Chapter 22:
RPOV
"Do you think your father has everything settled yet?"
I was pressed against him, after he was done crying, we moved to the bed. He was hurt again and I knew moving was hard for him. So he was lying down and I was as close to him as I could without hurting him.
"I know it. This was scenario C I think. So if I am not mistaken, he is situating Tatiana on the throne right now."
Dimitri didn't look at me, he just looked at the ceiling. I knew what he really wanted to ask, but I don't think he would like the answer. I wasn't even sure I wanted to know.
"What will happen to him?"
I shrugged. "Dad will take care of him. You will never have to see him. Of that I am sure." Very sure. He kept me away from that part of the plan. Whenever I asked, he just said he would take care of him. I hadn't known my father very long and I still didn't know him very well. But I knew what he was capable of. I knew what lengths he would go to, to make sure that the former King would never hurt either of us.
Dimitri just nodded. I think he had a hard time comprehending that he was really gone. With Tatiana on the throne and Abe behind it, I was sure things would change. At least for us. He would be free and so would I.
I had no idea what that would even mean. What would I want if I could be anything?
"So what will we do now? We could pretty much do anything."
Dimitri grunted his reply. I don't think he knew either.
"Maybe we can go away, find a quiet place in the woods. Build a cabin near the lake. Just the two of us."
He laughed. "I would love that, but you would be bored out of your mind."
I pouted but pushed myself up on my hands and looked down on him. "I wouldn't be bored with you with me there. I could think of a whole lot of activities to keep us busy." I wiggled my eyebrows to indicate the nature of those activities.
He chuckled. "That would work for the first week." I raised my eyebrows in indignation. "Okay, first month. But then what?"
I flipped on my back next to him. He was right. "We could do anything, so why can't I think of anything?"
"I am sure your father has ideas for that. He will probably move his pack here but he will be busy. So maybe he wasn't just being obtuse when he said he wanted you to take over his pack."
"Maybe"
Me, leading a pack? Well, I would have Dimitri by my side. So we could do this together. Nobody would go against Dimitri. We could build our own pack. I would have Lissa with me again. Maybe I could take some of the girls from the concubine garden too. I know a lot of them would want to leave.
But what about the military? Would Dimitri still be General? Did he still want to be one?
"What about you? What would you do, if you could do anything?"
He was as silent as I was. I know why. He always stopped himself from those thoughts, because the chance of any of them coming true were non-existent. Hope was a dangerous thing for slaves.
"Probably read for a few weeks. See my mother more often."
He turned on his side looking at me, his gaze suddenly intense. I know this position must hurt him, but he didn't seem to notice.
"And claim you."
My breath hitched in my throat. Not that I had any doubt Dimitri and I would be together. But him saying the words was another matter. Being mated as slaves is not done. Because the bond doesn't mean anything. You don't belong to yourself, so how can you give yourself completely to another.
But we could now. He leaned down and kissed me. It was gentle and full of love. There was no fear anymore, no thought in the back of our minds about when it would be taken away. This was our life now. We could be together.
"I don't know what I am going to do, but I know I want you by my side." I said as I kissed him again.
He molded his body to mine, moving his hand down my side pressing me closer. The kiss intensified. I opened my mouth and he greedily took it. My hands moved into his hair, tugging slightly on his hair. He groaned, the sound vibrating against my mouth and right down to my core.
Where he was half asleep and certainly exhausted a minute ago, he was coming to life now. It had been a long day, but we needed each other.
I was careful to let him tell me what he could do. I gently took his shirt off, luckily it had buttons on the front. When it was off, I couldn't help but admire his bare chest. Well, except the gigantic bruise forming on his side. Yes, definitely broke his ribs again.
I moved away from him. He looked disappointed, but I gave him an assuring look. I slowly moved to the edge of the bed. He followed my movement. He laid back down on his back, one hand behind his head. The look he gave me was quite feral and smug.
I slowly removed my clothes. Every movement was followed. Every inch of my body was explored by him as it became exposed. When I was completely naked I moved across the bed to undo his pants. He let me do everything. He just took his time to admire me.
