Page 57 of Magic and Medicine

Afternoon arrived with enough aches and pains to remind me of Leszek’s prowess and stamina, but at the beeping of several horns, any opportunity to revisit those memories was ruined. Well, not all; my lover’s dexterous fingers teasing an orgasm from me as we showered. Unfortunately, we had to admit defeat at the banging on the bedroom door and swiftly got ready, meeting an impatient Adam outside.

My gasp at the menacing crew assembled in three large vans made everyone smirk and a few to flex their muscles as they tried to catch my eye, but I ignored the wannabe lotharios, studying the men that looked suspiciously like Adam, with a slender predatory elegance and pale complexion. Still three vans?

‘You should buy a bus next time.’ I blurted out, and Leszek’s lips twitched before he leaned down, whispering into my ear.

‘Whatever my Lady desires, I will buy as many buses as you like.’

He was such an impossible tease, and if we weren’t about to ride into battle like some weird hippy version of medieval cavalry, I would order him back to bed so I could finish what he started in the shower.

As I caught Leszek smiling when he tried sneaking a look down my top, I realised how relaxed he’d been, as if a weight had been removed from his shoulders after I’d located Rostov’s base.

Leszek stood beside me in the doorway, with this mischievous look in his eyes, pressing me tight to his firm body as he continued enjoying how my lycra workout clothes clung to my curves, only looking away when Michal cleared his throat and threw a black duffel at his chest. After Leszek caught the bag and donned the tactical gear, Michal turned to me, holding out a very rigid vest, nodding toward my now incredibly intimidating lover.

‘Boss’s orders.’ When I refused to move, attempting to catch the assistant’s eye, Adam leaned out of the lead van and shouted.

‘Nina already knows and said if you don’t wear it, she won’t pull any bullets out of your Barbie bonanzas.’

Face flaming red as the men in the vans started hooting, I snatched the bulletproof vest to struggle into its tight confines, grumbling and cursing. When my gymnastics were finished, I strolled toward the wolf pack, where Damian and Rysiek seemed to be thriving under the male attention. I waved to them, and Jarek slipped from the crowd with the biggest boyish grin on his face.

‘Sara, my Alpha is allowing me to be a paramedic. He said it is a useful skill for the pack. Damian will help me enrol in the school, and Jora will teach me shifter’s healing.’ He said with unbridled enthusiasm, and I couldn’t help but ruffle his hair.

This youngster had grown on me. He was loyal honest, and, despite being stuck to me like a barnacle most of the time, didn’t annoy me too much.

‘You will be great. I’m sure of it. I can’t wait till you bring me your first patient. Listen to Damian and Rysiek; there’s a reason they’re called the Dream Team,’ I said, and he laughed, running a hand through his hair before rushing to another, smaller car I hadn’t noticed. I saw Jora smiling and nodding to me while my young friend turned around, sending me another one of his boyish grins.

‘And you listen to the boss. He’ll keep you safe when I’m not there,’ he said, and I heard a familiar baritone laughing softly behind me.

‘Jarek, stop flirting with my woman, but you are right. I will keep Sara safe. I could never disappoint such trust.’

I turned to face him, and my knees buckled. I’d been intimidated when he’d been close, but now, the impact of the entire outfit nearly made me purr. Leszek was always immaculately dressed, his suits used like a weapon to impress and dominate, but this. The man dirties up well, I thought. It was difficult keeping my panties on when he looked like a gentleman, now, with all the muscles accented by military gear… I swallowed hard.

‘Oh, you are keeping this outfit for the bedroom, Wolfie.’ I said, enjoying the stunned look on his face at my statement.

The snickers and wolf whistles behind me told me every shifter and vampire had heard my comment, making me blush again.

Adam walked over, lips pressed together, holding in his laughter. ‘Come on… Wolfie. We need to get going since Kris and Kamil only arranged a few hours of unrestricted access.’ He said, pointing to the radio.

Leszek nodded, heading toward the vehicle. It was my time to snicker when he slapped Adam on the back of his head while passing in a casual, almost tender gesture that knocked Adam a few steps forward.

‘Only Sara can call me that,’ he said, holding the car door open for me.

We parked on the street below the steep incline of Gradowa Mountain, and before we set off, Leszek called everyone close to check everyone’s gear and remind them of the dangers we were facing. I looked away, only half listening to the army jargon, staring at the old fort. The so-called mountain was really a hill that had been heavily fortified over hundreds of years. With its panoramic view over the city, it had seen plenty of battles and was rumoured to be an important geomantic point of the Gulf of Gdansk, a place where positive energy is concentrated. I wondered if that had anything to do with magic, though it had always been a place I avoided, where reality was distorted and the shadow creatures more palpable.

Tomasz issued an order, and I startled as the men under his and Adam’s command swiftly divided, heading up the hill from opposite directions. Leszek and I were left with a small unit comprising two very uncomfortable witches and the three biggest, meanest shifters I had ever seen. Those men were killing machines, yet they felt insignificant compared to Leszek. He turned toward the city before he drew something in the air that blazed with emerald fire, and the air shimmered like a mirage.

‘Veles, save us,’ whispered one of the witches when the curtain of power appeared, muffling the city noise, and Leszek turned toward her.

‘Veles? Really? It is just a cloaking spell to help keep this operation as low-key as possible,’ he said, the annoyed tone in his voice making the woman flinch, and I had to bite my lip to prevent myself from laughing nervously.

As soon as we passed the gate, I heard a gentle song that made me feel completely at ease, filling my heart with contentment. I shook my head, looking around to find its source, but everything seemed different. The ruins of the fort were still there, but the walls were superimposed by the hints of other structures, grander, more fanciful buildings.

A tall building of pale stone and polished wood shimmered before me, its sides covered with intricate runes and carvings of mythical creatures, with dragons crowning the roof. Yet when I tried to touch it, my hand passed through the mirage, an unnatural coldness travelling over my skin.

I walked like a blind woman, unsure if I could trust my sight, letting the melody guide me, watching as Leszek paused several times, dismantling traps and spells that had already claimed the lives of several people. I briefly wondered why I felt no fear at the sight of the dead men, the logical part of me knowing something was wrong, but even my questioning thoughts slipped away at the tranquillity suffusing my body.

As I started smiling, a feeling of death and pain overpowered my contentment, its icy fingers brushing the nape of my neck when my hand touched the fortifications, but the melody strengthened, pulling me in.

‘Here, we need to go here.’ I said, but no one heard me over the sound of gunfire and screaming, everyone focusing on the bitter fighting.

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