Chapter Nineteen
They packed Vasili’s home up quickly with her helping as much as she could. The small shipping container they loaded up with his belongings was now stored deep in a dry mountain cavern. He assured her only another drakon could find it, and they would most likely leave it alone, not wanting to start a fight with another of their kind. He was more concerned about not leaving anything that might lead the Knights, or whoever might come sniffing around, back to him.
Under cover of darkness, they flew back to Moscow. Seeing him shift to his dragon form without it being an emergency situation was a wondrous experience. The sheer majesty of him left her breathless.
He flew low, under the radar. She worried about people seeing them, but he shrugged off her concerns, telling her that anyone who might see his shadow would never believe their eyes anyway.
This time, she enjoyed the flight. It was glorious to soar quickly and silently above the world, secure in the knowledge she was totally safe in the grasp of her drakon’s claws. Vasili continually checked on her and blew warm air around her, keeping her nice and toasty on the journey. The only thing she carried was her bag and his knapsack with his identification, money, a change of clothes, and the two gemstones.
He dropped the gold nugget from his pack into a crevice high atop the mountain before they left, explaining it had once been a statue made to harm a drakon. When she asked him why he didn’t vaporize it, he shrugged and told her it was unnecessary. Her drakon didn’t like to destroy things unless forced to.
They covered a lot of ground quickly and reached a small community an hour outside the city before the sun rose. It was easy to hitch a ride to Moscow from there on a local bus.
Abigail never thought she’d be back in Moscow again, yet here she was striding through the streets. She wasn’t too worried, not with Vasili beside her. There were likely still some of Bruno’s men out there, possibly even other Knights, but she had a drakon by her side, ready to protect her if need be. And she was more than ready to protect him if necessary. But she kept that little detail to herself, knowing it would make her man snarly if he thought for one second she’d put herself in danger for him.
She was wearing new clothing he’d gotten her from a town not too far from his home. It was only jeans and a sweater, but it fit her. She had a new coat, too, and a warm hat and gloves. She still found it cold, but she didn’t mind the chill as much as she had. She wasn’t sure if she was acclimating or if it had something to do with her new drakon tattoo. Neither of them really knew what to expect from the mark, but he was keeping a close eye on her.
Time was of the essence if they wanted to find and destroy the other drakon traps. Neither she nor Vasili could allow another drakon to fall victim to one. They might not be as lucky.
They had to get to any of the cursed jewelry before word got out that Bruno was dead. “Do you feel anything?” Vasili asked.
She glanced up at him, but he was busy scanning the street. “No.” They’d had breakfast but had been walking the entire morning. “Maybe there’s nothing to find.”
Vasili did look down at her then. The intensity of his gaze made her blood warm. This man truly was hers. It was going to take her quite some time to come to grips with that.
“There is more to find. At least a piece or two. Maybe more in St. Petersburg. Bruno had no reason to lie, and he was the type of man to hedge his bets.”
She knew he was right, but she was getting tired of simply wandering around the streets. They had no idea how many members of Bruno’s private army might be searching for their boss, or for them.
She was just about to suggest they break for lunch when her senses began to hum. Well, more than usual. Since she’d met Vasili, they were continually at a low-level buzz. Having the two gemstones with them was simply adding to the buzz.
She stopped and circled slowly. “There.” She pointed toward a more upscale antique shop.
“Let’s go.” With his arm around her, he guided her toward the shop. He pulled the door open and waited for her to walk in ahead of him. He quickly followed, hovering protectively behind her.
She should be annoyed by his inability to leave her alone for one second, but honestly, after everything she’d been through, she more than welcomed his large presence. He made her feel safe. In spite of her nervousness, she was in total control and in no fear of having a panic attack. He kept them at bay.
The proprietor was a middle-aged woman with light hair and a big smile. She greeted them in Russia. Abigail smiled and asked, “Do you speak English?”
“Ah, yes. Welcome. You look for something special?” She glanced nervously at Vasili and turned her attention back to Abigail.
She shook her head. “No. We saw your lovely shop and decided to come and browse.”
The woman nodded. “Look, please. If you need help, let me know.” She hurried back behind the counter.
“You look around,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m going to stay with her to make certain she doesn’t call anyone.”
That was an excellent idea. She nodded and began to wander. The hum in her blood drew her to a dark corner in the back. She shoved several boxes aside and found a trunk. It wasn’t easy to ignore the beautiful vintage fabrics piled on top, but she dug deep until she was able to wrap her fingers around a box.
