Page 22 of Fangs for the Memories
“Of course she doesn’t,” Viktor says, still in Hungarian. “And I don’t understand why you are in a vampire lair, surrounded by dead vamps.”
“It’s a long story.” I sigh. “We should speak in English though, for Grace.”
Viktor gives me a long look which I know means I will owe him an explanation, and he isn’t going to like it.
“Very well, but you should know Dominik Király wants to speak with you.”
“Király? He was here. He could have spoken with me rather than making me kill all his vamps and putting me in here.”
“He was not here,” Viktor rasps. “I know for a fact he was in Pest half an hour ago.”
“Half an hour is nothing to a vamp of his power,” I growl.
“I’ve had eyes on him the whole time I was tracking you. He hasn’t moved, not since he sent the missive.”
“Then there was another powerful vamp here,” I respond.
“That isn’t good. And neither is you being in these caves,” Viktor responds with a sniff. “Come on, mistress, let’s get you out of here,” he adds in English.
Grace looks at me. My heart swells that she looks to me at all.
“It’s fine, Grace. Viktor is my personal security. He’s mad at me because I didn’t tell him where we were going.”
“I don’t blame him, given where we ended up,” she says.
“I’d like to point out, this was your idea,” I respond.
Grace levels a gaze at me which I know would make lesser wolves shake in their boots.
“My idea was a fun trip through some caves. Not to be chewed to death by vampires.”
My heart is instantly skewered with ice. I was supposed to protect Grace, not drop her into a vamp nest. The moment I scented the foul creatures, I should have taken her out of the cave. Brought her back to my secure apartment…mated her until neither of us could move.
“Budapest to Ferenc,” Viktor says, amusement evident in his voice. “We should go.”
He leads the way, and after a short walk, we emerge out into the late afternoon light, already dimming towards the evening. Some snow has fallen and the ground is lightly covered.
Grace wraps her arms around herself. I take off my suit jacket and put it over her shoulders. It makes her look even smaller than she is.
How can it be possible that this tiny human is my fated mate? Not only is she not a werewolf, but she has another mate, back in her own country.
Perhaps she is right about fate.
“I need to get my coat,” she says. “I left it back at the entrance.”
I look over at Viktor.
“The car is waiting through there.” He points between the trees. “At the road. I’ll get the coat.”
I want to rip the stone giant to pieces for doing something for my mate, but I tamp down my anger as hard as I can. Grace is shivering. I know the coat she has with her is no match for a Budapest winter, but if she wants it…
My choice is to stay with her or leave her with Viktor, and my werewolf will not let me leave her with anyone else.
I nod and usher her through the trees to where one of my SUVs is waiting, with the engine running. I put her inside and climb in.
“Home,” I growl at the driver.
Grace
