Page 296 of Dragon Slayer

55

I CALLED HIM NIK

On their way back through the main basement, they encountered a tableau that had all the techs and scientists staring: Vlad stood in the center of the room, arms folded, expression stony, while a well-dressed, whipcord thin redheaded man attempted to have a polite argument with him.

It at least sounded polite, comments laid down in a fastidious British accent, but each word had barbed tips. “I’msaying, you’ve seen what I can do. Why in the world would you take action this rash and irreversible when I was quite literally upstairs twiddling my thumbs?”

Vlad appeared unimpressed. As ever. “This didn’t concern you, witch.”

His laugh sounded more like a cough. “My dear man, everything in this whole bloody house concerns me.”

“Gentlemen,” Dad said, and both of them turned to him. “If this is about Sergeant Ramirez, then there’s no sense arguing after the fact.”

“What about Sergeant Ramirez?” Mia asked. She wasn’t sure she really wanted to know.

“Nothing,” Dad said, hurriedly. “She’s fine.”

Vlad looked…beneath his granite façade…pleased. Or maybe that was just her imagination.

The redhaired man frowned at her a moment, and then his expression cleared. In a blink, he was convivial, smile seemingly genuine. “Ah. Dr. Talbot, this must be your daughter. It’s Mia, correct?” He extended one pale, manicured hand.

A pale, manicured hand she had to force herself to shake. She’d figured out who he was. “And you’re the Necromancer.”

He winced. “That old moniker again? Please. Liam Price, my lady.”

She pulled her hand back.

“Dr. Talbot,” Liam said, gaze hardening as it shifted to her father, “there are some things about this – latest development – that we need to discuss.”

Dad sagged a little. “Yes, of course.”

“I’ll escort Mia,” Vlad said – a command rather than an offer.

But at the moment, his was the company Mia wanted, needed, the most. “Yes, thank you.” She slipped her arm through the one he offered her and let him lead her toward the elevator. She was alone with him, the cab moving upward, when she realized the enormity of what she’d done: grabbing onto Vlad the Impaler and letting him lead her away from her own father.

She tried and failed to squelch a laugh in her hand.

“What?” he asked.

She shook her head. “This is just crazy, is all. And I think it’s time I stopped referring you to ‘Vlad the Impaler’ in my head.”

When she snuck a glance, a faint smile was touching the corners of his mouth. “Vlad will suffice,” he said, magnanimous. Then turned to face her fully. “Have you decided yet?”

Her stomach turned over, but this time it was nerves and not sickness. “I have. I want to take Val up on his offer.”

His brows lifted in obvious, if quiet surprise.

“You thought I’d say no.”

“I thought you’d say yes immediately,” he countered. “Humans don’t tend to take anything into consideration when the offer of unlimited health is dangled in front of them.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

He gave her a narrow, appraising look and faced the doors again. “I misjudged your eagerness.” It almost sounded like an apology.

“Yeah, well. It wasn’t a snap decision. I put a lot of thought into it.” She didn’t feel like she owed anyone an explanation beyond herself and Val. But Val had said to trust Vlad. And hewasVal’s brother. So she said, “I’m doing this because I love your brother. Because I want to help him get out of here. And – and be with him.” That sounded corny, but it was the best she could do right now. She wasn’t about to explain the revelation of kissing Val.

Vlad said, “My brother has never…” Uncharacteristic hesitance. “Been allowed to – to choose for himself.Love.” He said it like a curse. “He was a hostage. A slave. And it wasn’tlovethat was forced on him…but I wonder sometimes if he believed it was. Unwilling romance is the only sort he’s ever known.” He turned to her again, and his eyes were fathomless. “He’s chosen you. Now. Don’t ever make him regret that choice.”Or elsehung unspoken between them.

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