Page 52 of Magic and Medicine

Something I now had to face was the very real chance that my final avatar, the bear, would soon follow if I remained beside Sara. If that happened, I would be living proof that the old gods could walk the earth again with their powers intact. I was sure the Council wouldn’t like it, especially if the magic maintaining the Nether was stripped away, returning to those it was initially taken from. Their worries over a few elder races crossing over for brief visits would be nothing compared to the return of magic to the mortal realm at the expense of their home.

Tomasz picked up after the third ring.

‘My Lord, my… Alpha, thank you for calling back. The pack has been unsettled since the Great Wolf returned, calling for a challenge. I would like to know how you wish to proceed.’ His voice was reverent but full of hesitance and submission I had never heard before.

‘I’m not going to challenge you for command of your family. Not now, not ever. The stag, the wolf and the bear are part of who I was, and despite their return, this is the twenty-first century. I am no longer a god and don’t need to be worshipped or obeyed. We have a good working relationship, no, a friendship that I wish to continue, if possible.’

I heard a choking sound on the other side of the call before he spoke.

‘Thank you, Sir, you have both my loyalty and the packs. I was wrong about your woman. She is a great asset, and… my mate thinks I was an idiot for questioning your decision,’ he said.

‘Tell Jora she is a sage woman, and Sara would love to work with her again. If she wishes, of course. With this new facility, there will be a lot to organise, but if anything, last night’s events showed me it was essential.’ I said without bothering to rein in my amusement. A powerful Alpha chastised by his mate, who’d taken a liking to my little Firefly, what wasn’t there to love about it?

‘I will ask her, but I already know the answer. Jora will be there tomorrow, coordinating the renovations.’

‘Perfect, have a good night Tomasz and remember, I have your back as long as you have mine.’

It was true. I didn’t want things to change, enhanced power or not. I was, first and foremost, their leader, not their ruler. Having the shifter pack unchanged left me in a good mood that perished when I contacted Adam.

‘We have a problem.’ He said as soon as he picked up the phone. ‘Nadolny sent footage from his surveillance cameras catching some unusual activity near the gateway to Gedania. He posted men there to deter any casual bystanders, but instead, they encountered people spoiling for a fight. I compared the timing to the Council’s reports of attacks on the Gates. Whenever these men cause trouble, there’s an attack at the other Gates.’ Adam paused, letting me absorb the information.

‘Go on, I feel there is more to it.’

‘Once Nadolny’s men are distracted, the cameras pick up a person leaving the gate’s vicinity, one that didn’t arrive. Add that to the amount of amber stolen during the recent attack…. I’d say we have trouble,’ he said before pausing again. The next question I expected, but instead of the usual mockery, I heard genuine concern in the vampire’s voice. ‘I also heard you shifted into a wolf when Sara fainted. Is she alright? I haven’t told Nina yet. Otherwise, you’d already have her knocking down your door, and I’d like to avoid her being upset; it irks me.’

‘Are you involved with Nina?’ I asked, and he grunted, which was as close to yes as I’d ever get. It was so unusual for Adam to form attachments to anyone, let alone a living, breathing person, that I accepted his answer.

‘Sara was accosted in the hospital. She escaped Rostov’s temporal distortion, and an amber sphere was destroyed during the encounter. The bastard threatened the lives of her friends, so be careful.’ I said.

‘She broke through a null-time bubble? Fuck, that means she’s powerful enough to cross the Veil and rescue your soul, others too.’ He asked, biting back a curse before huffing, ‘Gedania won’t like it. This will disturb the status quo, and Jurata, you can have her back.’

‘Jurata left this place when, despite hoarding amber, she couldn’t regain her full power. Her title and magic meant more than the people she swore to protect. It meant more than me. What I do now is for our people and none of her concern.’

