Hi, everybody! It's me, ComradeInLOVE, again. I'm updating for Monse once more :) You will LOVE this, isn't she absolutely amazing? And we're SO close! She has left another AN for you. I am also letting you know that she will not be able to write for a while, work is hectic and she's tired and stressed. We are not sure how long she will take, however we hope it doesn't take more than a month. Let's give her a break so she can relax and write again even more amazingly than now (if that's even possible xD).
AN: Ok, seriously guys. Don't you love my beta, ComradeInLOVE? Without her, you would not be getting these updates for a month! Give her some love guys! Thanks for the reviews, favs, and follows! :)
Dimitri holds his breath waiting for Rose to scream at him that he is a murderer, a beast. But she simply stares back with her lips parted and wide eyes. He is not sure whether he should be relieved or afraid of her reaction, or lack thereof. On her part, Rose attempts to come up with the best way to handle the starting line to what is sure to be a long and shocking story. She does promise herself she will not judge him ahead of time. That is a mistake she will not make again. Dimitri has proven to her there's more than meets the eye. For five years, she has hated the wrong creature. The rogues are the ones that must be eliminated and quickly, before they enslave the human race. The huntress lets out a breath that she didn't know she had been holding and clears her throat. Calmly, she douses the cloth into the warm water and continues to clean Dimitri's wounds.
"Why?" She asks softly dabbing a scratch on his chest.
Her hands caressing him send shivers down Dimitri's spine and causes goosebumps on his flesh. He's not the only one affected by the contact as Rose feels the attraction too. She bites her lower lip just imagining her lips kissing every crevice on his stomach while the sight of her lip caught between her teeth causes Dimitri's cock to twitch thinking of biting her lips himself. They seem to forget the importance of the moment as the lust and desire return smothering them, bringing more heat than a thousand roaring fires ever could. Their breathing becomes shallow and unconsciously they lean forward. Dimitri pulls her to her feet, then roughly drags her down to sit on his lap as she blushes deeply feeling his hard bulge against her leg. His left arm circles her waist as his right hand skims her jaw line. Rose sighs and closes her eyes leaning into his touch as her hands explore his broad shoulders and back. With his hand resting on her nape, Dimitri begins to slowly pull her toward him.
"Why?" Rose pants as their lips are a breath away from meeting. She doesn't want him to kiss her, yet. They must talk; if they don't now that he's willing, who knows when the next opportunity may be? Perhaps next time it will be too late.
Dimitri sighs as he is forced to return to the conversation ahead of them. Needing something to keep him from completely losing himself in the past, Dimitri wraps both of his hands around Rose's waist and rests his forehead on her chest. Before continuing, he inhales deeply committing her scent to memory. He remains silent for a few seconds breathing evenly with his forehead still against her chest. Slowly, Rose raises her left hand up to his head and buries it in his hair. Since they met five years ago, she has yearned to know what his hair feels like. She always imagined it to be finer than silk, and as she buries her hand in it, silk wouldn't even begin to describe his hair. No words can describe him, Rose thinks suddenly. Then Dimitri continues his story pushing all thoughts to the back of her head.
"My father, Lord Luka Belikov, was a great man," though the bitterness in Dimitri's voice makes Rose doubt that he was. "Loved by all and hated by none. He never let his subjects starve, gave every single man, woman, and child a home. He was kind and just to all."
Dimitri pauses in his story telling as the hatred begins to course through his body. Rose notices the sudden tension and stops running her fingers through his hair to grasp his face in both of her hands. She lifts his head up, so she can see his eyes and read his emotions. Hatred, disappointment, and sadness swirl in his eyes. She frowns as she tries to imagine what could cause Dimitri to feel such emotions and drive him to murder a man that sounds just like Eric Dragomir, a man loved by all.
