Page 60 of Guarded By the Vodnik

He sputtered, and I clenched my jaw. Too far. Shouldn’t have taunted him like that.

When my demon boss was done cursing, he took a deep breath, his voice tense, though he seemed calmer. “I see. Because of your special stuff, yes?”

“The mating adaptation process,” I supplied helpfully. “It’s something no one else can use to help her survive underwater unless you have another vodnik on retainer.”

Even just saying that made my chest squeeze with anger. No one else would touch my Zoe.

Malgeri sighed deeply. Another fraught silence fell as he thought through his options.

“I don’t have anyone else. Very well. You’ll stay on the job, and I’ll prepare a team to support you. Keep hiding. Carver is a dangerous fucker and the brain of his little venture, and with him out, you have your work cut out for you. You’re on your own for now. The feds sent a request to Yeseera to hand over any suspicious human divers, but that will do fuck all. That lake is big, and Yeseera is just a small part of it.”

That was a great piece of news if I ever saw one. I grinned, already knowing how I would keep Zoe safe.

“Thank you for an excellent idea.”

Chapter 20

Zoe

“Wake up, sweet girl. Open those pretty eyes. That’s it. Hello.”

I blinked up at the serious, scaly face of Vodyan hovering over mine while his words still rang in my head.

“Who are you, you sweet-talking creature, and what have you done with my bodyguard?” I asked sleepily.

He grinned, showing off a row of sharp teeth. Damn, he was handsome when he smiled. And dangerous, in a very hot sort of way.

“Better get used to it. I’ll figure out all kinds of sweet things to tell you. But for now, we have to go. Carver got out of jail.”

I sat bolt upright, my vision swimming from the head rush.

“What? When?”

“Yesterday, though it was reported only today. He already knows we’re somewhere in the lake and he knows you’re with me. He’s also well-resourced and has the means to check properties in my name if he’s smart enough to cover all his bases. That’s why we can’t stay here.”

I nodded. “Okay. I’ll get dressed and we can go. Back into the lake?”

“Yes. We’ll go to Yeseera.”

While I got ready, Vodyan explained briefly that Yeseera’s authorities, which were efficient and well-funded, would be on the lookout for Carver, which meant it was the safest place for us currently.

“He’ll be at a disadvantage underwater,” he said. “Which is why we’re sticking with the lake. He can’t enter the city, and lamias aren’t allowed in. It’s the safest place, and since he already knows you’re here, it’s no use hiding.”

While I dressed, Vodyan went out to check the area, grimacing unhappily.

“You’d better be here when I return,” he said before giving me a deep kiss.

When I was ready, I checked my air tank to make sure it was full again. I’d barely put on the top half of my mask when Vodyan burst in and picked me up without a word, his arms hard with tension.

“A camera caught a human checking out the perimeter,” he said through clenched teeth. “Hold on tight.”

I wrapped myself around him as he sped through the house, shooting out through the door in the kitchen onto the pier outside. I didn’t understand the rush, because everything seemed to be as deserted and calm as the moment we got here.

Then I heard a shot. Vodyan gasped.

“What…”

“Just a second,” he gritted out.

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