Page 78 of Guarded By the Vodnik

The crux of the problem was, if we wanted to save the boy, we had to get him away from Carver before reinforcements showed up. I knew from Zoe abominations were armored all over, but a tied up kid was still relatively easy to kill. A sharp weapon through his eye socket or a bullet through the roof of his mouth would do the trick.

“I see our guests are here!” Carver’s voice boomed over the shipwreck, amplified. “Come closer so I can see you. You have ten seconds or the boy dies.”

I swam closer, staying slightly above Carver where the area was clear and I could see every attack coming.

“A vodnik and a human,” Carver said mockingly, tugging on something that looked like a leash around the boy’s neck. “Could that be Zoe Gilbert, coming to see me at last?”

“I’m here!” Zoe shouted, sounding brave and fierce. “Let him go!”

“Definitely sounds like Zoe,” Carver said with a nasty laugh. “You know, I saw a lot of footage with you in it, heard a lot of material with your voice. One ex-boyfriend had some fun videos to sell.”

She made a small sound in the back of her throat, shuddering. I pressed her closer.

“We’re here, Carver,” I said evenly, using my voice sack. “Free the boy. Let him go.”

“The boy for Zoe,” Carver said smoothly. “But you won’t have much fun with him. He bit off his previous owner’s finger. Nasty thing.”

He kicked Azahl, who barely reacted. Zoe gasped, her control unraveling.

“Why don’t I come over there and we can trade?” I asked, forcing my voice to sound businesslike.

If I got near enough to take Carver out, all our problems would be solved. And yet, it was deceptively easy. I knew from his file he shouldn’t be underestimated, so when Carver agreed at once, calling me closer, I swore under my breath.

“Shit’s about to go down,” I murmured to Malgeri. “He wants us there, but I don’t know why.”

Because it made no sense. If Carver’s lamias hid around the dome, in the darkness where the lights didn’t reach, why would he lure me to the top? Even if they attacked at full speed, they wouldn’t reach me from below before I ripped Carver apart.

Something was wrong.

Malgeri was quiet for a moment. “Okay. Approach carefully. I’ll send in the Phantom.”

I gritted my teeth. This wasn’t perfect at all, but Carver was impatient.

“Aren’t you coming? I thought you wanted him. If you don’t, I’ll put this fucking knife through his eye and get it over with.”

He waved a long blade, and I slowly swam over until we were above the dome, the shipwreck inside looming faintly, the light bringing out the edges of the sunken boat.

“Now, Zoe,” I whispered.

“So, what’s the deal with your tooth?” she asked, totally nailing her usual chatty, a bit cheeky tone of voice even though she trembled from nerves against my side. “You grumbled about it a lot.”

“What’s the deal—Oh, you’re funny!” Carver laughed jarringly loud, sounding unhinged. “That’s bratty, Zoe Gilbert. If I could keep you, I’d teach you not to use your mouth this way.”

She shuddered, and I clenched my jaw, moving as slowly as possible. I scanned the area, but still didn’t spot the trick. Either the lamias hid in the shadow of the dome by the bottom, or he was here alone, and that was impossible.

“Yeah, I get it, you’re a big man,” she said, sounding dismissive. “But seriously, I wanna know. Why is the tooth my fault?”

“Because you put me in jail!” he screamed, getting louder with every word.

By his side, Azahl moved faintly. He was on his knees, bowed forward, like he was too weak to stay upright.

“So what, a cellmate didn’t like your smile?” Zoe said with bravado, but her voice cracked at the end. “That’s hardly a reason to blame me.”

“But I will blame you, dear Zoe,” he said, his voice dropping into a snarl. “Because you had to poke your fucking nose into my business. And now I get to make you pay, and I’ll enjoy the fuck out of it. Hand her over!”

“The boy first,” I said tightly. We were close enough that if I lunged at Carver, I would get him, but that would expose Zoe.

“The boy first,” he mocked me in a whiny voice. “He’s practically dead, and so are you. Now!”

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