have to ask me twice, sweet mate. I'm never letting you go now."
"I don't want you to let me go," she replied, and patted him on the ass as they went up the stairs. "The view is great here."
Vladik laughed and laid her down on his bed. He tugged off her boots and socks. His expression turned serious once more. "You almost stopped my heart tonight, you know that? I turned around to get you wine and you got attacked. I won't be leaving your side again.Neveragain."
"The goddess protected me. I'm here. I'm fine," she tried to reassure him. He helped her out of the rest of her clothes. Red and purple bruises bloomed over her sternum where the pendent had absorbed the attack.
Vladik leaned down and placed a gentle kiss over it. "This could have killed you."
"No, just wounded. Chernobog wants me alive so I can join him." Zori ran her hands through his hair. "I'm okay, Vladik. I swear."
"You might be okay, but I'm not. I've never been so afraid as I was tonight." He lifted his head, his eyes filled with heated promise. "I'm done living without you. No more sleeping alone. No more being alone at all. If Chernobog wants to have another crack at you, we face him together."
Zori swallowed down the tears in the back of her throat. "Tell me what to do to mate with you, Vladik. I don't know how."
He kissed the soft mound of her breast. "It will be instinctual. Let me worship you, and it will happen. If you really want me, you will know."
Zori wanted to say that it didn't make sense, but his tongue looped over her nipple piercing, and that was the end of coherent words. She didn't want to think about dark gods, vessels, monsters, and chosen ones. She wanted her beautiful gargoyle to wipe everything from her mind but him.
Vladik's mouth left fiery trails over her, licking patterns down her too hot skin before spreading her wide and eating her pussy.