Exhaling slowly, she pulled it out. Not bothering to replace anything, she hurried to the counter. The shop keeper was watching Vasili intently. She was standing beside a phone but made no move to use it. Abigail wasn’t sure if that was because she wasn’t involved with Bruno or because she was too afraid of Vasili. She figured it was more the later. The problem would be keeping her from contacting Bruno’s minions.
“Did you find something?” he asked.
She nodded and brought the box closer to him. He straightened and glared at the box, obviously feeling the effects of whatever was inside. She opened it and stared down at another bracelet, identical to the first one she’d found.
She closed the lid and turned to the woman. “How much?”
Voice shaking, she named a price. Vasili reached into his pocket and drew out the right amount and set it on the counter.
Abigail tucked the box into her bag. On impulse, she asked the woman, “Who sold you this piece?”
The woman began to truly tremble. “I do no remember.” Her voice was shaky and her accent pronounced. She looked down at the floor. “It was some time ago.”
“Anton Bruno is dead.” Vasili’s blunt statement made the woman jerk back. Something like hope began to shine in her eyes.
“Truly?”
Abigail nodded. “Yes.”
The proprietor gripped the edge of the countertop and then straightened. “I call number he gave me.” She grabbed the phone and dialed, but there was no connection. Abigail assumed Bruno had had his phone with him when Vasili had taken care of him.
The woman began babbling in Russian so fast that Abigail couldn’t understand any of it. Vasili listened and nodded occasionally before answering the woman. She seemed relieved when he turned to leave. “Let’s go,” he inclined his head toward the door.
She managed to hold on to her questions until they were outside. “Well?” she demanded.
“Apparently, Bruno brought the piece to her shop and told her to hide it. She was to say nothing to anyone and was to contact him as soon as someone purchased the piece. If she didn’t, her children and husband would be killed.”
“That poor woman.” She understood the lengths someone would go to in order to protect their family. “Bruno truly was a bastard.”
“Yes, but a secretive one. She was to get the buyer’s name and address and contact him. She said he might also have men watching the store.”
Abigail started to look around but stopped. The last thing she wanted to do was attract attention. “Do you think someone is watching?”
Vasili raised his head and slowly scanned. He could see and hear more than she could, even with her newly enhanced senses. “No. I think Bruno called in all or most of his men to help him attack us. I believe the only ones left in the city know little about his true activities.”
“Good.” That was something in their favor. “Do you want to see the bracelet?”
“No.” He took her hand and began walking away. “Hold on to it until we get the rest.”
“I need to sit and have something to eat first.” They’d been walking all morning, and she was getting tired. “Is there any other way to do this besides on foot? Maybe we could rent a car.”
He drew her close and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry. I am used to being able to go indefinitely. I just want all these damn charmed items gone before some other drakon stumbles across one.”
She felt guilty for even suggesting they should stop. Yes, she was hungry and her feet hurt, but that was a far cry from a drakon being captured by the Knights. “You’re right. Let’s keep going.”
He shook his head. “No, I will take care of you better.” He guided her over a couple of streets before he pointed out a family restaurant. “We will rest, and I will make some calls. You are right. We can drive around the city, and with the proper guide, our task will go faster.”
…
Vasili watched Abigail closely. She’d eaten more than usual. He wondered if it had something to do with her new tattoo or if she was just truly hungry. Either way, her face was no longer as pale as it had been. He really needed to keep a better eye on her. The fact she’d even mentioned stopping meant she’d already been pushed to her limit.
“That was excellent.” She sipped a cup of coffee and looked over the pile of empty plates littering the table.
He’d taken advantage of their stop to fuel up. The waitress had been astounded by his order. “It was. Are you ready to go? Our ride will be here soon.”
“Gotta hit the ladies’ room.” She rose, and he quickly followed, unwilling to let her out of his sight for even a minute. He dropped enough cash on the table to pay for their meal and a healthy tip and followed her down the short hallway. She glanced at him but said nothing.
He ducked in the men’s room but kept an ear out for her. When they were done and standing outside the restaurant, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Here he comes.”
“Who did you call?” she asked as a car pulled up beside them.
Abigail hadn’t asked him when they were inside. They hadn’t talked much at all, unwilling to share secrets around others. She was as cautious as he was. That thought made him smile. His Abigail was very much like a drakon.
“Someone you know.” He opened the door when it stopped and ushered her inside.
“Father Petrov.” She leaned over the front seat and clasped the hand he offered. “It is so good to see you again.”
As soon as they were inside, the priest drove away. “It is good to see you, too, my child, but I wish you weren’t here. It is not safe.”
“What have you heard?” Vasili demanded.
He turned the corner and drove. “Word has leaked out that Bruno has been out of contact for some time. Some believe he is dead. Others think he is plotting something big.”
