Chapter 23 Take Me with You
Take Me with You
Take me with you.
River’s offer hung in the air for a long moment. She could hear her heart beating in her chest, feel each thundering beat resonating through her.
“Besides, what if you get hurt?” The words lodged themselves in her throat as she recalled that horrible day Nikhail had shown up at her hospital, on the brink of death. “I’m a doctor, remember? I could help.”
It was what she’d trained for.
“Say something, Nik,” she breathed after several moments had passed in silence.
“You want to come with me,” he said, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.
It shouldn’t have been so surprising. He’d done the same for her, after all. It was her turn to return the favor.
“Yes. This is a relationship, right?” She waited for him to dip his head before she continued.
“I know we just had our first date, but I think we can both agree we’re doing things in a rather unorthodox fashion.
If you want me there—if it’ll make you feel better if I come—then I’ll do it.
Besides, if you leave me here, I’ll just worry about you. ”
Whatever the Chancellor had ordered him to do sounded serious. Dangerous, even. Nikhail was good at his job, but he wasn’t infallible.
“You’d worry about me?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “I’ve been worrying about you for far longer than I probably should’ve.”
Certainly, far longer than was appropriate. Even before the incident that had landed him in her hospital, where she’d learned about the scars on his chest, she’d worried about him.
“You have to promise to stay in the safe house when I’m gone,” Nikhail said seriously. “If you get hurt because I let you come, Ryker will never forgive me.”
That wouldn’t be a problem. River knew her limitations. She wasn’t a trained fighter, and other than the self-defence classes she’d taken with Ember, River had never engaged in physical combat.
That, combined with the ever-present emptiness inside her, made it easy for River to say, “I promise. I’ll be good.”
“Oh, gods.” Placing one hand over her mouth, River gripped her stomach with the other.
The moment Nadya, the vampire who had shadowed them from Golden City to the Southern Region, released her arm, River stumbled away. The method of transportation, which could be done by certain vampires who were blessed by Isvana, had never been River’s favorite.
Clutching the cool metal of a streetlamp, River drew in deep, gasping breaths of humid Southern Region air. With each passing moment, she felt more like herself.
A warm hand landed on her back, rubbing in small, soothing circles. “Sorry, Princess,” Nikhail said softly. “I know that shadowing long distances is hard on some people.”
But not him, apparently. River glanced over her shoulder at Nikhail, who appeared completely composed. Not even a hair was out of place, and dressed in his suit, he was as immaculate as ever.
Honestly, if he were anyone else, River would begrudge him for being so unaffected by their method of travel.
“I’ll be okay in a minute,” she mumbled when she could manage to speak without bile rising in her throat. “It was just a lot.”
She’d traveled in this manner before, but the furthest she’d ever gone was when Brynleigh shadowed her from Golden City to Lakewater. This was another matter entirely. They’d covered twice the distance in nearly the same amount of time.
“Can you stand?” Nikhail asked.
River ran a mental check over her body. “Yes, I think so.”
Nikhail curled his fingers around her elbow, and he helped her straighten. Rather than move away, he drew her against his side. His warmth seeped into her, helping her feel more grounded.
“Thank you, Nadya,” he said, addressing the vampire who was still standing nearby. “I appreciate you coming so quickly.”
Nadya had arrived at the office a few minutes after Nikhail sent the request for transport. Due to the immediacy of the Chancellor’s request, they hadn’t had any time to go anywhere else. River had texted Ryker, letting him know where she was going, and Nikhail had contacted Atlas, doing the same.
And now, they were here.
“Of course.” Nadya brushed her red curls over her shoulders. “It’s not a problem at all. Do you need anything else?”
“No, thank you,” Nikhail said.
Nadya dipped her chin, a hint of fang peeking out, and lifted her right hand. Black shadows poured from her outstretched fingers, seeming to absorb what little light remained in the night. The wisps swirled around her like dark ribbons.
“Have a good night,” the vampire said as shadows wrapped around her, swallowing her whole. One moment, she was there. The next, the space was vacant, as though she’d never been there.
Only then did River look around and truly take in their surroundings.
Nadya had dropped them off in front of a high-rise apartment complex. Nikhail led River to the middle building, which was nondescript and ordinary. It wasn’t run down, but neither was it extraordinarily posh. It could’ve been anywhere in the Republic of Balance.
The humid air tickled her nostrils, despite the winter months. The moon’s soft glow lit their path. Nocturnal insects performed their nightly chorus.
The interior of the apartment building was similar to the outside. Well-constructed, but not ostentatious. Soft music played from hidden speakers nestled in the ceiling. The chandelier was modest, the foyer well-lit. It was welcoming.
