All mistakes are my own. Editing on 6hrs of sleep might not be my best idea...

Dimitri looked up at the home he had known since he was thirteen. The faded blue paint and the garden he had helped his mother maintain on his summer breaks. He never once thought his mother would lie to him. It hurt to realise that she had.

What are you, Dimitri?

Rose's question lingered. Four words filled him with dread and anger. He wasn't an idiot. Dimitri knew there was something that was off about him every time Rose was surprised he wasn't drained by her. His mother knew something, made obvious enough by the fact she knew about demons and shot Rose.

Discovering Ivan was also hiding something caused knots in his stomach. How could so many people close to him be hiding something that clearly involved him in some way?

Suddenly, everything had secret double meanings that left him second-guessing.

There was some relief that Rose wouldn't be there with him, even if he wished she was. She gave him a sense of confidence when faced with new things. It felt foolish to put so much trust in someone he had met two months ago, but he trusted her completely.

A voice in his head told Dimitri that Rose would never lie to him—even at the church, she never lied. Rose told Dimitri exactly what she was, but he never believed her until her eyes glowed.

There was still so much he didn't know about her, but Dimitri wanted to know it all. Every piece of information Rose granted him was treasured; each locked away and valued. Dimitri knew she wasn't someone that trusted easily, noticing each time she hesitated to tell him something personal.

It's why it was so important when she did.

It was why he trusted her. There was some connection—a draw between them that broke through their barriers and fears. And that was why he wished she was with him, standing by his side.

He knew that everything could change that night, and wanted Rose's strength to accept what he learned. Dimitri promised himself he wasn't leaving until he had answers—wouldn't stop demanding until he had them.

He was no longer ignorant and hated living blind to the truth.

Yet, despite his resolve, Dimitri hesitated at the front door, hand hovering just above the handle. He was already late after sitting in his car for the past ten minutes contemplating going in. Again, he was stuck wondering if he should.

Then the door swung open and took the choice out of his hands.

"Are you going to stand out here all night? I'm hungry," Viktoria complained with a roll of her eyes. His younger sister stared at her phone, thumbs gliding across the screen. All of his family shared a strong resemblance, the same brown hair and eyes, his siblings all gifted with the striking features of his mother. But of his three sisters, Dimitri and Viktoria were the most similar—and the closest.

A fond smile grew on his lips. "Hello to you too," he replied, ruffling her hair affectionately.

Despite the turmoil between Dimitri and his mother, he knew Viktoria wasn't hiding information from him. She would have broken down and told him. Everyone in the family knew that Viktoria couldn't keep a secret.

Viktoria pushed his hand away with a scowl, finally lifting her eyes from her phone. "Where's the girlfriend?" she asked, searching the front yard as if Rose was hiding. "Ivan said you had one, and I didn't believe it. Guess I'm right."

"She couldn't make it."

She laughed. "Couldn't afford her anymore?"

Dimitri's eyes narrowed. "Vika."

"What? I didn't think you even spoke to girls."

Dimitri scowled, ears tinted pink, while Viktoria cackled. He stepped through the entryway, playfully pushing her to the side with his shoulders. When she was younger, they would play fight, granted she was thirteen, and he was twenty-one. Viktoria never won but never gave up.

She jumped onto his back and tried to put him in a headlock. "Ivan's been teaching me new moves. You're going down!"

The threat only lasted as long as it took for Dimitri to reach the lounge room; he threw her onto the couch with little effort.

"Please, no fighting in the house," Olena scolded but with a cheerful note in her voice.

Dimitri had been laughing along with Viktoria but stopped suddenly. He met his mother's eyes, and his jaw clenched. It was strained between them; the ease that was once there was gone. Each time Dimitri became quiet and withdrawn around her, Olena's eyes would fill with pain, but she never answered his questions.

His babushka sat in her usual rocking chair, a new knitting project on her lap and a silent stare travelling about the room. When her eyes met his, she grinned. Yeva always held secrets, ones that even Olena didn't know. Dimitri did not doubt that Rose and Yeva would have butt heads, but his babushka would have enjoyed Rose's fire.

