“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 feelbetter 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.