Afanasiv knew they were.That is one of Lilith’s most lethal teams right there. They are considered elite even in the underworld. If any other demon comes upon one, they step aside for them instantly. If they don’t, the elite will kill them without a second thought. They are venomous. Behind all those teeth is a long tongue. It looks like a snake when it unfolds and it drips venom. It’s spotted purple and will strike just as if it were a snake. Their bite is poisonous. Their claws are. Even their horns are, if they gore you.
Lovely,Petru said.How do you kill them?
Under their arms, in the armpit, and if they open their mouth to use their tongue, you can fire into the back of their throat. The eyes. If you notice, they wear protective eye gear. It’s for a reason. They have body armor, so it is pretty difficult anywhere else, but their eyes are very vulnerable if you can strip away the eye gear. Their eyes bulge in the sunlight. Or any light if you shine it directly at them. The protective shield over the lens of their eyes doesn’t help them much,Afanasiv explained.
Vasilisa leaned toward Stepan, her gaze going toward the door as if expecting Lada and Polina to appear at any moment. She lowered her voice. “I want to apologize personally for the way Lada was treated. She’s wonderful, absolutely wonderful, and I would consider it a privilege to have her as a family member.”
Her voice rang with honesty. With sincerity. Why? Because every single word she said was the absolute truth.
Stepan placed his hand over his heart. “Thank you for that, Vasilisa. I appreciate you coming here to tell us this.”
“I think of Lada as a friend. I don’t want to lose her friendship. I also wanted her to meet Skyler. When I was a little girl, Polina would always tell me it was my lady friends who would be important to me when I grew up. I’m finding she is right.”
Again, Stepan beamed. “Polina still teaches the young ladies. Some listen, some don’t.”
This thing under my skin feels as if it has a thousand feet, Siv. I want to tear it out.
Patience. I’m going after it in a minute.
Vasilisa had once more covered the tiny creature with her fingertips and then scratched at it. Barnabas turned his attention to her, frowning, and the little dot subsided. Afanasiv was right up against it and felt the energy pushed in the direction of the creature. The mage was communicating with it, giving it orders.
“But what of your husband?” Barnabas asked Skyler. “Where does he fit into your women’s circle? Do you rely on him?”
Skyler sent the mage a beautiful smile. “My husband always comes first in everything I say or do, but I always enjoy my female friends. It gives me a different perspective when I talk to them. Also, they share so many viewpoints on how to manage things I didn’t know how to do. They give me advice, I guess, is what I’m trying to say.”
Barnabas steepled his fingers, his strange eyes going glittery as they rested on Skyler. “You look very young to be married.”
“I get that quite a bit,” Skyler admitted with a small shrug of her shoulders.
Polina and Lada entered the room, Polina with a wide, welcoming smile on her face and Lada looking very subdued. Vasilisa rose, immediately going to Lada and Polina, hugging them warmly and introducing Skyler. Polina stiffened just the slightest bit, but held on to her smile, tossing a quick look at Barnabas, who gave her a stern flick of his fingers toward her kitchen.
Once they were seated, Polina ordered tea and scones for her visitors, and the maid brought them in immediately. Polina waved her out and poured the tea herself, serving her visitors first, then Barnabas and Stepan, along with Vovo and Artyom.
“I’ve never been able to make scones,” Skyler said. “Is this your own recipe?” she asked Polina.
“Indeed.” Polina inclined her head, watching Skyler closely.
Vasilisa took a sip of tea, breaking down the compound quickly to test for drugs.The tea is just tea, Skyler.
Skyler took a sip of the tea. “Black currant. This is delicious.” She tested a small bite of the scone.The scone has nothing wrong with it and does taste delicious.
“This is amazing. Vasilisa, seriously, I’ve never tasted a scone like this before.” Skyler switched her gaze to Polina. “My mother lives in Paris, and when I visit with her, we often go to little cafés for our alone time. We like to sit and people-watch while we’re having tea and pastries. Your scones rival anything I’ve ever had there.” She looked and sounded perfectly honest and sincere.
Polina appeared both proud and confused. She looked to Barnabas for guidance, as if now that Skyler had eaten actual food and drunk tea, that meant she couldn’t be the dreadedSange rauthey all had been so certain she was, and Polina didn’t know quite what to say or do.
“Did you really save your husband from death by silver?” Polina blurted out.
“Polina,” Stepan said, chastising her.
She turned red, but it was obvious to Vasilisa that it was a question everyone in the room wanted answered.
“Forgive me,” Polina said, ducking her head.
“No, really, I don’t mind.” Skyler took another sip of tea. “I get that question quite a bit. I wasn’t alone. Everyone kind of forgets that. I think it makes for a great story that I was all by myself and did all these amazing things when, really, I had friends who were amazing.”
Her voice rang with sincerity because she believed what she was telling them.
Afanasiv had seen enough of the little creature Barnabas had placed beneath Vasilisa’s skin. The intent was to migrate upward toward her brain, where it would allow its master to give Vasilisa commands.