Chapter 16
Lola
Dimitri was going to freak out.
I watched the sun dip below the horizon, my legs bouncing anxiously under the table.
I was officially late to meet him for our fourth training session.
A large hand clamped around my knee and my blood froze in my vein, my whole body tensing with the fight or flight response.
“Your little crush can wait for you longer,” Amyntas said, leaning to talk in my ear. The words sent a cold shiver down my spine. “This is the last night you’re forced to deal with me until we’re—”
“If,” I interjected.
“—Married.”
He chuckled dryly, shaking his head as his palm patted my thigh in a slow rhythm. My hands tightened on my fork and knife. Maybe I could just stab the fucker. Would that be bratty enough? He’d certainly be pissed.
“I know what you’re doing,” he said, voice low enough so that no one sitting at other tables could pick up on what he was saying. I looked at him from the corner of my eye and his falsely kind features rubbed me the wrong way. “Too bad you’re using the wrong tactics.”
I had to dig my nails into my palms to avoid glaring. “What do you mean?” I gritted out.
He leaned closer, brushing his scaly shoulder against mine. “I have no interest in a compliant and weak Maiden. You, fighting me constantly, only gives you more points.”
My throat dried out. Fuck. I dropped my fork and reached for my goblet of wine.
“Choose the other one,” I said openly for the first time, hiding my mouth with my cup to avoid anyone trying and succeeding in reading my lips. “I don’t want to be your Maiden.”
“Why not?” he asked, his tone curt. “I’m not as bad as people say.”
“I don’t—I don’t like you. I don’t think I ever will.”
He hid his laugh in his own drink. “No one said anything about liking each other. Love won’t strengthen the Dragon’s line. A powerful alliance will.”
“Sure,” I gritted out. “Easy for you to say, you’ll have plenty of wives to find love elsewhere.”
Amyntas leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. “Is that what bothers you?” he asked, surveying the tables farther away.
We were seated on a platform, like rulers watching over their subjects.
“That I’ll have the opportunity of love with someone else while your little boyfriend is left here? ”
Another mention of his knowledge that my heart was, in fact, taken by someone else.
I stiffened as he closed the distance between us again, placing his arm on the back of my chair.
To anyone else, it might have looked like we were getting closer after over ten days of being forced to interact like this. But it was all a facade.
“Three things,” he whispered in my ear, a smile audible in his voice.
“First, I don’t know how your father and brother are still clueless about that boy, but you might want to start being more…
discreet. Second, even though I can smell him on you, I’m grateful that you didn’t give yourself to him.
It appears you know what will happen to your whole clan if you, in fact, welcome him to your bed before you give me my heir. ”
I gulped at the casually voiced threat. My brother watched us from the closest table, a frown deforming his face. My father was smiling next to him, oblivious to the terror gripping me. I didn’t bother looking for my mother at the wives’ table, way too aware of her glee.
“You said three,” I croaked.
Puffs of warm air hit my neck as he chuckled his response. “I have no plan on going to visit the other Maiden. My choice is made, and in a little less than a year, you’ll fly with me to my clan.”
It was long past midnight when Dimitri found me at our usual resting spot in the forest. His footsteps stopped as he saw me, folded in on myself, my head buried between my knees, arms circling my legs.
“Dusha moya?” A hand landed on my shoulder. “Hey. Are you okay? What are you doing here? I waited for you at the clearing for our training. I was worried sick something might—wait…Did something happen?” he asked, his voice turning deadly. “Are you hurt? Has he—”
“I’m fine,” I muttered, the sound muffled by the fabric of my dress as I leaned away from him.
The motion made him flinch. Not that I could see, but the sudden sound of the leaves crunching under his feet followed by his utter stillness was giving him away.
“Du—Ania.”
My jaw clenched on a restrained sob. I couldn’t look at him now. Not after what Amyntas had told me. Not after getting to know him in the last ten days. The pain I would find in his eyes. The anger.
No.
He ignored my blatant refusal to speak and sat down next to me, leaning to try and catch my eyes.
“Ania, please. Look at me.”
No, go away, I thought. Please, go away.
“Hey.” He placed his hand on my arm again and I shivered, the sob breaking free from my throat. Dimitri froze next to me. “Ania, what’s going on? You said you’re fine, but you’re not… Is—”
“You need to leave Dimitri,” I said, but the sound was so muffled I wasn’t even sure it came out properly.
“I’m not going anywhere without you, you know that.”