Viktoria was either unaware of the tension in the room or chose to ignore it, bouncing up from the couch and loudly declaring for the house, "Dimitri didn't bring his girlfriend."

Olena's shoulders relaxed, and she sighed, "Oh. That's too bad." She stepped forward with an anxious smile, "I'm glad you still came."

Dimitri looked away, not wanting to show his irritation. He hated fighting with his mother. It happened so rarely that he couldn't remember the last time he was so angry. He focused on Viktoria instead, asking, "Who else is here?"

"Sonya and Karo aren't coming," she replied, eyes again on her phone. "Just going to be the six of us now."

"Six?"

"Yes," Olena's smile was strained, "Alberta is joining us."

It threw Dimitri, unable to keep his surprise off his face. He knew Alberta through the church, she was the woman that helped convince Dimitri to become a priest in the first place, and she was the one most against him taking a step back.

"Why is she coming?" A bad feeling settled in the pit of his stomach.

"She missed you."

Dimitri didn't believe her reason. Why would they invite a member of the church when they were expecting Rose to come with Dimitri? He was grateful that Rose didn't come now.

As if on cue, there was a knock at the front door before it opened; Ivan's voice floated down the hall, "Hello!"

Despite knowing he was coming, Dimitri couldn't help but stiffen at the arrival of his friend. Rose called him a demon hunter, and Ivan was obviously interested in Rose enough to invite her to the dinner. There were too many unknowns and too much that held the possibility of hurting Dimitri when he finally gained the truth.

Ivan strolled into the room with his usual grin, beelining for Dimitri and pulling him into a hug—acting like normal. "Hey, I'm glad you came," he greeted as if they didn't see each other regularly at work. As Dimitri stared at him silently, Ivan's expression became drawn. "Where's Rose?"

Dimitri pursed his lips. "She's busy."

"That's a shame," a new voice added; Dimitri hadn't noticed Alberta arrived. She was an older woman, closer in age to Olena, though a little older. She held herself more like a soldier than a priest, with piercing eyes that never let anything get past her. "It's good to see you, Dimitri. Are you staying out of trouble?"

"Of course," Dimitri returned. He didn't like that they invited someone else. Were they trying to stop him from asking about demons? Push him back into the church? Dimitri turned back to Ivan and Olena, imploring them, "I need to talk to you."

"Yes," Olena confirmed. "We should talk."

Dimitri's chest tightened in anticipation.

Yeva tapped her knitting needles against the wood of her rocking chair, drawing attention to her. Though she seemed frail, she wasn't a woman to be messed with. "First, we eat," Yeva instructed. "You," she pointed at Dimitri, "sit by me."

Dimitri looked around the table, studying each person. They all shared looks, a hint of knowing in their eyes. It was like there was another conversation happening that Dimitri had no part in.

Yeva sat at the head, and as directed, Dimitri was beside her. Viktoria was next, Olena taking the end, and Ivan opposite Viktoria. Alberta sat across from Dimitri, eyes trained on him.

"I'm glad you could join us," Alberta stated with false cheer. She cocked her head, "It is a shame about your friend. I've heard a lot about her."

Dimitri looked at his mother. "What exactly have you heard?"

"I know that the church wouldn't approve of her."

Viktoria scoffed and muttered, "Damn."

Dimitri ignored his sister, staring at Alberta, brows drawn together until it clicked. He looked at Ivan and noticed how uncomfortable he was, but he nodded in agreement with Alberta.

Rose was right.

Dimitri understood the underlying meaning in Alberta's words—she knew Rose was a demon. They all did. "Was this a planned blood bath?"

"A what?"

He looked between Ivan and Olena. "Do you have guns?"

There was a thick silence, and then Ivan produced a small revolver, laying it on the table. Dimitri stilled.

"I wanted to keep this civilised," Ivan offered.

