Blood Assassin (The Sentinels #2)(113)

“Hi, Molly,” she said softly.

Sitting up, Molly glanced warily around the room, inching toward Serra as she caught sight of Fane’s massive form.

“Where’s my daddy?”

Serra tucked a silver curl behind Molly’s ear. “I’m going to take you to him, muffin.”

With a heartbreaking trust the child climbed into her lap and rested her head over Serra’s heart.

“Is he mad at me?”

Serra wrapped the tiny body in her arms, resting her cheek on top of the soft curls.

“Never,” she insisted in fierce tones. Whatever Bas’s faults, and they were numerous, he was a devoted father. “He loves you.”

The small body shivered. “He didn’t come.”

“I’m here, pet,” a dark male voice said from the doorway.

Serra gave a tiny jerk of surprise as Bas stepped into the room. She’d been too distracted with the child to notice his arrival.

Fane, however, had already shifted to stand between the assassin and the bed. Clearly he hadn’t been caught off guard.

“Daddy!” Molly called out, her expression one of pure joy.

“Not yet,” Fane warned as Bas stepped forward. “Where is Jael?”

“Gone,” the assassin muttered, his gaze locked on Molly. “For good.”

“You’re certain she was the mastermind?” Fane pressed.

“Yes.” Bas sent Fane a lethal glare. “Now step aside or die.”

Fane folded his arms over his chest. “Not until you’ve removed the spell from Serra.”

Bas touched the dagger at his side, his hair tousled and his face looking distinctly haggard.

“Let me have my daughter,” he snarled. “Once she’s in my arms I’ll remove the spell.”

Fane stood in front of Serra. An unmovable force.

“Not a chance in hell.”

Molly squirmed in Serra’s lap. “Daddy?”

Fane stepped forward, his body rigid with the effort to leash his fury.

“Look in my eyes and know that I will do whatever is necessary to protect Serra,” he said, his voice a ruthless warning.

Heat filled the room as the two warriors squared off, the threat of violence making Serra shiver.

“And you know what will happen if you do anything to harm Molly,” Bas countered, his hand stroking over the handle of his dagger.

Serra made a sound of impatience.

Men.

“Oh for God’s sake, remove the spell so you can comfort your daughter,” she snapped, glaring at the assassin as she stroked her hand over Molly’s satin-soft curls. “She needs you.”

There was a tense minute as the two men hovered on the brink of battle. Then, glancing toward the tiny girl dressed in a frilly nightgown tucked in Serra’s lap, Bas gave a sharp nod.

“Fine.”

The assassin stepped forward, only to be jerked to a halt by a suspicious Fane.

“What are you doing?”

“It will be easier if I touch her.”

“No—”

“Fane, it’s okay,” Serra interrupted.

She didn’t trust Bas any more than Fane did, but what choice did they have?

Without him removing the spell, she was going to die.

Shaking off Fane’s hand, Bas moved forward, his gaze locked on his daughter even as he knelt beside Serra and placed his hand on the side of her neck.

Fane growled as he moved forward, but Bas was already whispering low words. Icy tingles began to flow through her blood, the sudden chill making her shiver.

“Serra,” Fane rasped in concern.

Serra glanced up to meet his searching gaze. “I felt something, but I have no idea if it was the removal of the toxin.”

“The spell was removed,” Bas corrected, reaching into the pocket of his slacks to remove a slender gold box. It looked like an old-fashioned cigarette case, but when he flicked it open it revealed several small vials of potions. “This is the antidote for the toxin,” he said, handing over one of the vials to Serra.

Without giving herself time to wonder if this was a trick Serra lifted the vial and downed the contents.

She gagged at the bitter taste, struggling to keep herself from heaving the antidote back up as it hit her empty stomach like a small nuclear explosion.

When she at last was confident she was going to keep the potion down, she glanced up to see Bas reaching for the child in her arms.

“Give me my daughter.”

Serra allowed Molly to be scooped into Bas’s arms, even smiling as the child threw her thin arms around his neck and buried her face against his chest.

“Daddy,” she said in sleepy satisfaction.

Bas stepped back with Molly cradled in his arms, his gaze on Fane.

“Now what?”

Fane shrugged. “Now we take you to Valhalla.”

“I don’t think so.”

Without warning, Bas tossed the golden case in Serra’s direction. Instantly Fane leaped to knock her to the side, covering her with his large body as an explosion rocked the entire building.

Serra coughed as dust from the crumbling ceiling lodged in her throat, her body bruised.

Slowly, Fane lifted his head, shaking off the debris that had threatened to bury them.

“Are you okay?” he rasped.