A cry tore free as my whole body racked from the effort to keep my tears silent.
He whispered something as he grabbed me, pulling my body against his. I tried to fight him, but my attempts were futile and only half-hearted.
Now seated on his lap, my head buried in his neck, I couldn’t help but breathe him in. His smell that had grown so familiar in the few times we’ve met, now enveloped me in a warm and safe cocoon.
“Shh, it’ll be okay. Whatever it is, it’ll be okay,” Dimitri whispered in my hair. “I’m here. I’m not scared. I’m not leaving.”
“Then you’re a fool.”
He didn’t say anything to that. I was right, and he knew it. Only a fool wouldn’t be scared to end up caught up in an Astral conflict. He should have run the moment he understood I was meant to be married off to the fucking Dragons.
“I’m not,” he finally countered. “I have nothing to lose except for you.”
I scoffed, straightening up to look at his face. My eyes were puffy and probably red. He frowned, studying me.
“What about your life, Dimitri? I’m not worth losing it. I wouldn’t forgive myself if you were to be killed because of me.”
A wicked smile stretched over his face as his darkening eyes dropped to my parted lips. “Killed?” he said. “I mean, they can try. Many have in the past, none have succeeded.”
What the Hell was he talking about?
“If you’re referring to the Hellhound you slayed, it was impressive, yes, but probably nothing next to an Astral’s wrath.
” He had the audacity to roll his eyes, holding me tighter against him.
The damn smile not leaving his face. “Come on, a lot of humans have taken it upon themselves to fight demon creatures. It’s not like you’re the only one. All perish at some point.”
“But not me.”
His confused gaze searched mine, plunging deep enough to stir my soul.
“What on the stars does that even mean?” I groaned.
“Come on, you can’t be that clueless.”
“Well, apparently I am!”
I pushed against his chest to get away, but his hold was too strong. Too tight. Too comforting, for me to really try.
“Dusha moya,” he started, lifting a brow. “I thought you knew.”
“Knew what, Dimitri?”
“I’m not human. I mean—look at me.”
My jaw dropped as I took in his words. Looking at him as he asked. Broad. Tall. Handsome.
“You’re ridiculously gorgeous, yes. What’s your point?”
“Thank you, but not what I meant.” He grabbed my hand and placed it on his chest, moving his shirt to the side so my palm could connect with the skin.
Smooth skin. What?
I slid my hand to the side, then up and down before going back to where he placed it.
My heart missed a few beats.
“Didn’t I—”
“You did, Anastasia.”
I shivered. He almost never used my full name, but every time he did, it was whispered softly.
“Yes, I remember. I cut you here. Two days ago.”
He opened his shirt until it was hanging off his shoulders and leaned back, showing the place where the Hellhound had gotten him.
Nothing, apart from barely visible white lines. He was already healed.
“It can’t—”
“I’m not human, Anastasia. I would have told you if I didn’t think you already knew that.”
I looked at his face again. Fear. He was as afraid as I was. I was terrified because it meant he was some sort of demon or—Divine. What was he scared of?
“But—your blood runs red. I’ve been told that—”
“Not all Immortals are full Hellriser or Divine,” he said, placing his hand over mine to keep it on his chest. His heart was beating fast. Faster than mine. “I’m part human.”
“Part—”
Beware of the Giants, my father had told his army many times. They may look human, but they’re as deceitful as their Immortal parent.
I tried to pull my arm away as I gasped, “Nephilim.”
His hand tightened on mine as he pulled me closer.
“Please, don’t be scared of me,” he said, his voice a desperate plea. “I’m not—I won’t hurt you. Never.”
My eyes lingered on his mouth as he spoke, and here they were. Sharp canines. He had Divine origins. How have I not seen this before?
“Dimitri…”
“Dusha moya,” he pleaded and I froze. That term of endearment now etched under my skin. I was his mate. My soul, he kept calling me since we met.
His blue eyes were wide as they darted between mine. Terrified that I’d leave. That I’d be scared or repulsed by him.
Was I?
Yes. Scared, at least.
“Please. It doesn’t change anything,” Dimitri whispered, his lips grazing my forehead.
“It changes everything.”
He paused, holding me tighter. “You’re right. Now you know that they can’t kill me that easily. That I’ll be safe with whatever happens. That I can protect you from them. We can—”
“I don’t want you to protect me!” I said, pushing at his chest. He didn’t budge. “I want to protect myself. I don’t want to depend on you or anyone for my survival. Is that so hard to understand?”