Nikhail seemed to know where they were going, acknowledging the doorman before leading her to the elevators.
“I’ve never been to a safe house,” River mused after the silver doors had closed behind them.
“They’re not very special, but they come equipped with everything we need. Clothes, chargers, etc. Usually, they have pantries stocked with dried goods. If we’re here for long, we’ll get some groceries delivered, too.”
“Will we?”
Nikhail glanced at her. “Hmm?”
“Be here for a few days.”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I hope not, because I want to complete this task as quickly as possible. But I suppose it’s possible.”
It probably should’ve bothered River, being in another region without a clear itinerary or plan, but it didn’t. She was… happy. Light, even. The clouds were a thin veneer, and she thought that if she concentrated hard enough, she could see a few glistening stars.
It was all because of the air fae beside her. Nothing seemed as difficult with Nikhail by her side.
River’s steps were light as they exited the elevator on the fifth floor. Nikhail directed her to the third door down the hall, where he typed a code into the electronic keypad. The lock released with a soft click.
Even the emptiness inside River couldn’t wipe away her happiness.
Nikhail opened the door and instructed River to stay back so he could sweep the space.
Once he decided it was safe, he called for her to enter.
Shutting the door behind her, she took in the new space.
Nikhail must’ve stepped into the other room because she didn’t see him.
The safe house was small, but not tiny, and like the rest of the building, there was nothing special about it.
Tertia would hate this, River thought, her smile widening.
That just made it even better.
River toured the small kitchen and attached living room. She was running her hand down the back of the black two-seater couch when the bedroom door opened.
Nikhail had changed. Gone was his suit, and in its place was a black long-sleeved shirt and military pants. The outfit screamed “soldier,” and it made Nikhail look even more imposing than before.
Imposing and incredibly handsome.
Gods above. Heat coiled below River’s navel, and a sigh eased out of her. This air fae was so gods-damned attractive, it was practically impossible to look away from him.
He closed the space between them, and his lips drifted over hers.
“Make yourself at home, Princess. I hope I won’t be gone long, but I don’t know for certain.”
“Will you be alone?” She didn’t like the idea of Nikhail going into a potentially dangerous situation without any backup, even though she knew he was powerful.
“No. I’m meeting a local team nearby.” Nikhail clutched her shoulders, and he waited until she looked at him before he continued. “Don’t open the door for anyone, okay?”
There was a solemnity in his voice that River had rarely heard before, a seriousness that had her dipping her chin.
“Got it.” She ticked off her fingers. “Stay here. Don’t talk to anyone. Wait for you.”
The corner of his lips kicked up. “Good girl.”
She followed the air fae to the hall closet, which housed a large, black safe. Nikhail crouched, putting in a code. The safe beeped three times before opening.
And River’s jaw fell open. She’d seen a safe before, of course, but never one like this. Guns, big and small, were housed alongside stacks of money and a dozen sheathed knives.
It was nothing short of an arsenal.
The safe house was looking less like an apartment with every passing second.
Nikhail pulled out half a dozen weapons, each seeming larger and more intimidating than the last. He moved with ease, checking each weapon before attaching it to his body.
By the time he stood, he was a walking armory. He checked each of his weapons once more before glancing at his watch and frowning.
“I have to go.”
He made no effort to move towards the door, though.
“I know.”
His gaze met hers, and she could see him warring with himself. “I can’t… they’re waiting for me.”
“Go.”
Nikhail inhaled deeply, moving towards the door. He paused, his hand on the knob, and looked at her over his shoulder. “I’m glad you came, River.”
The corner of her lips twitched up. “Me, too.”
His fingers twitched. A heartbeat later, he released the doorknob and spun around.
Nikhail strode towards her, his steps containing a newfound sense of urgency. He cupped the back of her neck with one hand and used the other to brace himself against the wall.
River barely inhaled before Nikhail’s lips crashed down on hers. This kiss was deep. Full of passion. As if he was breathing her in, memorizing the way she felt, knowing her.
It was everything she wanted….
And it was over far too soon.
Nikhail pulled back, his chest heaving, and swept his amber eyes over hers.
Panting, River pressed her hands against the wall.
Trying to ground herself after that world-altering kiss.
It pleased River to see that she wasn’t the only one affected—the bulge in Nikhail’s pants spoke to exactly how much he wanted this. Wanted her.
“I couldn’t let our first date end without a proper kiss goodbye,” he said, breathlessly.
Then, as if he hadn’t just kissed her like she was the cure to all life’s problems, Nikhail slipped out the door. The lock engaged, and the sound echoed through the apartment.
River sank to the ground and traced her still-buzzing lips. “Best first date ever.”