Chapter 90
Volik
Ipass a cup of tea to Nix, and she cradles it in her palms.
There is still so much to tell her. About everything. But she needs a break.
“Thank you.” She lifts the mug, and I stare at her mouth as she carefully takes a sip without clinking her fangs against the ceramic. “Would you like some?”
Wanting to comfort her as much as possible, I take the mug and swallow some of the bland drink.
I hold it back out to her. “You just want to watch me pee.”
Nix huffs out a laugh, and I exhale.
I watch her as she takes another sip, wondering what’s going through her mind. But when she lowers the tea to the counter and puts her hands on her hips, I get the feeling that maybe I don’t want to know.
“Volik.” She holds my gaze. “I want you to teach me how to fight.”
My brain… takes a second.
Then I shake my head. “Nyet.”
She continues to stare into my eyes. And I know she’s calculating. Thinking of the best way to convince me.
So I shake my head again. “My mate does not need to fight. I will fight for both of us.”
“Nyet.” I have to resist a smile at her mimicking tone. “You were literally just telling me that I needed this information in case we were separated. But what good is information if I’m dead?”
A growl builds in my chest. And I see her start to tip her head in an automatic response, but she catches herself.
“You will not die.”
She rolls her beautiful black eyes at me. “Memento mori. I know some Latin too.”
My growl switches to a purr. “I think I like hearing you speak in the old language.”
Her pretty pink tongue licks across the tip of her fang. “I’ll let you teach me more Latin if you also teach me self-defense.” She emphasizes the phrase, making it into something I cannot deny.
I tip my head back and exhale. “I do not like this, Nixy.”
Warm palms press against my stomach. “I know.”
When I tip my head back down, I catch her smile. “You are tricky.”
She lifts a shoulder. “I know.”
“You are not tired?”
Nix shakes her head. “Nyet.”
“You want to start right now?”
She grins. “Da.”
I sigh, then I take her hand. “I will teach you self-defense. But if you injure yourself, I will not be pleased.”