‘I’m not contesting that, but I know women, and judging by Gedania’s attitude so far, they will see Sara in two ways. As someone to exploit or a threat to their existence. I suspect the latter as someone already tried to kill her.’ Adam was playing Mister Obvious, explaining what I already knew. Not that there was anyone there strong enough to face me now. The old gods’ power, whilst still immense, had faded alongside the human desire to worship them, but they were still a threat, as were their followers.

‘I will deal with them when the time comes. Guard Nina. I will ask Nadolny to send more people to the Gates, and we’ll reinforce our position, too. This time, tell them I’ll personally eviscerate anyone not wearing a bulletproof vest. We need to find Rostov’s mercenaries individually; fighting them is too messy when magic is involved. They’re human, so I want eyes in every brothel, watering hole, pub, and nightclub in Tricity. Anyone with a Russian accent throwing cash around is to be tailed. We also need press coverage. Make sure you give them something creative.’ I said, and Adam burst into laughter.

‘I love it when you get all evil overlord on me. Consider it done.’ He said, ending the call.

I sat in my chair, pondering the situation. Ideally, I would send a messenger and visit Gedania tomorrow, as it looked like someone there supported Rostov. They already knew about Sara, and it was time to stake my claim to the Soul Shepherd. She wouldn’t like it, but the only way to keep her safe was to ensure everyone in the Nether knew she belonged to me. How will she react if I create a blood tie to her? I wondered whether to tell her about it but decided against it, not yet, at least.I knew I was ready to share my immortality, but Sara might not want this burden. I will face this challenge when I come to it, I decided before quickly showering and joining Sara in bed.

As promised, she was sleeping, her mouth slightly open, puffy eyes a sign she’d continued crying secretly to not upset me. If I could understand what was wrong, I would do anything to fix it. When I slid under the covers, she wriggled, tossing and turning before laying her head on my chest and embracing me with a soft whimper. Fierce protectiveness surged through my body. Sara had become a target of power-hungry maniacs and forgotten gods because of me. I couldn’t even promise her a peaceful future, but there was one thing I could swear. I will love no other but her, my brave Firefly, the light of my soul, the woman who agreed to be mine forever.

I awoke to the sun peeking through the curtains and soft kisses trailing down my chest, the desire they awoke chasing away my lethargy. Sara’s hands trailed over my naked skin, her featherlight touch making me groan. When I stirred, pushing my hips up, eager for her hand to move lower, I heard her soft chuckle before teeth nipped at the skin of my stomach.

‘Endure,’ she said, and I barely restrained the need to grab her hair and drag her to my lips for a kiss. Instead, I tore at the sheets, securing my grip, willing myself to be still while my woman took liberties with my body. Liberties I very much enjoyed.

‘Don’t test me, beloved. I may have no strength to resist.’

My breath came with shallow rasps when her lips trailed over my shaft so close I felt her warm breath but not quite touching. My manhood twitched, a drop of lubrication glistening on the top as she tortured me with her slow, soft caress.

When Sara’s nails scratched the inside of my thighs, my hips jerked involuntarily and, taking pity on my torment, Sara grasped my cock. Her fingers applied just the right amount of pressure to make me shiver. She was perfect, my spirited, delightful miracle, the mass of her honey-blond hair flowing down in gentle spellbinding waves.

Sara looked up, still holding me tight and drawing her fist slowly upwards, and when our gaze met, she swiped her tongue beneath the flared dome of my shaft. My mind went blank. Desire shot through me, wiping any reasonable thought, and I moaned, buckling into her hand. My manhood slid into her eager mouth as she lowered her head. Sara started pumping, sucking and hollowing her cheeks to take me deeper till the tip hit the back of her throat.

‘You will be the end of me, woman,’ I rasped. A moan tore from me as I lost control, and unable to stop myself, I placed my hand on her head, pushing her down. I know I shouldn’t have, but the need to dominate burned in my veins. Before I reached my climax, Sara pulled away, leaving me panting and confused.

‘Sara?’

---