Dimitri chuckles humorlessly and looks away from Rose. His eyes wander the room and settle on the fire. "You are wondering how I could kill such a wonderful man." He practically spits the words out. "The face everyone saw was just a mask. Not my mother, not my sisters, not even I saw him for what he truly was. My father had a secret mistress for who knows how long, Lady Ekaterina Zeklos, Ivan's mother. No, I didn't murder him because he was cheating on my mother. I may have forgiven him for that, but I will never forgive him for what he almost did." He turns his eyes back on Rose. "He plotted to murder my mother." Moisture begins to form in his eyes, but he quickly blinks it away.
Dimitri was making his way to the dining room before dinner was ready. He wanted to speak to his father about the working conditions of the men in the outer fields. The food always arrived late and cold or sometimes never. Dimitri thought it would be a good idea to set up houses out there, so the workers could move with their families and not wait until the end of the day to finally eat a piece of stale bread. The door to the dining room was shut meaning they had a guest. Dimitri paused with his fist in the air as he heard Lady Ekaterina's voice. At first, her presence didn't arouse suspicion in the young man. The Zeklos visited often, so young Dimitri began to turn around to leave his father to tend to his guest. They could speak about the project during dinner.
"It must be done," Ekaterina's voice low and fervent caught Dimitri's attention. "You think she does not suspect of us? Once again she will tear us apart. Will you let her do that to us a second time?"
Dimitri held his breath as he heard his father's next words. "No, my love. Never again will Olena keep us apart. I shall do it. I will slowly poison her so no one suspects. Rest easy, Katya."
With his mind reeling from the betrayal and knowledge that Luka, the man Dimitri held high on a pedestal, would do something so disgusting, so vile as to plot the death of his wife, the woman who gave him her best years and four beautiful children, Dimitri contemplated confronting his father and Ekaterina then, but he held the hope that perhaps his father was just misleading Ekaterina. Because his father surely would not be capable of killing his own wife! The woman he swore to love and cherish as long as they both shall live. But as they all sat down to dinner, Dimitri could finally see the glances and small touches between Luka and Ekaterina. Those gestures that no one ever paid attention to, Dimitri could tell meant so much more to them.
"I am going to visit Mother this weekend," Olena announced cheerfully and clearly oblivious to the fact that Luka was eyeing Ekaterina like she was the most exquisite creature he had ever seen. The whole situation made Dimitri's blood boil as he gripped his fork tightly. "Will you join me, dear?"
"My apologies, love," Luka said with fake remorse in his voice. "I must remain here and make sure no one starves or freezes to death."
"Oh, well. I shall take the girls then." Olena replied always innocent, always understanding.
"I can tend to the people," Dimitri said for the first time since they had sat down. "Father." He added through his teeth.
Luka frowned slightly at Dimitri's stiff posture and untouched plate. He never suspected his son had experienced his exchange with Ekaterina. "Very kind of you, son; however, it is my duty to…"
"I will inherit the Belikov domain, will I not?" Dimitri interrupted directing his question to his father but watching Ekaterina with narrowed eyes.
"Yes," Luka replied blinking rapidly, surprised for the sudden question. "You are my heir."
"Then it would be good for me to start getting experience on handling matters on my own. Go on with mother and visit Babushka."
Dimitri hoped his father wouldn't take the offer. He wanted to keep Luka away from Olena in case he did attempt to kill her. What Dimitri tried to do that night was put his father in a tight position. He wanted Olena to see through Luka's pretense, to see how jealous Ekaterina became just thinking of Luka and Olena together. But Dimitri's mother never saw any of that. She ended the conversation saying Luka had to stay and tend to the people. Dimitri remained silent the rest of the night, and when he finally let go of the fork, his fingers were stiff.
"May I have a word with you, Lady Ekaterina?" Dimitri gave her a tight smile and a low bow. "I would like to talk to you about Ivan and his next birthday."
"Ivan's birthday is not until next winter, dear." Ekaterina chuckled waving her hand in the air dismissing Dimitri and lacing her hand through Luka's arm.
"I will not take much of your time," Dimitri's jaw twitched as his eyes narrowed on her hand.
Ekaterina met Luka's eyes briefly. She sighed and let go of Luka. "All right, dear."
Dimitri led Ekaterina out into the back gardens; their feet crushing the ice and their mouths puffing out small balls of fog. They walked in silence, Ekaterina's hand laced through Dimitri's strong arm.
