Page 84 of Guarded By the Vodnik

“They let you fuck your principals in Wisconsin?” he asked, voice laughing. “Damn, I’ll need to move here.”

“No, we don’t,” a red-skinned demon with a robust pair of horns said, coming over. “But we’d be happy to have you. You’re an incredible asset.”

Phantom laughed, the sound dark and rustling. “You say asset, I hear ass. No, I’ll stay in DC. Thanks for letting me jump in, though. The little brother needed that. I just bet the lady here wouldn’t have let him see Carver. Good job, by the way. He was all in parts. A 3D puzzle, eh?”

He laughed, that rustling echo loud in his voice, and turned away to find Azahl. And good for him. I had a strong urge to punch him in the face, which probably would have resulted in broken knuckles for me and merely amusement for him.

Malgeri, Vodyan’s demon boss, clasped Vodyan’s palm in a strong handshake. He was huge, towering two heads above me, his legs ending in thick, dark red hooves. He wore a charcoal gray three-piece suit.

“He’s a good guy, but people tend to hate him,” he said. “How are you holding up, Zoe? Vodyan take good care of you?”

I nodded, finally allowing myself to sink into Vodyan’s protective embrace.

“He was perfect.” A sudden thought filled me with worry when I realized how pointedly Malgeri said sex with a principal wasn’t allowed. “Hope he’s not in trouble. He really saved my life, you know. So many times.”

Malgeri’s smile grew, his canines unusually sharp among otherwise pretty normal, straight teeth.

“I’m sure he did. All right, lovebirds. Go home and decompress, and I’ll clean it all up in here. We’ll talk tomorrow, Vodyan. Also, you’re suspended for the next seven days for misconduct with a client. I suggest you use your time wisely.”

He gave us a wink and turned away.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, turning to Vodyan. “I had no idea you’d be suspended for…”

He pressed a warm finger to my lips, grinning sharply.

“I just got a week off, Zoe, with the official permission to fuck you senseless. Don’t be sorry. But… Will you come home with me?”

Chapter 27

Vodyan

I looked at her with trepidation, my heart beating sharply. I was painfully aware Zoe didn’t have to come with me. She probably wouldn’t want to, either. The threat was gone. Carver was dead, and while we fought lamias underwater, Malgeri dealt with Carver’s human forces that waited for him in a boat up here. My demon boss left no survivors, completely unbothered about any potential questioning into the total massacre.

Malgeri, like Zoe, had an ax to grind with people who kidnapped children.

There was no one left to hunt Zoe, and while there was one name left on my list, he wasn’t a threat to her. She could go home, back to her volunteering, her family, her human friends and ex-boyfriends.

Really, there was no reason for her to stay. I felt hideously exposed waiting for her answer, so convinced it would be a no that when she spoke, I replied instantly, trying to shield myself.

“Of course. You want to see your family. I understand,” I said, swallowing down my painful disappointment.

Zoe was silent for a beat. I didn’t see her expression, avoiding her eyes so she wouldn’t see how hurt I was.

“Uh, Vodyan?” she said tentatively. “Yes, I want to see my family, but they are safe and well. I can call them or something. So, can we go now?”

I looked at her sharply, confused and refusing to hope.

“Go where?”

She was perplexed, her green eyes confused, brows pulled into a small frown.

“Um, to your place? So you can fuck me senseless? Isn’t that what we’re discussing?”

I couldn’t contain the bright grin that stretched my lips. “Yeah? You really want that?”

She seemed to catch on to my confusion, because she smiled, holding my face in both hands.

“Silly man,” she said, pulling me down for a kiss. “Yes, I want you,” she said between soft, sweet kisses. “Of course I do. I love you so fucking much.”

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