Page 17 of Magic and Medicine

The world stilled as Leszek focused his icy gaze on the gangster, no longer a demon of sinful decadence but the embodiment of death, as he snarled.

‘No one touches what’s mine. Including you…myfriend.’

Chapter eleven

(an hour earlier)

Zbigniew Nadolny’s welcome was surprisingly jovial, as he acted like I was a long-lost brother returning to the fold. However, when I looked around the club, the lack of revellers was telling, especially when dour tattooed men in dark suits replaced the rowdy pleasure-seeking youngsters, not even pretending to flirt with the entertainers and wait staff.

‘Leszek, I am honoured that you visited my humble establishment. I do hope you will partake of our unique entertainment this evening, yes?’ Nadolny gestured for me to join him, standing up and extending a hand. I almost missed the gesture as I scrutinised the men behind the mob boss, noticing his grimace as I took his hand in a firm but friendly shake.

‘Yes, well, I am here to discuss business, the troubles in the docks specifically, but we are both sophisticated men, and there’s no reason our meeting cannot be pleasurable.’

I saw the fleeting wariness on his face before he relaxed, nodding to a nameless suit who left the group as Nadolny gestured to the couch.

‘We can talk about it later. I have the best wines and women in the Tricity. To my great pleasure, we recently recruited some of your kind if you wish to try. Why not enjoy both while my man checks what we know about the docks?’

I ground my teeth, noticing several men reach for whatever hidden weapons they possessed as soon as I moved. Adam bared his fangs, and although I could easily tear this place down, I sighed, sliding into the seat next to my host. With a new and unknown adversary, I needed information as I sounded out a potential ally. For now, I would do my best to placate my human counterpart.

‘If you’re offering the best, then how could I refuse? Let’s see if your reputation is as impressive as I’ve heard.’

The subtle insult was met with a stiff smile, the barb merely a reminder that I, too, was a power to be reckoned with. As if on command, a blond girl appeared with two glasses of wine, settling onto my lap with a coquettish smile that had its charms, and I didn’t object as her hands moved over my chest, even when her nimble fingers opened my shirt. I knew Nadolny was observing my reaction, and I did my best to pretend I was enjoying myself.

I almost succeeded. I say almost because it wasn’t long before another henchman joined us, leading the last person I expected to see here. Sara! What the hell is she doing here? I thought, and to my surprise, seeing her in danger awakened the twinge of fear I’d not felt in centuries.

All of my men were selected and trained for close-quarter fighting, and those with me tonight were the best, their unique talents making them difficult to kill, but Sara? Even if I utilised all my power, could I stop every stray bullet if mayhem erupted? I have to get her out of here, and quickly. My thoughts were racing, and judging by how her eyes grew, Sara hadn’t expected to find me here, either.

The best way to protect her would be to pretend not to know her, but of course, the damn woman had other ideas, asking me why I was there, even though she knew I frequented such lawless places. With my plan in as many pieces as the MS Batory, I rolled my eyes and thought fast, grabbing the annoying woman, displacing the poor entertainer in the process, replacing her with my newest conundrum and kissing her passionately.

Her lips, soft and pliant, melted all thoughts except one. Why hadn’t I done this before? She felt divine, reminding me of when the world was new and full of wonder. The magic of my beautiful seer ignited an inferno across my lips and tongue as she teased open my mouth, deepening the kiss. A soft moan escaped her lips, stripping me of reason, yet I was the one who broke away, whispering a warning as our lips parted.

Hoping Sara was as quick on her feet as her job suggested, I released my hold on her neck and slowly stroked a finger down her spine. Despite the quizzical tilt of her head, Sara remained seated, pressing a hand to my chest and pouting prettily. Now, we could rescue the situation without Nadolny seeing the seer as a threat or a weakness to be exploited. All it required was a lecherous mobster to see what he expected: the jaded Forest Lord and his latest distraction.