"Civilised?" Dimitri questioned. "You were going to kill her."

"Only if we had to," Alberta assured, though it only made Dimitri feel worse. It confirmed that she was a part of—whatever it was that Ivan and Olena were playing at. "It's for the best that she isn't here. Your family is worried, Dimitri. The church is too. You are spending time with very dangerous people."

"The only dangerous people I see are you three." He turned to Olena, "You shot Rose."

Viktoria choked on her drink, splattering in shock. "What the f–hell!"

"Vika!" Olena scolded, telling her off in Russian.

"And you," Dimitri continued with his ire aimed at Ivan, "invited her here with the plan of trying to kill her."

"What the actual fuck?" Viktoria gasped, earning another scolding from her mother.

Dimitri laced his fingers together and breathed heavily. Rage was building in him, lighting a fire under his skin that begged to be released. He exhaled slowly, pushing the anger down, and looked around the table. "Maybe you should go upstairs," he directed at Viktoria.

"No," she argued, "I know something is going on, and I want to know what. Is this because of the demon stuff?"

That drew a look of shock.

"How do you know about that?" Olena demanded, eyes wide.

Viktoria nodded to Yeva, "Babushka told me."

Dimitri's fingers tightened, anger spiking. "I see. So, you told Vika, but you haven't told me." He looked at his mother, hurt evident in his expression. "Were you ever going to tell me about this…whole other world you all seem to know about?"

"Of course, Dimka," Olean began, eyes pleading. "It's just…"

"What?" he urged. "Why did you keep it from me for so long?"

"It wasn't time." Like watching a tennis match, all heads turned to look at Yeva. The older woman muttered under her breath before pointing at Dimitri. "You weren't ready. Now you are."

His brows furrowed. "Ready for what? Why did I need to be kept in the dark about all of this?" He focused on Ivan, "We've been friends for years, and you've kept this from me."

Pain radiated in Dimitri's voice; he broke apart acknowledging the betrayal between him and the people he trusted most. At first, it had hurt, but to have it confirmed was like a knife plunged into his back. But it also filled him with fear. It twisted and wound around his heart and squeezed until he couldn't breathe.

What was so bad that they all hid it from him?

Yeva muttered again in Russian and laid a frail hand over his. "You weren't ready. You needed her."

There was a moment of reprieve. Dimitri's attention shifted to Yeva. Warmth filled her expression, keen eyes full of acceptance and understanding.

"Her?" Olena gasped. "Mama! You knew this would happen?" Sorrow filled her eyes. "Was everything we did all for nothing?"

"What did you do?" Dimitri snapped, patience wearing thin. "Will you just tell me the truth!"

"Vika, go upstairs," Olena instructed, shooting a reprimanding look at Viktoria when she began to argue. She waited until she was out of the room before her eyes met Dimitri's again. "Please know that everything I did was to protect you."

"What are you protecting me from?"

Tears gathered in Olena's eyes. "Your father."

Dimitri inhaled sharply. His hand curled into fists painfully; knuckles were white and shook under Yeva's hand. "What about him?" he growled.

Silence settled, eyes darting around the room in concern, unsure who would speak next.

Rage rolled off of Dimitri, an unusual response compared to how he generally was. Dimitri took pride in the control of his emotions, how he could restrain his rage and not let it take over. But he couldn't hold it back anymore.

Alberta was the one to reveal the truth. "Your father is a demon."

"What?" Dimitri pulled away from the table. "No. I'm not–"

"She's right." Yeva's voice was even, a sombre expression aimed at her grandson. "He is the father to you and your sisters. The same one you fought off years ago."

"No!" Dimitri affirmed. "I am not…" his eyes squeezed together. Even as he denied it, it was like the piece that brought the picture together—everything made sense. Rose has said he didn't seem human; he wasn't affected by her the same way others were. His mother carried a gun that could kill demons, and his best friend was a hunter.

His family had encouraged him to join the church after he had beaten his father for laying a hand on his mother.