Once he was naked too I moved over him keeping my weight off of him but reaching for his mouth. A long and hot kiss later I moved towards his neck, his chest and his abs. His breath hitched and I heard him groan in pain as he strained his ribs too much.
"Don't stop." The command in his voice was clear. A few broken ribs wouldn't kill him. He would heal in a week or so from them fully. But not being with me right now, would hurt him more. Still I was trying to discern the best way to keep him still.
I moved lower and lower until I came face to face- sort of - with his erect cock. Standing proud and tall and already a bit of pre-cum was leaking from the tip. Someone was eager.
I smiled at him as I moved my head over the tip. He wanted to see, so he lifted his head up, but it put too much strain on him, so he went back down. He grabbed my hair with his hand on his good side and ran his fingers and nails across my scalp. I groaned because that felt good.
He groaned in response because the vibrations were obviously having a positive effect on him.
I started to lick and suck, up and down his shaft. I was tracing the veins. They made interesting patterns. I moved my hand up and down with my mouth, turning and twisting my hand as I did. He was bucking his hips up every now and then. His eyes were now closed. His skin felt feverish and he was starting to sweat.
I let go of him with a pop. He opened his eyes, wondering why I had stopped. I moved further up his body, I was sitting with my legs on either side of him on his thighs. He ran his hands over my upper legs higher and higher, over my stomach, caressing me in all the right places.
I leaned down for a kiss, knowing him coming up to meet me would hurt him. I positioned myself on him and he slid home, our mouths still attached, silencing the groans when we connected. I leaned back and started to move. His hands went back to caressing me. He couldn't reach very far, but it was enough. It didn't matter where he touched me. Anywhere he touched my skin was one fire, fueling the heat between us. I tried to be gentle, but I had to move more. The slow and steady was good at first, but I needed more. And so did he. I noticed he was gritting his teeth, but I couldn't figure out if it was because he was frustrated by the pace or if it hurt.
I don't think it mattered, I sped up and I heard no complaints from him. As a matter of fact, his body strained and became taut. His hand reached up and started to stimulate me. His eyes locked on mine. I saw the love in them. I always loved this part. The look on his face when he came was beautiful. It wasn't just pleasure that he experienced, it was connection.
One neither one of us ever had before.
It was enough to send me over the edge too. He held onto me by my waist, making sure I came down okay. I wanted to crash on top of him. But I had enough brain power left to move to the side.
"How long does it take an alpha to heal again?"
He chuckled. "I think a few days to a week will be good enough."
I picked the blanket up and made sure both of us were covered. "So, you are telling me, you will be on bedrest for a couple of days and I have nowhere to be, but I actually have to let you heal?"
He laughed now. "You will be busy enough. Besides." He moved on his side. I knew it hurt him, but he didn't seem to mind. "What is a little pain if it means being with you."
He kissed me again, pressing against me. Once we parted ways to breathe I frowned.
"Now, you are making me feel guilty. No, No, I'll stay somewhere else for a few days."
I got up to leave, making sure I did it slowly, trying to hide my smirk.
"Don't you dare."
I turned around with a smile on my face as innocent as a newborn kitten. "But how could you resist me? I mean, I am me. No, I should give you some space. It would be better for both of us."
I laughed as he practically tackled me back to the bed, my arms above my head.
"Don't make me chain you to the bed again."
I remember our first encounter in his room. It felt so long ago. It felt like a different life. A life before Dimitri.
I pushed up my chest a bit, my back was arched anyway because my arms were above my head. "And here I thought we were discussing taking it slow for a few days."
Dimitri growled but let go and moved off of me.
"You will be the death of me yet, Roza."
The sound of my laughter bounced off of his walls. Because he was probably right.
DPOV
I slept well that night. Better than I have in a long time. This feeling that I had to be on guard all the time was gone. I was at peace.
My wolf was out and so was Rose's. They were canoodling by the fireplace. She was as gentle with him as Rose was with me. It felt good to let them out, not just because I had to once in a while, but simply because I wanted to. I realized I never had to hide him again.
There was no point anymore and it gave me a sense of freedom I had never had. Even if the title of slave general would still stick, I knew I never had to hide myself again. And as I brushed her hair from her face, I knew she never had to either. Abe had outed her as an Alpha.