"What did you want to talk about, dear?" Ekaterina asked impatiently wishing to go back inside and warm up, perhaps have a round with Luka before heading back to the Zeklos and her fat, old husband.
"Shh," Dimitri placed his finger upon his mouth. "Just a little farther. I do not want anyone to hear us."
Ekaterina frowned and began to feel nervous at the way Dimitri's jaw twitched and how he suddenly began to tighten his hold on her hand. When she suddenly realized what was wrong, it was too late. They had rounded the corner and were near the stables far from hearing and seeing range from anyone. Brutally, Dimitri shoved Ekaterina against a beam, startling the nearby horse and causing Ekaterina to see blurry and gasp at the pain on her neck. He placed his right elbow on her throat and slowly, began to cut Ekaterina's air.
"I know of your affair with my father," Dimitri began quietly. "I also know of your plans to get rid of my mother. What do you gain from her death, Ekaterina? You will be still married to Lord Gregor. Or are you also planning on murdering him? Enlighten me, Katya." He spat out his father's nickname for her before letting her go.
Ekaterina slumped on the ground coughing violently and aching everywhere. "I do… not know… what you…" She gasped but didn't finish as Dimitri grabbed her arm and shook her violently.
"Do not dare lie to me!" He growled. "I heard you and my father speaking earlier tonight. Will you deny it again?"
Ekaterina's eyes flashed with hatred and anger. She shoved Dimitri away and finally dropped the pretense. "I was meant to be Lady Belikova. Not your whore of a mother that went and got herself pregnant, so she could trap your father. I am not meant for a fat pig like Gregor. My son should and will have not only one but two castles. Once Gregor and Olena are out of the way, you and your bratty sisters are next. Ivan will have the Belikov and Zeklos domains to himself." Her lips parted in a wicked smile as her eyes flashed with greed and madness.
Dimitri's hands shook at his sides as he gazed at the woman he once recognized as a second mother. Once again, he pinned her to the beam with his elbow on her throat. "First, do not call my mother a whore! The only whore here is you. Tell me, what will Gregor Zeklos do once he hears you have been fucking Luka Belikov? His best friend since childhood. He will gut you or worst, leave you poor because he may be a fat pig, but he has the money."
"You… did not hear… me?" Ekaterina gasped out as her lungs screamed for air. "I am… going to… kill you… all!"
"That is, if I do not kill you first." Dimitri removed his elbow and instead grasped her neck with both hands then proceeded to slam her head against the beam. "Which I will not, yet." He whispered in her ear. "You will leave this castle without saying a word to my father. If he seeks you out, you will end the affair with him. You will live the rest of your miserable days with your husband as a flawless and loving wife to Gregor." Ekaterina began to protest, but Dimitri silenced her with another slam against the beam. "If you do not do so, I will inform Ivan and Gregor of everything; they will despise you, and then I will kill you. I will rip out your heart and feed it to the dogs. Understood?"
He slammed her head against the beam for the last time to emphasize his words. He then let her go. They waited several minutes for Ekaterina to recuperate and look as if nothing had happened in case they ran into anyone. Dimitri made sure to see that she followed his instructions, which she did. As the Zeklos carriage disappeared in the distance, Dimitri thought that was the end of that. He was wrong and knew so when Luka had a secret meeting with the apothecary the night previous to the return of Olena. The only reason Dimitri knew so was because he was roaming the castle, for he could not sleep. He could not reconcile with the knowledge that his father was not the man he admired and loved.
Hushed voices pulled Dimitri out of his deep thoughts, and he quickly dashed behind a thick red curtain by the main stairwell. Luka and the apothecary came into view, their features barely lit up by the torches along the hall.
"Two drops dissolved in water over a period of a week shall do the trick, milord. If taken more than the week, can have fatal results." The apothecary said quietly as Luka nodded and accompanied him to the door.
"I understand," Luka gave the old man a gold coin and opened the door for him. "Thank you for coming so late. I do not wish to worry my people and son with my condition. Are you sure it is tasteless? I do not enjoy the bitter taste of medicine." He chuckled softly.
