But some of it still remained, and this part was one of the old watchtowers. It looked in decent shape, all things considered, the windows all in their frames and no holes in the roof. The bricks were stained dark from coal soot which wasn’t uncommon in the area. Ivan pulled the car around to a wooden gate behindan iron one, both of them locked with several chains. Getting out, but leaving the car running, he unlocked the chains, and opened both sets of gates.
It revealed a small cobblestone courtyard that must have been used for carriages. Ivan pulled the car through and parked it before closing the gates and locking them with the chains now on the inside fastening everything shut.
Raziel’s bodyguard said nothing to Nadi the entire time, just resolutely went through his tasks as though she weren’t there. He put Raziel carefully over his shoulder and shut the car door before heading up the stairs to unlock the door and go inside.
The building wasancient,and it showed. The stone stairs that led up to a tiny door into the building were bowed in the middle, worn shallow from the sheer act of people walking on them over the centuries.
She shut the door behind them, her eyes instantly adjusting to the dim light from the windows. But Ivan flicked on an electric light. Pulling in a breath, Nadi couldn’t help but stare.
The building wasgorgeous.It was a blend of old and new. Ancient wood beams and iron supports mixed with the smooth marble countertops and luxurious leather sofas of an open-plan kitchen and living area. The watchtower was a single, circular space with stairs that spiraled up the middle. The only rooms were split by floors, it seemed, with doors she could see divvying up the more private areas on different levels.
Lush, thick blankets thrown over the arms of the sofas made her want to burrow into them by the enormous fireplace that dominated the wall of the watchtower. The face carved into the hearth was that of some sort of twisted monster. She wondered idly if it was meant to be a vampire or a fae.
Ivan was already walking up the spiral staircase, the wrought-iron structure clunking under his heavy steps with the combined weight of him and Raziel.
She followed dutifully after. “No one knows about this place?”
“Just us.” Ivan sniffed. “And he’s the only one who comes here.” He gestured dismissively up toward the top of the tower. “He flies in…as bats.”
That made a lot of sense. Nadi used to lose track of Raziel sometimes for weeks at a time before all this insanity started, and she never could figure outwherethe bastard would disappear to in the metropolis. Now she knew. He had a secret little hideaway on the far edge of the city. “It’s beautiful.”
Ivan only grunted.
She almost laughed. She would have if she were in a better mood. “We’ll need to feed him.” Practical matters first. “Once we get the bullets out.”
“I’ll go get him someone. Something tells me you’ve got more delicate fingers for the bullets. Or you can transform into someone who does.”
Yeah. That was a good bet.
It wasn’t long before Ivan got to the fourth floor. It had a hallway with two open doors. A bedroom on one side and a bathroom on the other. The bedroom resembled the one Raziel had in his main home, except the walls were brick and the ceilings higher. She honestly preferred it, all things considered. Its more industrial harsh surfaces mixed with its lush bedding and upholstery seemed to somehow suit him more.
A creature of extremes.
Of disparate moments that could be true at the same time. A complex and tangled individual.
Ivan put Raziel down on the bed, as gently as a man that big was capable of putting down another man that big. “I’ll leave you to, well.” He gestured at the mess that was the Serpent. “Do what you gotta. Medical supplies are in the bathroom. Everything you’ll need.”
The bodyguard tramped down the metal stairs, leaving her to it.
Nadi was exhausted. But her night was only getting started. If she didn’t get the silver bullets out soon, Raziel would never be able to start healing. She headed to the bathroom and started rooting through the drawers. She found long tweezers, bandages, and even what she’d need to stitch up the wounds—though they’d probably heal up fairly quickly on their own once he was able to feed.
Smirking at how annoyed he’d be at having to cut his stitches out, she headed back to the bed. Tucking towels underneath him, she pulled open his shirt. The bullets hadn’t gone through. A silencer muffled the sound of a pistol, but it also slowed the impact of a bullet. And silver didn’t fly as well as lead—that meant she had to dig out three slugs of silver, imbeddedsomewherein his body.
Great.
Just great.
With a sigh, she went to work.
The most important one was the one in his chest, so she focused on that first. It was also the most shallow of the bunch. She went in with the tweezers, but realized that while that had the precision, she couldn’tfeelwhat she was doing. She needed to use her fingers.
Gritting her teeth, she scooted closer to him on the bed, and rolling up her sleeve, put her finger into the bullet wound.
His eyes shot open as he hissed in pain, baring his fangs at her. His hand grabbed her arm, digging his nails into her skin. There was no one home, save a feral animal. It was purely self-defense.
“It’s me, Raziel—it’sme.”She dropped her glamor, meeting his animalistic form with her own. Crimson eyes to her black opal ones. “It’s Nadi. I need to get the bullets out.Stand down.”
Those jagged fangs retracted into his jaw as he threw his head back into the pillow. The sound he made wasn’t human. It was barely even a sound she recognized as vampiric. It was purepain.
