Page 16 of Ironheart

Zori was smothering an embarrassed laugh when Vladik sent her back sad face emojis. She stood in front of the door to Maxim's office and tried not to feel like a naughty four-year-old. She had always been forbidden from going into it, and it was another boundary she'd never tried testing as she got older.

Zori needed answers one way or another. She opened the door and switched on the light. It was obsessively neat, masculine with the decor of leather and dark woods, and there was a lingering smell of Maxim's expensive cologne in the air.

Zori studied the books on the shelves that varied from Greek philosophy to quantum physics. There was an impressionist, almost abstract oil painting of a lake surrounded by forest on the wall behind the desk. Zori loved art, and she went for a closer look. The reflection in the water was strange, like it didn't match the forest. It took her a moment to realize why. The artist had painted the blurred lines of a sunken city.

"Kitezh," she said in awe. Something beeped, activated by voice, and the picture swung back. A glass trophy case had been hidden behind the painting and inside was a cape of white and gold feathers. It was placed on a mannequin bust of a woman and at the base were two large stone claws.

"Oh, my God." Zori's stomach plummeted to her feet, and she put her hands over her mouth to stop from screaming.

Alisa had been talking about her white and gold feathers just before she'd leaped off the balcony.

Zori's new phone buzzed, making her jump and tear her eyes away from the cape.

Vladik the Handsome: What's happened? Are you hurt? What is wrong?

Zori: I found something.

She took a photo of the cape before closing the painting over the top of it, unable to look at it anymore. She hurried out through the penthouse and into her rooms. She made it to the sink in the kitchen before she vomited up her dinner.

How could this be happening? What had Maxim done to her mother to make her jump that night?

Zori washed her face and hands before rinsing out the sink. With shaking hands, she sent the photo to Vladik. The phone rang a second later.

"Are you okay, puppy?" he asked.

Zori sniffled. "Not even a little bit. He has it like a trophy! Why would he do that?"

"Because he's a sick fuck, that's why. I'm so sorry you found it that way."

"There were claws in the case too. They looked like yours," she said, wiping at her cheeks.

Vladik's growl was low and threatening. "They might have belonged to your father or another gargoyle he's killed." He didn't have to mention his brother; they were both thinking about it. Zori knew it was too late for her mother, but maybe she could help Misha.

"How can I help you get into the building?" she asked, anger now replacing her tears. She needed to know the full extent of what Maxim was doing, even if it broke her heart along the way. If he was hurting others like Alisa, she needed to stop him.

"Are you sure you want to get further involved in this, Zoria? It's not going to get any better, only bloodier," Vladik warned her.

"I have to know the truth about my mother. All of it." Zori went to the wall of windows. Sure enough, Vladik was standing on the roof where he usually crouched as a gargoyle. She placed a hand on the cold glass. "If Misha is still alive, I have to help him. I lost my mother because of what Maxim did to her. I don't want you to lose your brother too."

Vladik lifted his hand in acknowledgement. "If we do this, we do it together, and you don't take any risks that could get you hurt. I'm not going to lose either of you because of Maxim."

"Because you're sworn to protect swan wives?" she asked, hating how small her voice sounded.

"Not just that. We have something more between us, and you know it. I'm not going to give up on you. I won't leave you in the hands of Maxim for any longer than what we need to. Understand?"

"Yes." Zori stared at his silhouette, an ache of longing spreading through her. "I wish I could hug you right now."

"I wish you could too, but I'm right here. You're not going to go through this alone, Zoria. I promise," Vladik replied.

Zori wrapped an arm around herself, trying to feel anything but numb. "Okay, what do we need to do first?"

There was a thoughtful pause on the other end of the line. "I could really do with a map of the interior of the building."

"I should be able to manage that. There are evacuation fire routes on the floors. I'm sure there's something like a map for the employees," Zori replied.

"Only if you can get them easily. I don't want you to put yourself at risk. We still haven't had a proper date yet," Vladik said, his tone turning playful.

Zori smiled, unable to help the heat in her cheeks. "Last nightwasa second date, I'm sure that means you owe me a dick pic. Pretty certain that was the deal."

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