"Absolutely, milord. It is also colorless. You will not even know you are drinking it." The apothecary replied helpfully, probably completely unaware of the devilish smile on Luka's face. Dimitri saw it though, and his body shook with wrath. His father was still going through with the plan even after Ekaterina ended the affair. She had sent a message to Dimitri to announce it had been done. Luka had to be stopped, that's all Dimitri knew as he returned to his chambers and pulled out the dagger he meant to gift to his father for his birthday in the spring.
Dimitri waited until the castle was asleep. Dimitri moved like a shadow through the castle. No one heard him, no one saw him. Only his father, but only for a second before Luka's own son buried the blade deep in his heart ending his life.
Absent-mindedly, Dimitri rubs his left cheek suddenly feeling the blood of his father there. Once his tale is finished, both Rose and Dimitri are silent each deep in their own thoughts. Dimitri looks down at his hands still wrapped around Rose and can practically see his bloodstained hands shaking in shock very much like the night he murdered his father. Rose takes his hands in hers and kisses them as a tear rolls down her cheek.
"Why are you weeping?" Dimitri frowns when he feels her tears soaking their interlaced hands.
"I weep for you," she whispers and closes her eyes trying to make sense of her thoughts. "You were forced to…"
"No one forced me," he continues to frown. "I made the choice."
"No, you did not. He would have not stopped! You saved your mother at the cost of your soul! Look at you! Your father and his mistress forced your hand and turned you into a beast. You said you lost control of your life afterwards. Drinking, whoring around, being cruel, and then your curse. It all started with that night. I understand, Comrade. You think you lost the goodness, the humanity in you when you killed your father."
Dimitri's eyes widen in surprise as Rose understands him better than anyone else. Rhonda and Yeva claim to know the truth behind the murder of Luka, but they never showed any sort of compassion or understanding like Rose does now. How is it that his own family doomed and rejected him when Rose, the huntress that has hated him for years, understands and accepts his reasons?
"But you did not," she continues kissing his hands again. "If you were not good, you would not have given everything up for your mother. Sure, the way you treated them afterwards was not…" She pauses and frowns as she stares at the wall behind Dimitri. "'Whatever happened to your vow to never love any woman?'" Rose quotes Isaiah as she returns her eyes to Dimitri's, suddenly piecing another piece of the puzzle. "Your vow did not only apply to women. It also applied to your family, to everyone who wants to be close to you. You have been protecting yourself from another betrayal. You think everyone who loves you will hurt you. All the women you made yours were only to assert your dominance over them. To prove to yourself that they did and do not rule you." She frowns again then snorts. "That is a shit way of thinking, Comrade. Not everyone is going to hurt you. Not all women are whores like Ekaterina. Well, Natasha Ozera is a bitch. Once she is done with a man, she will rip his heart out, but…"
Dimitri silences her rant with a searing kiss. Never has he been more attracted to a woman before. He takes her bottom lip between his teeth like he wanted to earlier and bites hard causing Rose to moan at the delicious pain. She grips his shoulders digging her nails as she responds with a bite to his upper lip. Dimitri growls deep in his throat and lets his hands slowly move up her legs, to her stomach, and linger on her breasts. He is thankful her chemise is practically torn to pieces giving him freedom to pinch her taut nipples. Rose gasps in surprise and delight giving Dimitri the opportunity to dart his tongue into her mouth as his hands continue to play with her breasts pinching and massaging her tender nipples. With one last moan, Rose jumps out of his embrace breathing heavily and blushing deeply from feeling his cock hard and ready against her and from the passionate kiss. She moves to the farthest wall and closes her eyes.
"You said you would wait for me to ask you to kiss me," she whispers not trusting her voice to speak louder.
"I know," Dimitri says appearing behind her and rubbing her arms. "And I remember the last time I kissed you without your permission." He chuckles briefly remembering the punch to his head. "But I cannot control myself." He turns her around and places his hands on each side of her face. "Where have you been all my life, Roza?"