Dimitri stood from the table, taking steps away from them all. "How could you keep that from me!"

"Dimka," Olena winced, tears slipping down her cheeks, "I believed it would be better if you didn't know. I didn't–"

"Didn't want to admit what I was?" he demanded. "Did you keep that gun with you to use on me?"

"I would never!"

"We were trying to protect you," Ivan tried explaining, but Dimitri turned his anger on him.

"Protect me from what? Myself!"

"From Rose," Alberta answered, "or from demons in general." She glanced at Olena, "There is a concern about what being around them would do to you. If you would start showing some more demonic traits."

"I'm not one of them!" Dimitri roared.

Olena flinched, and it shattered Dimitri. Fear flashed in her eyes, and he backed away.

He was at a loss for words, unable to express himself properly.

A demon.

If his father was a demon… then that made him–

Dimitri couldn't put words to it—couldn't admit it to himself. There wasn't a part of him that disliked the demon side of Rose—it was who she was. But to accept that there was a part of him that could be evil—a part of him that could be like his father—was too much.

Olena slowly stood and tried to catch Dimitri's eyes. "Neither of your sisters showed a sign of your father's side," she explained, "and neither had you until the day you protected me. But that was the only time. You were still my little boy. My angel."

Dimitri laughed; it was hollow. "How can you call me that?" He backed away from them again and disappeared into the kitchen. He stormed through the room, grasping the edge of the sink and leaning over it.

He had only seen his father a handful of times when growing up, and each time the man was more brutal than the last. There was an aura around the man that would make Dimitri cringe back.

The last time he had come around was a week after Dimitri's thirteen birthday; he had leered over Dimitri with a look of pure rage. At the time, Dimitri hadn't understood the questions he had asked, why he had asked if Dimitri had felt that pull.

Then Olena returned home, and everything fell apart.

Dimitri could remember the sudden rage that filled him when Olena fell to the ground from the first hit. It was like his vision became tainted with red, and something possessed him with the sole focus of protecting his mother.

Everything else faded.

It wasn't until they were in the car and on the highway that Dimitri came back to himself. His sisters were sleeping in the backseat, and Olena was driving, his hand in hers. There was still blood on her face, and her eye was swollen shut, but she kept driving. She kept telling him it would be okay.

After that night, they moved in with their babushka and lived in the city. They never spoke of that day, and Dimitri was too ashamed to ask what happened.

Dimitri had joined the church and befriended Ivan; he became desperate to put that terrifying night behind him and learned to control his temper so he would never feel that bloodlust again.

The demon within.

"Dimka?"

Dimitri spun and locked eyes with Viktoria, then turned away. "Were you listening?" he questioned as he stared at his hands, fingers curled around the edge of the sink so tightly they hurt. When he blinked, he saw them bloodied from hitting his father.

"Yeah," she admitted, "I kind of had an idea when Yeva told me about demons. And with how weird everyone has been."

"How long have you known?"

She stepped beside him, her hand hovering between them, unsure if he would accept her comfort. "A couple of weeks ago, mama came home and was freaking out. Kept saying they found you."

Dimitri huffed and nodded. That would have been the day she shot Rose.

"Babushka said that not all demons are bad."

The corner of his lips quirked up. "That's true." Images of Rose filled his mind.

Viktoria shifted closer, leaning against the counter, and nudged him with her elbow, "Maybe you are a weird demon that's just super nice. One of those lame demons."

He laughed, turning to mimic her stance. "You know all about demons now? Have you ever met one?"

She pouted. "No. But Yeva said our family can sense them or something."

Dimitri's brows drew together. Maybe that was how his mother knew what Rose was.

"So, you're dating a demon?" she questioned; eyes widening when Dimitri nodded. "Holy shit."

He nudged her, scolding, "Vika."

"And here I thought of all of us, Sonya would be the one to date a demon."

Dimitri shook his head at her, not showing his smile. After what he just learned, Viktoria was able to calm him down. It soothed some of the hurt and the worry about being accepted; she treated him like nothing changed.

