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Zori downed her coffee, and between Vladik and Irina, her plate filled on its own. It was such a different way to be taken care of than she was used to. There was love behind their actions, and it made their breakfast intimate and comforting. It didn't seem to matter that they could be attacked any second. Having breakfast was more important.
"What are we going to do if Maxim attacks the city?" Zori asked, once her initial hunger had been eased.
"We have set up patrols and magical traps through the forests. We'll know as soon as anyone enters our outlying borders," Aleksandr said, refilling his coffee. "I'm still hoping Maxim wises up and knows it would be a losing battle to try."
Zori shook her head. "That's not how Maxim is. I might not have known about him beingvolhv,but I know him. He is meticulous, strategic, and tenacious. He will find a way into the city, just like that creature did last night."
"What are you thinking, Zoria?" Irina asked. She was studying Zori carefully, and she fought not to shift awkwardly.
"I might not know a lot about magic. Okay, I know nothing about magic, but I spoke with Chernobog last night. He's not going to stop or be dissuaded. He wants to take me from Morana. He said he would go through the whole city if he had to," she said.
"It makes you a target," Vladik muttered. His tail around her calf tightened even further.
"Yes, but it also makes me the perfect bait." All three of them turned to stare at her like she had lost her mind. "Hear me out. Maxim has my blood that he can use to track me. If they are using that as some kind of a beacon, we need to use it against them. I'm not saying I have to run away from the city. I mean that we should use me to lure them to a place of our choosing, where we can minimize innocents getting hurt."
"Zori, I don't think—" Vladik began, but she cut him off.
"I won't have people dying because of me!" she said, her magic flickering under her skin. "You all believe Morana has chosen me. What kind of chosen one would I be if I let her people die? Chernobog can summon the dead. He has a never-ending supply of warriors. We don't."
Aleksandr rubbed at his beard, a small smile on his face. "I like the way you think, blossom. Chernobog can't cause us problems if we kill all thevolhvthat he is working through. Any ideas what would make a good kill zone, Irina?"
The fork in Vladik's hand bent. "You really think risking Zoria is a good idea? She is your granddaughter."
"And she liquified Chernobog when he was using anupióras a vessel. She might be the best weapon we have," Irina replied. She was thinking as a high priestess, not a grandmother.
Vladik wasn't amused. "We can't rely on that! That was Morana working through her. What if the goddess doesn't decide to show up?"
"Why wouldn't she? She hates Chernobog. I could feel it," Zori replied. She took Vladik's hand and squeezed it. "Thevolhvdon't want to hurt me. They want to turn me to their cause. I'm less in danger than you are, my love."
Vladik pulled her to him and squeezed. "I hate this."
"I know, but I can't let the people in the city be hurt because of me."
Irina cleared her throat. "What about the Womb?"
"Oh, very symbolic. I like it," Aleksandr replied.
Zori kissed the side of Vladik's neck before pulling out of his embrace. "What is the Womb?"
"It is the cave where Yelena went to hide from Chernobog and where Morana created the first gargoyles," Irina explained. "It's our most sacred place. Maxim won't be able to resist it. They have always wanted to destroy the place. It represents their defeat."
"And it will again," Aleksandr said with a firm nod. He rose to his feet. "I'll grab some mages and warriors and go lay a path through the woods and up to the Womb. Thank you for the food, Irina. And for the idea, Zori. Come on, Vladik, you are with me."
"But—"
Zori leaned over and gave him a firm kiss. "Go. It will make you feel like you can protect me better if you know the exact layout of the plan and the forest."
"I don't like how well you can read me already," he said, resting his forehead against hers. "I feel like I've been completely outmaneuvered."
Zori laughed softly and kissed him again. "Get used to it, lover."
30
It was dusk the following day when the call came from Kaspian that Maxim was leaving the tower with a retinue ofvolhvand mercenaries.
It had taken a lot of convincing on Aleksandr's behalf to stop Kaspian from following them. A group of twenty gargoyles and three mages of Morana was going to use their departure to take the tower.
It was the only way to get the information they needed on Maxim's experiments and the locations of the other swan wives. Kaspian would lead them, and Zori had spent a long time on the phone with him going over what she knew of the building's layout. Zori had told them how Maxim's study was the true treasure trove.
