Page 56 of Magic and Medicine

Two puncture marks stood out against Nina’s pale skin, evidence that my failure had exposed her to the vampire’s influence.

‘Too late. I’m already dead.’ Adam stood in the doorframe, smirking, and I grabbed the nearest object, hurling it in his direction. Nina sighed when the cup smashed above his head, raining porcelain onto his head.

‘It was consensual. I was curious, and he was hungry. Can you stop overreacting, please?’ she said, and I felt scolded, like a child having a tantrum. I was still shaking from worry, but her calm was infectious. I rubbed the bridge of my nose before pointing to the map.

My blood was everywhere, tiny splashes dotting the terrain except, at one point, almost in the centre of old Gdansk, an ancient military fortification unused for centuries.

‘They are in the old fort of Gradowa Mountain.’ I pointed my finger to the centre before looking at Leszek. ‘You couldn’t sense him because they have amber everywhere, and I think… I think they are killing people to sustain the spell.’

Leszek bit back a curse before turning to Adam. ‘Gather the men. Tell Tomasz we need his help, and call Nadolny, let him know where we’re heading. I need the place cleared of civilians.’ He stopped when Kris coughed to gain his attention.

‘I have a better idea if you’ll let me. Sara, tell your man he can trust me.’ He flashed me a bright smile when Leszek looked in my direction.

‘What is your idea?’

‘Give me till tomorrow afternoon. We can run a terrorist evac drill there. I’ll call in a favour or two, put a local politician outside, extolling our readiness for any threat and bingo, empty fort. Anyone left will be a hostile, and no one will be surprised by the sound of gunfire,’ Kris said, and Kamil nodded with appreciation.

‘I can ask guys from transit control to restrict access to the surrounding roads. The only problem will be how you get there.’ He said, and it was Leszek’s time to smirk.

‘That won’t be a problem, and that is an excellent idea. Thank you both.’ He said before he stroked my cheek. ‘I want you …’

‘To come with you and help break through the temporal distortion if those fuckers still have it,’ I finished for him, pretending not to see his eyebrows knit together.

‘No.’

‘Yes, and the more you argue, the more likely you will sleep alone tonight.’ I said with a grin that provoked Rysiek’s laughter.

‘In that case, we’re going too. Just in case something happens to Sara, and everyone freaks out, like last time. We’ll tag along with the wolves, as we’re already familiar with them.’ He said, and I nodded, happy to have my team as backup.

‘Jarek, you stay with me. We’ll finish preparing this place for the casualties that will surely occur after whatever trouble Sara starts.’ Nina said, clearly not forgiving me for smashing the cup over Adam’s head.

Before we walked out, Leszek grabbed my shoulders and turned me toward him.

‘Tomorrow, you will stay close to me. No matter what, you are not to engage in any fighting, and if you need to use magic, ensure I am within reach.’ He said everything so sternly that it sent shivers down my spine, clearly unhappy with me going, but to his credit, he didn’t try to stop me either. In fact, he was indulging and supporting my decisions today, and I felt he deserved a compromise from me.

‘I will be as close as I can reasonably manage and promise I won’t put myself in danger. Has anyone else you know dealt with this temporal spell before?’

‘One of the older witches from the Coven, but no one’s ever broken it. Sara, thank you for today. I’ve treated humans as enemies for so long that I forget why they were such effective opponents. What you did today made me realise I was wrong to ignore them, and you, my Firefly, were the key to unlocking this possibility,’ He said, embracing me.

We were already alone in the room when he pressed me back against the wall, leaning down to shower my neck with kisses, nipping lightly at the skin when excitement made us both moan. He stopped momentarily, and I felt his teeth hovering over my collarbone again.

‘When we return home tonight, I want you to wear this pretty green scrap of fabric I saw in your drawer, then I’m going to spend the night driving out any hint of sadness in your eyes, replacing it with pleasure and love. I will give you anything you want for a single smile.’ Leszek’s voice had started as a barely heard whisper, but the word love was a growl that sent shivers down my spine, making my knees buckle, my body falling helpless into his arms.

‘What if I want your heart?’

‘I cannot give what you already own, my love.’ He said, sending me into a meltdown. I pulled his beard down, kissing him with all the passion that burned inside. The sincerity in that one statement setting my world alight, but more than this. Today made me feel like a partner, an equal if not in power, then in the skills I possessed that made an ancient spirit re-evaluate his outlook on the world.

My blouse was halfway off my shoulders, Leszek’s shirt in similar disarray, when the sound of a car’s horn interrupted our antics. I laughed with embarrassment, trying to straighten my clothes, whilst my magical lover, with a simple wave of the hand, made his outfit pristine, not a wrinkle in sight.

‘Come, my love, we will finish this in the comfort of our home and tomorrow, I will show you the true extent of my power. I want you to see what your ability has returned to me. Remember your promise, though, Firefly. I can lose this city, but I cannot lose you.’.’

Chapter twenty-nine

Leszek was insatiable. I barely slept as he made love to me at every opportunity and afterwards held me tight, as if afraid I would vanish if he let go of me. Not that I would ever complain. I think my magic terrified him. Maybe not the magic itself, but the fact it was coveted by every deity on both sides of the Gates, making our future a daunting prospect.

‘I would trade everything I have for this time with you, Sara, money, magic, everything. Eternity is worthless if I have to live without you.’ He whispered when he thought I was asleep, curling his body around me.

We slept through most of the morning, then stayed in bed a little longer, cuddling beneath fluffy blankets while Leszek told me stories from old Gdansk, and I reciprocated with outrageous tales from the Emergency Department. It felt like the outside world didn’t exist. It was only my Wolfie and I cuddling together. The sun illuminated the bedroom and Leszek’s auburn hair with a soft glow, making my man look like the King of Autumn. If I remembered the old legends about Leshy correctly, it was even one of his titles. Now, I could see how accurate it was.

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