"Is this going to make things different?" Viktoria's voice was small, hesitant.

"I don't know," Dimitri replied honestly.

From his spot against the sink, he could just peer into the dining room. Hushed voices drifted in but weren't loud enough for him to understand what they were saying. The only person he could see was Yeva, and she didn't seem impressed.

The conversation stopped, chair legs dragged across the floor, and someone walked through the house and out the front door. Another moved towards the kitchen. Dimitri prepared himself for his mother or Ivan; instead, it was Alberta.

"Go back upstairs, Vika," Dimitri instructed, giving her a pointed look. After learning the truth, he didn't know if he could trust Alberta anymore.

There was no smile on her face or kind look in her eyes. She was stoic and on guard. "Now you know the truth; you know what Ivan and I are."

"What was the purpose of you being here? Was the plan to attack Rose just because she's a half-demon? You don't even know if she's done anything bad."

"My only concern is keeping people safe. If there is a demon and they are a threat, I will deal with them." Her eyes burned, the warning clear. "I promised to help your mother keep you hidden, and as long as you were far from other demons, you were safe. But now, you are taking a risk, Dimitri. I like you, and I don't want to see you get hurt because of a fling."

Dimitri heard the threat, jaw clenching at how blatant she was. What angered him most wasn't the threat to his life—but Rose's. "Stay away from me and her. She has done nothing wrong."

"Obviously, you aren't listening," she criticised, "I don't care. All that matters is if I perceive a demon as bad or not. That's it."

His stomach twisted—a need to protect Rose filled his chest until it became panic. He had to warn her not to come to the house. Dimitri turned from Alberta and left; he didn't turn back to say anything to his mother or Ivan. At that moment, he didn't know if he could trust any of them.

The door slammed behind him; the house rattled slightly.

"Hello, lover."

Dimitri paused, discovering the very person he was thinking of already standing at his car. Finally, he felt like he could breathe again.

They were silent for the drive; Dimitri was so determined to get Rose far from Alberta and his mother that he didn't realise he had practically sped back to Rose's house. No one else knew where she lived—it was the safest place for them.

Once they were parked, he didn't get out of the car straight away, fingers still curled around the wheel and staring straight ahead.

His father was a demon.

He was a half-demon.

None of it made sense.

"Dimitri?" Rose's voice broke him from his thoughts, drawing his attention back to her. Her fingers brushed the skin of his wrist, curling around his hand and easing his grip off the wheel. "Do you want to go inside?"

She was being so gentle with him, words whispered and her touch tender. How could anyone perceive her as evil? How could she ever be a danger to Dimitri? There was an anger in him, enough that he had beaten his father so badly he never came around again, and now he knew that man was a demon. Of the two of them, Dimitri was the dangerous one, not Rose.

Yet, because she kept him around, Rose was in trouble now.

"I'm so sorry, Roza," he stuttered. If anything happened to her, it would be his fault.

Her brows knitted together, "Why are you sorry?"

Dimitri's head dropped in shame, at a loss at how to tell her he had placed a target on her back.

"Let's go upstairs." Rose climbed out first and then came to his side. She was being so caring that Dimitri already mourned losing her affection.

It was a strange feeling walking hand in hand with Dimitri; still a new habit from that afternoon. Their date felt like it was days ago rather than hours.

So much had happened.

Rose glanced at Dimitri, trying to guess his thoughts. All while her own ran rampant.

Dimitri was a demon. Half, at least.

He was just like her.

She had suspected it, one of the theories that went through her mind since meeting him. But each time, she had cast the idea to the side because she couldn't sense it. Hell, Rose had met him in the church.

How could someone with demon in them be as kind and caring as Dimitri?

Maybe that was what surprised her most. There were very few demons she had met that were kind.

She wasn't kind like him.

Guilt ate away at her. When she had learned Dimitri was a half-demon, it meant that she could be with him—she felt happy. While there was still a risk, and she had to be careful how much she took each time, they could be together like a real couple. Granted, that depended on if he wanted her too.