"Hunting you," she replies placing her hands over his. "And I believe you have been hunting me. What is this about a beauty? You think I am a beauty?"
"You are too beautiful to be real," he replies smothering her with an emotion she does not want him to feel for her. "When I met you, I thought there was no way you could be any more beautiful. I was wrong. Back then you were a rose just beginning to bloom and now look at you."
"You did not answer my question," she persists trying not to dwell on the way his words make her heart race and her stomach to do little flips. "What is this about a beauty?"
Dimitri sighs and lets go of Rose. He turns his back on her and picks up the clean clothes from the floor and begins to dress. "It is part of the curse. The beauty had to kill the beast to end the curse."
"You have to die?" Rose's voice wavers and her knees feel weak. She had known it all along. Since the moment he showed up at Istanbul, she could guess what he wanted, why he was so eager for her to kill him, but they were only speculations. Little by little, her suspicions began to become more possible, and now it is real. Dimitri has to die.
"There is another way, is there not? You cannot die." She replies fervently causing Dimitri to stop with his shirt halfway down. She clears her throat. "I mean, you literally cannot die. I tried. Several times, remember?"
Dimitri continues to dress ignoring Rose completely. For a couple of seconds, they remain silent, and Rose knows that they are back where they started: Dimitri being closed off to everyone and pushing Rose away. She sighs and holds back the pitiful tears that threaten to come out. Defeated, she begins to clean herself up with the now cold water. Both of them work in silence and distant like they didn't almost… Rose closes her eyes and shoves the kiss and his sweet words somewhere deep in her heart. What if the guilt hadn't overtaken her? What if the guilt of being engaged to Adrian hadn't rooted itself into her mind as she kissed Dimitri? What if Adrian's grief stricken eyes didn't flash behind her closed eyelids? Would she have let Dimitri fuck her senseless? Does she want him to?
"Does Ivan know what happened with his mother and your father?" She asks trying to coax back Dimitri into trusting her and trying to forget Adrian, and that she is beginning to betray him.
"Yes," Dimitri replies simply sitting back down on the chair. "I cannot hide much from them. Besides, I could not hide this from him. He had to know."
"How did he take it?" Rose asks half interested, half distracted with trying to tie the laces of the corset on her back.
Dimitri grabs her waist and pulls her close. He turns her around and slowly begins to tie the laces, his fingers lingering on her flesh. "Not well. He shifted and ran back to the Zeklos domain. He tried to kill her. Mason and I arrived just in time, but he had managed to tear her legs off. Ivan values loyalty above all else."
"That is terrible," Rose whispers, her mind focusing on the feathery yet powerful caress of his fingers on her lower back. Dimitri doesn't reply as he finishes with the corset. "Is there another way to break the curse?" She asks again once he is done and leaning back on the chair watching her pull the black skirt up her legs.
"No," he replies without hesitation. He will not let her find out about the curse. He will not let her die because… In that moment, he curses his Babushka to hell. How could she do this to him? Curse him to let the only woman he will ever love to die. He curses out loud in Russian and rushes out of the room leaving Rose dumbfounded wondering what she said this time.
Dimitri doesn't even care he just changed into new clothes. Once outside, he begins to shift. The pain on his ribs, courtesy of Isaiah, doesn't even bother him as he shifts violently and begins to run. He runs as fast as his legs allow, his muscles complaining. For hours, he runs aimlessly and every once in a while he whimpers and howls painfully like a wounded animal. When he finally tires several hours later, he realizes he's near Moscow. He slumps on the ground and continues to whimper. The sound of a coming target doesn't even worry him.
"Holy fuck," Mason pants and groans. "Holy fuck you can run. I thought I would never reach you. Holy fuck."
"What do you want, Mason?" Dimitri asks sadly and defeated.
"I want to know if you are all right." The red wolf lies down next to his Alpha. "Rose is worried. Since you did not return after an hour, she asked me to come find you."
"You left her?" Dimitri's rage returns to him like a strike of lightning. "The rogues…"
"Are licking their wounds. They will not attack so soon. Not after the piece of arm I bit from Isaiah." Mason says proudly and would grin if he could. "Besides, Ivan and Sydney are with her."