Father Petrov didn’t ask him to confirm or deny the allegations, but his old friend deserved to know. “Bruno is dead, as are all the men he brought with him.”
The priest muttered a prayer under his breath. “You are looking for antique shops?”
It was Abigail who answered him. “Thrift shops, antique shops, little out-of-the-way used shops.”
“What are you looking for? It would help if I had some idea.”
“We’re not sure,” Vasili answered. “We’ll know it when we see it. Just drive us past every shop you can think of.” The priest knew the city as well as or better than anyone else.
They drove around for an hour before Abigail straightened. “Stop.”
Father Petrov pulled the car over and waited. She swiveled her head around until her gaze landed on a tiny shop situated between a clothing store that had seen better days and a boarded-up building. “There.”
“Wait for us,” Vasili told him as he climbed out of the vehicle. Like before, it didn’t take her long to collect the item. This time, it was a pendant on a silver chain. The male proprietor didn’t seem to care. After some conversation, it was determined, the owner had died suddenly a few weeks ago and his grandson had taken over the business. They paid for their purchase and left.
They continued to drive and found one more necklace before calling it a day. The priest drove them back to the church. “What will you do now?” he asked.
“We must go to St. Petersburg, and then we will leave the country,” Vasili told him. They followed him inside the church and down to the little room where they’d first spent time together. The table had been replaced, but the chairs were still as rickety as ever.
“I wish you were leaving tonight. I do not like you here when there is so much unsettled,” Father Petrov told them. He wiped sweat from his brow. The priest suddenly looked older than ever.
Vasili walked over to him and put his hand on the priest’s shoulder. “You are not well, my friend.”
Father Petrov laughed. “I am old, Vasili.” It was the first time he’d ever said Vasili’s name. “I will be fine.”
“I can help you.” Behind him, Abigail gasped. She knew what he was offering. Other than her, it was the first time he’d ever considered giving his blood to a human.
Father Petrov shook his head. “God has a plan for me, and I’m fine with it. Besides, if I suddenly became younger or spryer, people would ask questions. No, I thank you, but I will not do this.”
“You truly are one in a million,” Vasili told him. “If you ever change your mind, contact me.”
“I do not fear death. We are old friends, he and I.” He rubbed his hands together. “Where will you spend the night? Do you need a place to go?”
As much as he trusted the priest, he was worried that Bruno’s men might find and torture him. “No. We’re fine. Thank you for all you’ve done.”
“Yes, thank you.” Abigail came forward and hugged the priest. He seemed nonplussed but awkwardly patted her back.
“You are welcome.” He gave them a shrewd look. “You will take care of one another, won’t you?”
“We will,” Vasili promised.
He cleared his throat. “I am a priest, if you are in need of one.” The not-so-subtle hint made Vasili smile.
“We appreciate the offer, but she would want her family with her.” Or maybe she wouldn’t. He turned to find her looking quite bemused. “Abigail?”
“I’d love for Father Petrov to marry us, but I’m not Catholic.”
The good priest waved his hand. “It does not matter to God,” he informed them. “I will be back.” He hurried out of the room, leaving them alone.
Vasili removed the bag from her shoulder and placed it on the table. “You truly wish to do this?”
She nervously chewed on her bottom lip. “Unless you don’t want to.”
“Of course I want to. I just thought you’d want your sister with you.” He brushed a lock of hair from her forehead before leaning down to kiss it.
She sighed and leaned into him, clutching his jacket in her hands. “They got married without me, and this feels right. I want Father Petrov to do it, even if it’s not entirely legal and we have to do it again later.”
He’d tried not to kiss her. This was not the place or the time. He feared if he started, he might not stop. But she seemed so lost, so forlorn. He pressed his lips to hers, tasting her, breathing in her familiar scent. “Whatever you want, my love.”
He kissed her then like he wanted, plunging his tongue into her mouth. He wanted to devour her. And she returned the embrace with the same sense of urgency, the same intensity. He roamed his hands over her back, pulling her more securely into the cradle of his body, pressing his swollen shaft against her stomach.
“Ahem.” They jerked apart at the throat clearing. Father Petrov stood in the doorway with a stern expression on his face but a twinkle in his eyes. “It seems we need to hurry this ceremony.”
Abigail’s face was red with embarrassment, but she laughed. “I’m sorry, Father, but I can’t resist him.”
He inclined his head slowly. “I knew it was all Vasili’s fault.”
Vasili could only smile at the banter. He caught Abigail’s hand in his and brought it to his lips. “Let us begin, Father.”
And there in the basement of the church with only Father Petrov presiding, Vasili married his Abigail.