As I continued stroking Sara’s back, hoping to reassure her that I had the situation under control, her mood switched, and with righteous indignation, she angrily tore into my character. Every inch the spurned lover, appealing to the mobster next to me when my response failed to satisfy her fake outrage, simultaneously charming Nadolny whilst distancing herself from me.

It might have worked, but ever the shrewd entrepreneur, Nadolny distrusted the coincidence, deciding to test me and proposing a deal. He knew he was balancing on a knife’s edge, but finding a weakness of the Forest Lord was worth the risk. Unfortunately, when he suggested Sara become his, the thought of this man laying a hand on her body ignited a rage that had me pressing her back against my chest, magic surrounding us in a green mist as I warned the gangster off.

‘No one touches what’s mine. Including you… my friend,’ I said. Sara’s head snapped around, her eyes searching mine. A confused frown marred her forehead, announcing her desire to contradict me, but when Nadolny pulled away, uncomfortable in the presence of my power, something in Sara’s posture changed. A hint of mischief danced in her eyes as she slid her hands under my shirt again and pouted in mock outrage.

‘What if I want to? Why can you play with other women, but I can’t touch another man?’ She asked, painfully pulling the hair beneath her fingers.

‘Because you are mine, Firefly.’ I said with finality, refusing to flinch as she continued to pinch my skin under the pretence of playful stroking. Playing much? I thought, trying hard to resist the urge to flip her body over and spank the mischievous minx. The way she wriggled in my lap, never losing eye contact, fanned the flames of my desire, and Sara knew it, her hand placed directly over my heart. The shock of Nadolny laughing broke the spell of our exchange, and we both turned to look in his direction.

‘Yes, why don’t you let your Lady play a little, especially with her temporary replacement at your feet?’ Belatedly remembering the waitress, I looked down, the poor girl staring up in abject terror. I waved her away, and she moved back, scrambling past the surrounding henchmen, but before she could escape, one of them grabbed her arm, making the woman whimper in pain.

‘Nobody will touch my woman, as she well knows, so I will make sure to punish her later.’ I swatted Sara’s bottom lightly, smiling when she bit her lip. ‘As for your little gift, I may let her join us, so tell your men she is not to be touched.’

I saw Nadolny gesture to his assistant, who released the girl, letting her retreat to the dancefloor, and without a word, a brunette scurried over to sit with the mobster. With no hesitation, Nadolny leaned over to run a hand roughly over the female’s breast, her wince almost imperceptible. In response, Sara quickly returned to character, shifting and seating herself on my lap, her thighs pressing against my waist.

What the hell is she doing? I felt my trousers tighten as the reckless woman kissed and bit my neck. I could not push her away or end this without compromising the deception, but she was dangerously close to being ravaged by the primaeval demon that ruled the forest, and I was almost past caring who saw.

Sara’s teeth nipped at my earlobe as she spoke, the words splashing ice-cold water on my libido. ‘I came here to talk to Ilona. She is one of the sirens. They are working for Nadolny, but not voluntarily. Help me get them out, please.’

Did she come for the sirens? But why, and how was the woman who barely knew about the Nether, already risking her life coming here asking to help the merfolk? My mind raced as I wondered how she knew about the sirens, especially so soon after my encounter with one of them during the raid on the dockyard. I wish I could ask, but with her message passed on, she returned to her ministrations, and I couldn’t help the groan that slipped past my lips as the woman drove me wild with the touch of her body, eliciting a passion I thought lost to the ages.

With desire came clarity, and the perfect idea came to mind: an opportunity to keep Sara close, ensuring her recent entanglement in the siren’s problem was only a coincidence and protecting her from the Coven’s influence.

As the breath within my chest escaped, its sound formed into words. ‘I will, but only if you agree to live with me.’ I reached up, my fingers entangling in her hair, and forced her lips to mine, claiming them with fervent passion, breaking away only to complete my demand. ‘Three months, Sara, that’s all I ask. This pretence you started must run its course, or we will both be in danger.’ It was a partial lie, but I was learning what motivated this force of nature and knew she would ignore any threat to herself.

---