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Kyra paused only long enough to glance up at Nick. “Who deserves to live; this man who admitted to killing innocent mortals, or me, who protects their lives?” She didn’t wait for an answer, but lifted the cutlass and let it fall on the exposed neck of the Russian.
Nick had seen quickenings before, but not since he had become immortal himself. In the past he had felt detached, on the outside looking in. He remembered worrying for Amanda the first time, and had seen how winded and tired she had been afterwards but this was different. Power surrounded Kyra, flashing in colors up towards the sky. Flashed of green emanated from everything around her, snaking and coiling from the prone body to hers as she opened her mouth in a silent scream.
To his surprise, Nick felt jealous, wanting the power, wishing he had been the one to rid the earth of this immortal. Feelings of shame mingled with the jealousy. A woman had to fight his battle! Watching the electricity continue to bounce around, sizzling the snow, and twisting the blonde like a puppet, Nick realized that as much as he hated the game, having someone fight in his stead was worse. He would either have to give up his head, or join the party.
And he was not suicidal.
The final tendrils subsided. After stretching her shoulders a little and craning her neck around, Kyra leaned down, picked up her own and her opponent’s swords cleaned them on man’s clothing and trudged wearily over to Nick.
“So that’s how it’s done, huh?” asked Nick.
“Swords take a bit more finesse, but they don’t jam,” she replied. Smiling cheekily, she held out the big broadsword to him. “Want this? I have it on good authority the owner doesn’t need it anymore.”
“You jammed my gun?” Nick stared at her.
“I might have,” she admitted.
“He might have killed me!” protested Nick.
“Yeah, you’re right; and if not him, any other immortal who was clever enough to evade your bullets, or if they caught you without a gun or with a faulty weapon. Don’t you want to level the playing field?” She continued to hold out the sword. “Come on, I need to get back.”
“I’m not going to join the game or behead anyone,” he said to her, stubbornly ignoring his earlier feelings of jealousy of the power flowing into her.
“That’s your business, but don’t you want the chance?” she looked at him curiously, still holding the sword.
“I think that you need to realize that just because Yurovsky is dead doesn’t mean the threat is over. When we get back, I’ll find out more about the organization. Madeleine is safe now, but we need to shut them down completely.” Nick kept his hands in his pocket and avoided looking at the sword.
“I need to get back,” she said, putting both blades into her coat. “I trust my team, but I do want to make sure the princess isn’t leading them a merry chase.”
Together they ran over the hard-packed snow, as the flakes grew larger and swirled around them. Lights broke through the thickening snow as they got closer to the compound and music grew louder to greet them. In the dome, the party continued.
One of Kyra’s team approached them as they scanned the room. “Did you get him?” he asked standing beside them, his eyes scanning the partygoers. Nick could see other bodyguards circling though the dancing young people.
“Nick and I chased him way out into the wilds, but we couldn’t find him,” lied Kyra. She too watched the crowd. “I’ll get the hotel’s security to keep an eye out for him, but I don’t know how he can survive out there in the cold. Not much shelter this far north.”
“Hopefully a bear doesn’t get him. I hear they can chew the head right off a man.” added Nick. He stood beside Kyra, very conscious of her presence. He too scanned the room.
“Sweden doesn’t have a lot of bears left,” remarked the man.
“With that guy’s luck, the one bear left in Sweden will find him,” suggested Kyra, her face deadpan as she elbowed Nick in the ribs. “How are things here?”
“Thanks to your new friend here, nobody got hurt. The four henchmen are securely locked away. The police will come tomorrow and pick them up.”
“And the kids?”
He shrugged. “You know kids. All that matters is the party could continue.”
A young girl of around seventeen wearing a pink parka broke away from the crowd and ran up to them. “What a great party!” she gushed. “And thank you for being so clever…and so cute,” she added looking admiringly at Nick.
“Nick Wolfe, may I present Princess Madeleine,” Kyra said.
Madeleine put out her gloved hand. “Pleased to meet you Mr. Wolfe,” she said politely, but her eyes sparkled.
“Likewise, your highness,” replied Nick, taking her hand and shaking it.
“Would you like to dance with me?” she asked.
“Go back to your friends, Princess,” said Kyra firmly before Nick could respond. “Nick has some follow up to complete.”
Blonde hair flying, she turned and was soon caught up in the crowd dancing.
“Thank you,” said Nick.
“Listen,” suggested Kyra, taking his arm and drawing him away from the party. “This party will go on for a while yet, but would you like to meet me in the bar in a few hours, after I’ve finished here?”
Nick had managed to snag a small table in the corner of the ice bar by the time Kyra appeared. “The princess and the others are in their beds, thank goodness.”
“It sounds like you’re more than the head of her security,” observed Nick as Kyra flopped onto the bench beside him. “I’d offer you a drink, but I see you’ve brought your own.”
“Very observant of you, on both counts,” replied Kyra. She poured some red wine into glasses for both herself and Nick and took a drink before continuing. “Madeleine is too old for a governess and too young to be allowed out on her own. So although I started as part of the general security team six months ago, I’ve become the princess’ companion, watchdog and I keep her from embarrassing the royal family.”
“Sounds like a fun job,” said Nick, with a thousand questions left unsaid.
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