Chapter 24
Two days later, Audrey finished the paperwork. They’d accompanied E and Rina to seal the deal between Nizhny and the leshy, literally, that morning. As far as Gunnar could tell, everything went off without a hitch. Rina called an all hands for the same evening. Her mood seemed improved, less stiff toward him and Audrey.
Such meetings were a normal thing, once a month, to update everyone on news outside Nizhny, hear any grievances, and a share a meal as a community. Attendance wasn’t optional, much to Gunnar’s chagrin. He saw Audrey off to help Aster prep, then spent the afternoon hunting to put himself into a mood better equipped to handle the looming social demands.
It sleeted all morning, sky dark and dismal. Fitting, he decided with a growl.
As he dumped a dead vodyanoy on their deck, Gunnar wondered why he was more bothered than usual about the upcoming meeting. Not like he couldn’t hide in the back; that’s what E always did.
Been a long week and still not train day, he reminded himself as he went inside to clean up. He threw on some fresh clothes and dry furs and headed down to the station.
Maybe it was the vilebloods. They’d be here for another two days at least, and he hadn’t found a reason to kick them out. Today they’d meet everyone, including all the Clan kids. Gunnar didn’t see either of them out to hurt children. Really, they’d only shown interest in surviving so far, painful as it was to relate.
He shoved his hands deep in his coat pockets.
Maybe he’d just had enough of Audrey being in danger to last himself a fucking lifetime. Tonight, she’d meet the vilebloods.
It wasn’t for lack of trying on her part, but Rina’d kept them busy with Gunnar, running them through the ropes. They spent a good deal of their off time at the brothel, but no signs of abusing their welcome. According to Aster, they remained polite over meals and drank little, maybe a beer, but never the Clan mead. They met their trial quota a few days in, seemed to lie low while they waited for Rina’s verdict, which they knew hinged on Gunnar’s approval.
Truth was, Mateo and Tomas were outmatched by just about everything in the settlement, and they had the good sense to recognize it. Aster was arguably a weak link considering her limited and specific capabilities as a cornflower wraith, but she was still a full-bloodied Aperien.
But Audrey was just a human girl, exactly the thing most at risk from vilebloods.
They’d be idiots to try anything with Audrey in front of anyone. They’d be stupid to try anything period if they valued their chances in Nizhny. And they really, really seemed motivated to stay.
Gunnar sighed.
Once Audrey met them, they’d become another cause for her to champion. Hells, they already were. She’d make them cookies. Smile at them, welcome them, and encourage him and Rina to let them stay because she believed they deserved the opportunity.
Then he let out a low chuckle at his churning annoyance, because it wasn’t at Audrey, aside from the fact she’d walk into danger head held high if she thought she could do some damn good.
He was annoyed at himself because he was jealous.
Jealous these two men might take part of her attention. Jealous at the prospect that she’d want to take care of them like she had him. She’d dedicated her entire damn life to changing the fucking Vilestars Accord; that kind of devotion didn’t just go away. Gunnar scratched at his chest, scowling as he approached the station.
Unless something drastic happened tonight, the little fuckers would stay, because lying to get them kicked out, well. Audrey would be furious with him. And having her upset at him, truly upset . . . He didn’t much care for it.
He cracked his neck, exhaled, because what mattered most was Audrey being safe, secondary only to her being happy.
The vileblood weren’t a direct threat to her as far as he could tell, and after meeting them tonight, she’d know it.
“Fuck,” he grumbled. There really wasn’t shit to do about it except kill them both if anything changed.
Silver-lining then, he thought with an attempt to grin, but it was more a grimace.
Probably too late to gut them and dump the bodies in the swamp.
He fucking hated train days.
When Gunnar reached the station, the wolves were out of sight, all tucked away in their dens to escape the weather, the sleet coming down harder now. Only Yuri and his mate came inside for the all hands, or else the entire tavern would smell like wet dog for weeks. He was almost late, always avoiding the crowded confines as long as possible. He scanned for Audrey as soon as he stepped inside, found her milling around with Aster behind the bar.
The Clan, as per normal, occupied the back half of the room, the younger ones running in circles around their elders. He forgot sometimes how damn many berserkers made up Nizhny’s population. He had little reason to interact with the Clan beyond gatherings like this one.