The Alpha sighs and lies down on the dirt again burying his snout under his paws. "I love her. Fuck! I love her, Mason. After all the barriers, all the walls I put up, the precautions I took to never fall in love with the woman that would set me free, and I still fell!" The anguish is not only heard but felt as Dimitri begins to shake.
"I know," Mason replies softly after a while. "I think you have loved her since the moment Rhonda described her for you. I am sure you do not remember, or you will try to deny it, but you talked about her entirely too much. In every town we went into, every girl you saw, you would say 'her hair does not look like silk.' 'Her eyes are not full of fire.' 'She is not exotic enough.' It was a pain in the ass! Then you came back from Istanbul five years ago, and your eyes were dark and haunted like you lost someone you loved again. Do not be afraid to love her."
"How can I not be afraid, Mason? If I have to lose her to be human, to stop being the beast?" Dimitri snarls angrily more at himself than Mason.
"Stay this way then," Mason suggests with a tone that makes Dimitri feel like a child.
"How will she love me this way? Besides, I cannot die, and she can and will. She will die anyway."
"Bite her." Mason wishes he could roll his eyes. The answers are so simple that it surprises him Dimitri has not thought of them. "Make her your mate, and she will never die."
"I will not doom her to this life. And you seem to assume that she feels anything…"
"Come on! Are you this stupid? I am sorry, I am sorry. I did not call you stupid." Mason amends quickly as Dimitri growls threateningly. "She sent me to find you! She has to care, right?"
"She loves her fiancée." Dimitri replies miserably.
"Lord Ivashkov is in Istanbul or Budapest getting drunk off his ass to forget he lost his woman to you. On the other hand, you are with her. Make her fall in love with you."
"You are full of great and simple ideas tonight, are you not? How do you intend I do that?"
"You are already doing it, Alpha." With a snort, Mason gets up and runs back to Baia leaving Dimitri to his thoughts.
For a second, Dimitri wonders what exactly is he doing then he realizes that Mason must be talking about his attempts at seducing Rose. If she was indifferent, she would not moan or become aroused whenever he touched or kissed her. She would be disgusted or afraid of him. With renewed hope, Dimitri pushes himself off the ground and stretches his legs. Ignoring his aching and tired muscles, Dimitri pushes himself to run faster than he did earlier. Rose is waiting for him.
If Dimitri had stayed just a few more minutes, he would have heard the voices arguing. He would have found out that Adrian and others are getting closer. Lord Mazur orders the Guardians to set up a camp just below the hill Dimitri and Mason just were. As the Guardians move around setting tents, Abe tends to his wounded wife while Adrian, Lissa and Christian begin a heated argument.
"Adrian," Lissa pleads. "Do not go. It is dangerous. You should not place so much faith on the words of Eddie! He is being controlled. Wait for Janine to recuperate. She will find Rose."
"I am done waiting," Adrian replies angrily and shoving Lady Dragomir, who was holding onto his arm, away. She falls on the dirt as Christian unsheathes his sword.
"I will kill you for that!" Ozera shouts furiously.
"Fuck off," Adrian snaps as he grabs Oscar's reigns. "I will find Rose myself. You are all dragging me down. And that traitor has been more useful than Hathaway."
"Ivashkov!" Mazur joins the conversation at the mention of his wife with contempt. "I order you to dismount and do not do anything reckless! If Rose is in Baia, then we will all go there, together. You set foot into their den, and you will be slaughtered."
"I do not take orders from you, zmey. You are all dragging me down. I will find her, and I slay the beast or die trying." With a last glare at everyone, Adrian takes off. From a safe distance, Eddie watches sadly as Isaiah's plan is set into motion and working out to perfection like he wanted. Kill them all. Isaiah commanded. We will gather them in a single location, and we will kill them all.
All right, brace yourselves, lemon (or possibly multiple lemons) coming up soon. I hope to make your ovaries explode! Haha. Did you like this chapter? ;)