I was brought out of my thoughts by a knock on the door.
I wasn't in a position to really get up yet. I mean I could if I really wanted to, but instead I chose to just cover us up properly and call them to enter.
It was Pavel. He had the decency to keep his eyes away from Rose even if she was covered.
"You both are requested in the council room in an hour."
I nodded and he quietly left, making sure not to wake a sleeping Rose. Apparently that was my job. I had to hand it to Pavel, he may not be an evil genius like his pack leader, but he surely was strategic with his exits.
"Rose? Roza?" She stirred a little but didn't wake up. I sighed. I really wanted to wash before going to the council. We had done a quick scrub down yesterday to get most of the blood off. But I could still smell some of it on me.
I tried to very quietly extract myself from the warm body next to me. My wolf did the same as he followed me to the bathroom.
It took her maybe ten minutes before she joined me in the bathroom. She stood with her back against the door. She wasn't as badly injured as I was, but she did have a few marks and welts on her. She looked me up and down too, assessing my injuries. I was covered in old and new bruises. But I looked a hundred times better than I had when Randall had tortured me.
"You're up."
She nodded. "I missed someone next to me."
I chuckled. "So all I have to do to wake you up is to leave? Good to know. Here I tried gently nudging you, and forcefully jostling you."
She laughed. "Hey, it has been a long couple of days. I was tired."
So was I… so was I. "We have a little less than an hour to get ready. We have been requested by the council."
She nodded. I had wanted a few more days alone with her, but already the day we had been given was more than I expected.
It was quiet when we put on our clothes. We both put on our battle gear. Mostly you would wear something formal for a council meeting, but I needed to make it clear who we were, who we have always been. Warriors.
And that is how we entered the council meeting, in our leathers, arms cuffs on with blades inside and a back full of weapons.
Rose and I stood in front of the council, my arms across my chest. Rose had one hand on her hip, the hip slightly slanted. It was the don't-mess-with-us look.
I saw Abe smile at this. No doubt he appreciated the theatrics.
"Rosemarie, my darling, how are you both doing this morning? No serious injuries I hope?"
I had to hand it to Abe, he made it sound like he was concerned for his daughter, but in truth he just wanted everyone to know that we started a rebellion, took down the King and his guards and came out of it unscathed. Well, maybe not unscathed, but they couldn't know that. We looked pretty good.
Rose waved her father off. "Why are we here, old man? We were just enjoying some well deserved rest."
Her tone left little to the imagination as to what kind of rest we have been having. I am reminded how much she is his daughter, because she didn't say it to be cheeky, she said it to underscore how much we didn't care about politics and we still had enough strength to do that kind of rest.
And all this passed between them in a blink of an eye in a silent conversation. It was a little unnerving to be honest.
"Yes, well, you can get back to that very soon. Right now, we need to discuss some logistics."
Abe motioned me towards a seat next to him. Janine and Pavel were behind him along the wall, Rose mirrored that spot behind me. I noticed it wasn't my usual spot. Another silent statement. I was his right hand man, literally, whereas before I was farthest away from the King.
I noticed some other changes to the council too. There were more high ranking military men and less actual politicians. I guess he didn't want any competition. He knew the military would respond to strength and with five alpha's including him, he could easily control them.
Also promoting people from less noble birth made a statement. I had no idea of what upbringing he came from, but I doubt he had been born with a silver spoon.
I nodded in the direction of Tatiana who was looking amused at Abe's and Rose's antics.
"Dimitri, I am glad you could make it." Dimitri, it was nice to hear my actual name and not boy, or even General. It underscored the relationship between us. And as much as I wanted to blame Abe for this obvious show of familiarity, I knew Tatiana could give Abe a run for his money. The two of them together was a bad combination, at least for their enemies.
"I am glad to see you well, aunt Tatiana, the crown suits you." She nodded, understanding the use of the blood connection. I had never called her aunt and I doubt in private I ever will. But right now, to solidify her power, it was important she was backed by power. More specifically my power.
"Let's get down to business, shall we? We have a lot to do."
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