The harpy lingered in the rafters; he smelled her but didn’t see her. E sat alone at the bar’s furthest end, Innocence and Virtue talking quietly at a nearby table with Zhadan and Lyubava, the latter looking extremely round. Gunnar wondered just how many baby chuchunas they’d be dealing with in a few weeks. He had to step over Yuri and Liral to get inside, damn furry, giant doormats who didn’t bother looking up from their naps. Rina wasn’t there yet.
The vileblood were though, crowded up to the bar as far away from E as possible. Gunnar grimaced again; them being here for the all hands about settled shit, because Rina’d been prodding him for updates and he’d had nothing to offer but “fine.”
Then Audrey caught his eye and waved, urging him to come sit with them.
“Fuck,” he muttered again but made his way over.
Audrey was all glowing smiles, pride in her sunny scent. “I finally met Mateo and Tomas. They’re very grateful for all your help, you know.”
Yeah, this shit was a done deal. “Just work,” Gunnar grunted, nodding to the pair.
Audrey rolled her eyes at him but kept right on smiling. “Drinks?”
They all three said yes, and she scooted off, calling back, “On the house,” as she went, in case Tomas and Mateo didn’t know.
They both watched her leave, Gunnar’s back to her now, and he stared right at them until they realized he was watching. Tomas looked away, but Mateo just grinned at Gunnar.
“Never thought I’d find a human woman all the way out here.” Mateo rubbed his chin, all scruff like he was working up to a beard. They’d both cleaned up, making it easier to read their emotional scents without all the caked-on dirt.
Mateo’s interest in Audrey? Way too much for his liking. Gunnar didn’t hide his displeasure, frowning as his gaze bounced back over Gunnar’s shoulder, undoubtably in Audrey’s direction.
“She’s a pretty thing.”
“She’s not for either of you, that’s for fucking sure,” Gunnar bit out.
Tomas glanced up with wide eyes, then to his brother, and Mateo finally gave Gunnar his full attention as he leaned his elbows on the bar. “That so?”
“Yeah,” Gunnar said. In for a penny, in for a pound. “It is.”
“I heard something about that this afternoon when we were getting the rundown on train day tomorrow. That if anyone came asking about buying her, she’s spoken for. That’s you then?”
Gunnar wondered if murder was a scent he could radiate.
“Makes sense, protecting her and all.” Mateo leaned in and inhaled, then shook his head. “But you’re not fucking her.” At Gunnar’s snarl, Mateo held up his hands. “Hey, I’m just trying to get the lay of the land. Not looking to step on anybody’s toes, but there are protections against knocking up humans, you know.”
Gunnar leaned in. “The lay of the damn land is you keep the hells away from her, because I can tell you right now, she won’t be fucking either one of you.”
Mateo and Tomas’s gazes both flicked behind him. Gunnar smelled Audrey’s anger and embarrassment the second before she slapped three mugs on the bar top between them.
Shit. He canted his head at her, her cheeks blotched red and her hazel eyes daggers. She crossed her arms, looking at each of them before she bit out, “Who I sleep with is no one’s business but my own.”
Tomas wouldn’t even make eye contact with her. Mateo played it humble even though Gunnar caught whiffs of satisfaction and arrogance on his scent. Whether he’d baited Gunnar into Audrey hearing or not, the asshole clearly didn’t mind the results.
“Sorry, no offense intended,” Mateo offered, clearing his throat. “Thanks for the drink.”
Audrey’s gaze bored into the back of Gunnar’s head, but hells if he’d show any belly around these two. She huffed and left.
Gunnar took his mead and went to find an empty table as far away from everyone as possible. Maybe there was time to tell Rina he’d changed his mind, and this shit wasn’t fucking fine at all, but Nizhny’s fearless leader called the meeting to order as soon as she entered the tavern.
He nursed his drink while Rina filled everyone in on the accord between Nizhny and the leshy. She gave Audrey credit without cutting herself down or belittling Audrey’s efforts, and the entire gathering lauded the decision. He caught Audrey blushing at the praise, along with a meaningful look from Rina reminding him to keep towing the line
She officially welcomed Mateo and Tomas to the settlement, the next half hour spent on introductions and welcomes from the community. Gunnar sensed hesitance from most quarters, the same as he’d received upon his arrival. They wouldn’t have Audrey to buffer their presence like he did.
Good.
After Rina finished, everyone settled in to eat. Gunnar grinned behind his mug when Mateo tried to talk to Audrey again and she gave him the cold shoulder. He’d enjoy it for now, even though his reckoning was no doubt coming.
With the meal done, the tavern emptied. Gunnar worked his way over to the bar again, giving E a nod and leaving three stools between them. When Audrey came close enough to hear him, he said, “Hey, you ready?”
