That is unfortunate. Had he said the gem could make our mission ten times easier, I’d have been open to being convinced to crown him ahead of time. But I guess it also makes sense for something like this to take time, to need to get a feel for you before it lets you stand at the top of the food chain.
Too bad a gem like this doesn’t exist for us humans, too.
“Right. Okay. So the plan is me and Niko go to this party, snatch our guy, and bring him to you,” I summarize, counting the tasks on my fingers.
Three things, which in theory, sound straightforward. I imagine the reality will be very different though.
“This is correct. All I need from the two of you is to deliver Andras to me.”
Niko and Isidoro talk some details after that, but I can’t help but wander in thought. Vampires exist. That revelation still feels like a dream, like I will wake up from this any moment now. But as I glance over at Isidoro, who takes a sip from his glass of red liquid and licks his lips, I spot the incisors. The glowing red eyes. The almost human, but not quite, smile.
This is real, very much so. And it should scare me, because if vampires exist, what other monsters are out there?
But it doesn’t, and neither does our outright deadly kidnapping mission. Because Niko is here, right next to me, solid and warm and assuring and already brainstormingthe extraction. We are a team, and we are in this together, so no matter what danger we might walk into, he’s got my back.
And I have his.
18
Nikolas
Tommyisuncharacteristicallyquietthat day as Isidoro takes us on an extended tour of his residence. Now that he doesn’t have to hide who, or what, he is, he’s eager to show off. Alongside the usual rooms, he’s got a bath space with pools of blood instead of water, a giant walk-in fridge-freezer with dozens of preserved bodies and bags of blood, another torture chamber, a chapel-like building on the edge of his property.
Rich people stuff, really, minus the bloody peripherals.
“Tommy, you’ve been awfully quiet,” I say once we’ve been lounging by the outdoor pool for a while. This one has real water, not blood, a well-stocked bar, sun umbrellas and chairs. “What’s wrong?”
Tommy shifts his weight from one leg to the other. He’s been alternating between leaning against a trellis abundant with blooming flowers and pacing back and forth along the pool’s edge. “I don’t know, just… I guess I’m still processing everything? You know, this vampire stuff, the assassination we’ll be part of, you and me…”
I pick up my cocktail from the small table next to my sun chair, gulp it in one go and place the glass back down as I stand and walk over to Tommy. He opens his arms for a hug as soon as I’ve entered his personal space.
Witha sigh, he lets me gather him close to me. He smells like the flowers climbing the wooden construction and sunlight. “Do you think we can pull this off? I know Isidoro said he’ll get us some stuff, so we aren’t completely defenseless when we walk into the Gala, but still.”
I want to tell him that everything will be fine, but that would be a lie. I can’t guarantee his safety or that the plan will work. “You should sit out—”
“No chance in hell. I’m going with you.” Tommy pushes off my chest and tilts his head up so he can look at my face. Then he frowns, determination sharpening his features. “Sorry. This is shitty of me. I’m just overwhelmed is all. But you’re not going alone. I’m coming with. And I’ve got your back. Always. I know I’m very new to this, and there is a lot I still need to learn about the world you live in, but Niko, you have to let me do this. I promise not to get in the way. So don’t even suggest I sit this out.”
The fierceness with which he declares this flips my stomach upside-down. Tommy is such a sweet, angelic-looking man, so delicate at first glance. But with every day that passes, I am more and more convinced that he is the devil incarnate.
Damn. I can’t believe how perfect he is. And it was stupid of me to even think for a second that he might agree to stay diligently at home, waiting for me to come back. That’s just not how cute, willful Tommy operates.
“Okay. I won’t ever mention it again. You are coming with me. But you let me lead this time, okay?” I clasp his hands and bring them to my mouth so I can press a kiss to his knuckles. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.” He opens his mouth to argue or rebut me, but I shush him. “No complaints allowed. And no running off trying to be a hero. You stick to the plan, got it?”
Pressing his lips into a line, he nods. “Got it. I promise I won’t put us in unnecessary danger.”
Good. Still, this is crazy. He should stay behind, but I know that he never would. The truth is I want him with me, as dangerous as this is going to be, because as crazy as it might sound, I will feel at ease if I have him by my side, where I can see him.
“I will teach you everything you need to know. We start today. There isn’t much time until we have to head out, but we can go through some basics.”
He’s fared exceptionally well so far, given the hell we’ve been through. He hasn’t broken down or gone into shock. I think he’s got what it takes to be Nikolas Stavros’ partner in more than the bedroom. Despite his unassuming size.
“Oh!” Tommy’s eyes light up, his entire face transforming into the sun. “No way! Really? You’re gonna teach me to be as deadly as you are?”
I shake my head, fighting off a smile. “We can’t do it in one day, I’m afraid. Or a month. It takes years to get ‘as deadly as I am’, Tommy. But everyone starts somewhere.” I cast my gaze around, taking in the lush nature, the soft whisper of leaves, the splash of the water that the fake waves create. “I’ll show you how to shoot and some basic combat moves today. How does that sound for a start?”
He grins ear to ear. “Like a shit ton of fun!”
Groaning, Tommy pushes open the door to our bathroom that evening. “Ugh, my everything hurts. You seriously didn’t go easy on me.”
