AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kaspian's legs locked around Vladik's waist, and he punched him hard in the ribs as he rolled him. Two seconds later he had Vladik pinned and was sitting on his back, his arm around his neck in a headlock.
"You really do need more wrestling practice, Iron Heart. That was too easy," Kaspian said with a deep chuckle. "You better brush up on those skills if you're planning to fight off every warrior that tries to court your girl."
"Get your sweaty ass off me," Vladik complained. Kaspian only laughed harder, but he relented and shifted off. "I hate that you're right. I think I'm going to start a brawl every time someone looks at Zori the wrong way. It's so fucked up. I can't control my beast when it comes to her."
Kaspian hummed. "You know, its instincts are better than yours. Out on the Steppes, you learn to listen to your beast more because you need it to help you survive. If it's feeling that protective of her, then there is a reason. You grew up around the most beautiful women in the world in Kitezh, and you didn't have that reaction."
"I know." Vladik rolled to a sitting position. "The goddess created us to protect her women. Maybe it's magic. She's Irina's granddaughter, so her magic has to be powerful. Morana could be pulling my strings to make sure I protect those she's blessed."
"I don't think it's the goddess." Kaspian held out a hand and pulled Vladik to his feet. "I think you're mating."
"Fuck off," he said automatically.
"I'm serious. I've seen it before, and you better start considering it. Your beast knows its mate. You have to listen to it, or it will drive you insane." Kaspian ruffled his hair. "Looks like Iron Heart's heart has a soft spot after all."
Vladik swayed. He hadn’t considered mating. Someone like him couldn't mate with a princess. She couldn't possibly be… Could she? He had acted out of character since he'd met her. He was haunted by her scent and taste, his need of her. He must have been wearing his concerns all over his face because Kaspian's grin widened even further.
"Oh, fuck me," Vladik groaned.
Kaspian laughed. "Nah, you're not my type. Too skinny."
"Shut up. I really am fucked, aren't I?"
The big gargoyle nodded. "Yeah, you are. Don't let the mating thing worry you just yet. You still need to get your brother and her out of the hands of one of the most powerful priests of Chernobog alive. Focus on your next steps there."
"You're right. I can't get distracted by amaybeanyway." Vladik really needed to convince Zori to come out of that building and soon.
The goddess must've thought the same because when he went to get his clean clothes out of a locker, he had a message from Zori waiting.
Puppy: I have a window of opportunity tomorrow night, but I'll have two hours tops before I have to be back in the tower.
Vladik: Two hours is more than enough. Have you tried any Pelmeni since returning to Moscow? There's a good place not far from your tower that's quiet.
Puppy: Pin me a location, and I'll be there.
Vladik let out a long breath. There were so many things that could go wrong with his plan. He shook his head. Kaspian was right. He needed to focus on his next step and not the ones in a future that hadn't happened yet.
He smiled at Zori's messages and then felt like an idiot. It didn't change the fact that he couldn't wait to see her again. Then the real challenge would be not to kidnap her after all.
6
Zori knew that sneaking out again so soon was risky. When she'd overheard Anton mentioning his night off for his wife's birthday, she knew it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. He'd said it loudly, just outside of the gym in the penthouse when she'd been on the treadmill. It was like he was giving her permission. If not, he really should stop underestimating her.
The card Zori had stolen the previous week still worked. Maybe Anton was helping her. She didn't know why, but she was thankful. She was still smart enough to wait until the guards were due to change over to make her move.
Zori swiped some scrubs out of a supply cabinet in one of the employee areas and put them over her sweater and jeans before adding a jacket over the top. She walked calmly through the cold parking lot towards the smoking area like she was meant to be there. She had a black beanie on to cover her hair, and with any luck, anyone watching the feeds would think she was on a break.
It was freezing outside so the one nurse that was in the smoking area was quick to get his nicotine fix before leaving her alone.
Zori pulled off the scrubs, folded them into a tight ball, and tucked them into her satchel bag. Pulling on her gloves, she kept her head down and used the smoking area exit to walk out onto the snowy streets. She didn't raise her head until she was a full block away.
Don't think you're safe until you're back in the penthouse,she told herself. It might have been easy to get out, but getting back in was always trickier.
Zori pulled out her phone, checked the location again that Vladik had sent her, and turned down a narrow side street. She didn't know why she was risking Maxim's wrath for some guy she'd met once. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about him, to the point that it had bled over into graphic sex dreams that made her wake up wet and unfulfilled. She had to admit, they were better than her usual nightmares.
At the very least, maybe meeting up with him again outside of a club situation would help her see if their attraction was all heat of the moment. She had never attempted a second date.
She'd dressed casually in warm jeans and a black knit sweater. It was only dumplings. That's what she told herself anyway.
