Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
“Or,” Afanasiv corrected gently, “they did hold out in the way Taisiya did, and your brothers followed them into the underworld. Both are courageous men. I doubt they would back down if they knew their women had been taken.”
“They wouldn’t,” Garald agreed. “They’re both like me. I would follow Taisiya and take her back.”
“Even if it was a fool’s mission, and you knew you would be trading your life for a very slim chance?” Afanasiv pressed.
Garald thought it over and then nodded. “Yes.”
“I believe, sívamet, you figured out how your brothers were lured into the underworld and forced to work with demons and vampires.”
“I don’t understand how Olga is involved,” Garald said.
“This is not our aunt. If she comes here knocking on the door and looks as sweet as a little lamb, take her head off with your sword the instant she opens her mouth. I’ve got to go. Taisiya, we’ll meet again under better circumstances. Do whatever my brother says in order to get better.”
She turned her blue eyes, sparkling with mischief, on her brother. “Do not compromise that girl unless you intend to marry her immediately.”
Garald pointed to the door. “Worry about yourself. And get out. Love and loyalty.”
“Love and loyalty,” Vasilisa answered, blew him a kiss, waved at Taisiya and stepped out of the shepherd’s cabin.
Afanasiv followed her out and closed the door behind him. He remained a few moments longer in order to throw a quick spell of protection around the small cabin, over it and under it, making it nearly impossible for any enemy to get to the couple inside.
Vasilisa’s heart contracted. It was a small thing, but it meant a lot to her that he would take the time to think of watching out for her brother and Taisiya. Those small kindnesses were ingrained in him, whether he knew it or not. They were part of what made him who he was.
“Where to, my lady?” He gave her a small courtly bow.
He was a big man, and the bow should have seemed ridiculous, but he was so graceful, every movement fluid, he appeared almost princely.
“I think tracking Olga to the original portal would be the smartest move. There was an earthquake not too long ago, and almost at once, we began to have strange occurrences. My brothers and I became certain the quake had opened a passage to the underworld. Now that I’ve seen those demons and realize they were programmed to use those low notes to displace rock and move plates, I’m sure that I’m correct and Lilith is behind the earthquake.”
Afanasiv scooped her up, cradling her close to his chest.
“I really am good at flying.”
“I’m sure you are. You seem to be good at everything you do; however, in this instance, as I’m not tired and you are, this makes sense. You can conserve your energy while we hunt for your aunt. We’ll be able to track her from the sky. I can cover the distance fast once we have a direction. You pay attention to the ground and any signs that you might see of Olga’s passing. I’ll be moving fast,” he warned.
“My eyes can keep up.” Unless she fell asleep. He was warm and she felt safe with him, an odd thing when her entire world seemed to be imploding.
He laughed softly in her ear. She didn’t know why his breath against her ear or that low laughter seemed so incredibly intimate, but it did. Just like that, she became aware of him as a man and her as a woman. She burrowed closer to him, sliding her arms around his neck but keeping her gaze on the ground.
I suppose the snow has covered her tracks, Afanasiv ventured.
I can track her. Vasilisa gave a little sniff of disdain for Olga’s chances of escaping her. She thinks she is so much smarter because she has a few demons for friends, and they’ve talked to her about how much slyer and more cunning she is than we are because we trust her. I am the most loyal of friends, as are my brothers. But we make bitter, relentless enemies. She betrayed her family. She delivered her nephews to the underworld. For all I know, she may have tortured and killed their women. She will not elude me.
He might as well know some of her worst traits before they got too far into their relationship. She wasn’t an easy person to be around. She spoke right up and gave her opinion, even when it wasn’t asked for. She considered herself an equal with any man in the room. She wouldn’t back down if she believed she was right. She was Lycan through and through, and she would hunt an enemy and never stop until she found and eradicated them.
You are exactly the woman for me, Afanasiv said without reservation.