She walked right by, not even looking at him when she said, “No.”
E chuckled from downwind, and when Gunnar glared at him, he held up his hands, then headed off down the halls to his smithy and private rooms.
And that was how Gunnar closed out the tavern with an empty mug while Audrey helped Aster do every little thing she didn’t need help with until the cornflower wraith shooed her off.
“Ready now?” he asked as she took off her apron and stepped from behind the bar.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Audrey snipped as she walked by. He followed, because he’d walk home with her if she liked it or not. Night had already settled, the days short this time of year.
She ignored him while she put on her coat, hat, and gloves and didn’t hold the door for him as she slipped out into the cold, her cheeks red before she hit the chilled air. She walked fast, much faster than normal, so Gunnar threw on his coat and followed just far enough so she could pretend he wasn’t with her.
He gave her about half the walk home before he called out, “You half as mad as Rina was?”
Her shoulders tensed, and she stopped walking. He could tell she had her hands in tight little fists inside her mittens.
“All things considered, probably only a quarter as mad,” she mumbled through her scarf. When he chuckled, she started off again, but at a slightly less aggressive pace. “That doesn’t mean I’m not mad.”
“Alright.”
Audrey huffed. “Do you even care?”
Gunnar considered how to answer for a few seconds, then offered, “That you’re mad at me, yeah, but I’m not sorry for putting them in their place.”
“Which is not your place.”
“How you figure that one?”
She stopped walking again, hands on her hips as she glared at him—ridiculous with how short she was compared to him. All he could see were her angry eyes between the scarf and the hat.
“Shotgun and shovel talk, really? What gives you the right?”
“I’m not sure what shotguns or shovels have to do with this, but my job is to protect you.” He folded his arms, glaring right back. “I don’t trust them, less with you than anyone.”
“Why? Because I’m human?”
“For starters.”
“Jonathan.”
“They want to get you on your back.”
What he could see of her cheeks went bright red again. “That’s . . . No, they were just talking to me before you started threatening them.”
She was beautiful, perfect. Innocent. Of course a vileblood would want to claim her. There was a part of him, deep down, that he kept caged, which wanted the same—exactly why he never let that want surface. And he damn well knew better. Even if he wasn’t a risk to her—any magical protections from vileblood? They’d need to be damn fucking powerful to be one hundred percent safe—she wasn’t for a man like any of them.
But all he said was, “I smelled the want coming from Mateo.”
“What’s next then? Barking out that I’m yours again just because they look at me or talk to me?”
“If that’s what it takes, sure.”
“That’s not fair,” she snapped. “You’re . . . you can’t act like that.”
“Why the fuck not?” Now he was getting pissed. “You almost died because you got me out of that cell. The fuck if I’m letting anything happen to you. I don’t trust them. Yeah, they’re not lying, but a week isn’t enough time to know shit about anyone. If I need to scare them off to keep you safe, I’ll do it every fucking time.”
She threw up her arms. “And I’m just supposed to what? Hide in your house until you give me permission to speak to anyone?”
He frowned down at her; why was she twisting this into something else entirely? Last time they talked, she didn’t want to move.
“It’s our house, but I told you, we’ll get you settled somewhere else soon.” Then he sneered when he added, “If you hadn’t given away all that zmei meat and bones to help someone else, you could’ve already been in your own place.”
And just like that, all the anger washed out of her.
“No, I don’t . . .” She sighed. “Just . . . Never mind.” Another deep breath and a shaky exhale, then she motioned north toward their homestead. “It’s been a weird week. I don’t want to fight with you. Let’s just go home.”
“Didn’t mean to start a fight,” he offered into the quiet night around them, between them. He hated her upset. “You always think of the good first. Doesn’t always work out like that way.”
“I’m not na?ve.”
“No, you’re not that.” He rubbed his forehead. “Promise me you’ll be careful around them, that’s all, and I’ll drop it.”
“Are you really worried, or is this about something else?” She sounded tired when she asked, almost defeated.
He thought about the sting of jealously he’d felt earlier, seeing her talking to them, smiling at them, but that wasn’t her problem. “Only been a week. Better to be cautious until we really know them.”
Another long pause. He almost asked if she heard him before she quietly said, “Okay, Jonathan. Whatever you say.”
“You’ll be careful then?” He needed to hear her say it.
“Yes, if that’s what you want.”
For some reason, it didn’t feel like a win.