Chapter 16
Gunnar didn’t knock when he reached Rina’s office, just shoved open the door and stepped inside, acting like he belonged, and he did. Audrey was his business, full stop.
Rina was behind her desk with her elbows on the surface, woven fingers cradling her chin. She smirked at his entrance, then sighed as the rich man shielded himself between the troll dusters, who advanced on Gunner with weapons out.
“Enough,>>” Rina said, rising to her impressive height. The trolls balked, looking to their master for guidance, who offered none in the moment. To her cousin, she ordered, “Send them out. This isn’t a conversation you need your little pets for.>>”
The man scoffed but didn’t fight the demand, and the trolls shoved by Gunnar on their way out. Rina sunk back into her seat, annoyance clear.
“You two’ve met then?>>”
“Not formally,>>” the man said with a sniff, crossing his arms with what Gunnar could only describe as a flourish.
Gunnar snorted. “Don’t need to get acquainted. I need it made perfectly clear Audrey isn’t for sale.>>”
Rina held up a hand before her cousin could protest. “Gunnar is one of my best hunters. Gunnar, this is Dimitri syn Koschei, the Deathless’s oldest son, and . . . what is it now? A duke in the Moscow Dominion?>>”
“Your cheek has never been the endearment you think it is, cousin,>>” Dimitri said, then gestured at Gunnar. “He claims the human girl in the market is his. Is this true?>>”
Rina hesitated; it was brief, barely noticeable, but Gunnar caught the spike of frustration in her scent. “I know you think the Dominion’s authority extends to wherever your boots fall, but this is my territory. An independent settlement outside your father’s jurisdiction.>>”
“A settlement which would never have gotten off the ground without his generous support,>>” Dimitri returned.
“I cleared my debts the first year, in case you’re not included in territory affairs.>>” Rina clunked a dirty boot down on her desktop, crossed her other ankle on top, ignoring how her cousin bristled. “And the rail line is more than paying for itself, profitable to all involved.>>”
“And this has what to do with our current conversation?>>” Dimitri asked.
“Not much, beyond the part about humans requiring a patron. I don’t peddle that here.>>” Rina said. Dimitri’s scent spike with triumph, but Rina continued before he could respond. “Which just means I don’t enforce it. Gunnar and Audrey came here as a pair.>>”
He wondered what she was playing at exactly, so he just shrugged and repeated himself. “She’s mine, told you that outside.>>”
“You expect me to believe this farce? Dominion rights aside, there’s nothing that prevents me from claiming a human who is without a proper keeper.>>”
“Nothing except me,>>” Gunnar said.
Rina sighed rather dramatically. “Look, cousin, you want to fight a vileblood for the human girl he considers his? I can’t stop you, but I’d really rather not have to explain to my aunt and uncle why I had to ship you home in a box. Let it go, Dimitri. The girl is spoken for, and it’s not just him. She’s part of Nizhny.>>”
Dimitri shook his head, nose turned up as he tsked again. “This is what you stake your reputation on? A human girl and a vileblood. You’re lucky that your economic value has increased, or you might find my father losing patience with your little endeavor.>>”
“If he does, he’ll let me know through official channels.>>” She leaned forward and shuffled her papers a bit. “Nothing here about this visit being more than a holiday for a bored politician. Speaking of, you’ll need to head home in the morning. I don’t have an open room at the station this week.>>”
A blatant lie, but in the end, Dimitri didn’t question it, striding stiff-backed from the room with that stick still six feet up his ass.
Rina shot Gunnar a wry smile once he’d left. “Family is such a joy, no?”
“Wouldn’t know. Is he going to be a problem?”
“He’s had eyes for Nizhny from the gate, but that’s another matter entirely. As for Audrey? Likely not, because despite his lineage, his father is the Undying. He doesn’t value heirs.” Rina chuckled but then sobered, giving Gunnar a thoughtful look. “You could save yourself future hassle and just make it official. Others might come from the Dominion and make asks after her, long as she stands unclaimed.”
Gunnar drew a deep inhale to make sure Rina wasn’t fucking with him. “You’re serious.”
“Before you get up in arms about it, it’s common practice under the Dominion’s umbrella. It’s their way of fulfilling their obligation to the Human Protection Accord, like ESC uses welfare and fosterage. Most of the wealthy Aperiens own humans in name but let them live their lives. Having a benefactor keeps them safe from unsavory circles. Those happen, of course, but . . .” Rina trailed off in a shrug, as if to say “what do you do.”
“You’re telling me what exactly? Brand her ass or something, make her my slave to protect her?”
Rina expression was bored now. “You really do like being difficult when it suits you. Most ownerships Dominion side are paperwork based on magical seals. The humans wear identifying jewelry for their house benefactor.” She put up her hands. “And I’m not telling you to do anything. I was simply making a suggestion. You’re the one barking ‘she’s mine’ like some sort of barbarian.”
“She is,” Gunnar snapped, then sighed. “She’s mine to protect, Rina. You know how we ended up here.”
“All the more reason it wouldn’t hurt for her to have an official benefactor,” Rina replied with a shrug, then a smirk. “Even if we are at the ass end of nowhere.”
“No, I . . .” He rubbed his face. “I can’t do that to her. Bad enough she’s stuck depending on me, stuck with me around at all. I’m not going to take away her having a choice in the matter.” Logical or not, another level of protection or not, he wouldn’t force her to be his.
Rina watched him, almost like she had something more to say on the matter, but then shrugged again. “You know her better than any of us.”
“Maybe,” Gunnar offered, then grunted. “Thanks for . . .”
“Not letting him take Audrey? Please, I should thank you. I haven’t had a good fight with that asshole in almost a year. He swings by every few months, always with a new way Nizhny would be better off if he was involved.” She stood, stretching until her back cracked in a few places. “I’ve had enough of this office for today.”
Gunnar nodded, wanting to follow and make sure Dimitri didn’t get any ideas, and to let E know what was going on. And to get Audrey the hells out of the market until the train left tomorrow morning.
When he opened the door, unfamiliar scents smacked him hard in the face.
Two men waited outside, talking in low tones, but Gunnar already knew they were vilebloods, both of them, black eyes watching him as the beast in his blood snarled.
“It’s true then,” one said. “This is a haven for vilebloods?”