But then she saw Dimitri's reaction, and the idea of them being together faded away.

Dimitri followed behind her, zoned out and eyes glazed over. He wasn't happy to learn the truth.

"Sit down," Rose instructed once they were in her apartment. She stared him down until he did as she asked.

Dimitri dropped onto the couch like his strings had been cut, with his shoulders hunched and hands hanging limp between his thighs. Offering emotional comfort to another wasn't one of Rose's skills, especially when it didn't include sex. She was out of her depth.

With no better ideas, Rose opened her freezer and retrieved the bottle of vodka she had been saving. She didn't even bother with glasses; just flicked off the lip and drank straight from the bottle.

She held it out to Dimitri. "Drink. It'll help."

Dimitri eyed the bottle and obediently took it. Rose couldn't drag her eyes away from him as he drank, watching his throat bobble with each swallow. He drank more than she had expected but wasn't surprised. Discovering you were part demon wasn't happy news, especially when you had no idea it could be a possibility.

Hesitantly, Rose brushed a few locks of hair back from Dimitri's face, feeling more confident when he leaned into her touch. "Did you want to talk about it?" she offered.

Dimitri's eyes flicked to hers, a slight flush to his cheeks from the vodka. He lifted the bottle to his lips again but didn't look away. "I don't want to talk right now," he finally responded, placing the bottle on her coffee table with a soft thump. Dimitri reached for her; large hands gripped her hips and pulled Rose down on his lap. "I don't want to think about any of that right now," he pleaded. "Let me be distracted, Roza."

Her knees were on either of his hips, her hands resting on his shoulders, feeling the firm muscles under his shirt. Her demon craved his touch, awakened by their close proximity. It was like a breath of fresh air after being around Mason. "What do you want to do, Dimitri?"

Desire filled his eyes; his tongue darted out to lick his lip. "You."

Rose pressed her lips to his. "You have me."

It was the permission he had waited for, surging forward to claim her lips in a bruising kiss. There was no easing in, heat burned between them, and Rose welcomed it. She didn't need to feed after the club but was happy to take what Dimitri offered.

Dimitri's fingers dug into her thighs before he lifted her off the couch, spun them around, and lowered her down again. Dimitri broke the kiss and dropped to his knees in front of her. "I want to take care of you, Roza."

Desire shot through Rose, burying her fingers in Dimitri's hair. He didn't want to think, a look in his eyes begging to be led, and she was happy to give him what he needed. "Make me come with your mouth, Dimitri," she ordered, the same one she gave in the church.

The air between them was thick; eagerness shone in his eyes as he unbuttoned her jeans. Rose lifted her hips, helping him undress her enough to fulfil her command. There wasn't a point that his hands weren't touching her; his mouth latched on any exposed skin. Once she was bare and her legs spread, Dimitri's mouth covered her clit.

Rose's head fell back, fingers curling in his long hair and using it to direct his mouth. Hands gripped her ass, kneading and pulling her closer. Dimitri devoured her like she was his favourite meal, eagerly sucking and licking. Rose pushed him down further, tilting her hips. She wanted to feel him inside her.

Dimitri gave into her silent command, focusing on her entrance and doing everything he could to please her. What Dimitri lacked in experience, he made up for with enthusiasm. He was determined to do as she asked—to give her exactly what she wanted. He didn't care about his own release even as Rose's moans turned him on, his dick hard in his jeans and straining against the material. All he cared about was Roza.

Rose grew louder and tightened her hold on his hair, riding Dimitri's face as she chased her release. Her legs were over his shoulders, thighs clenching with each shot of pleasure. Every time Dimitri found the perfect spot she moaned, encouraging him to keep going.

A haze took over her, and she didn't hold back. The knowledge that Dimitri wasn't completely human took away some of her control, and she allowed her body to take more. The feelings were more intense—the energy stronger and left her shattered when her orgasm hit.

Rose threw her head back, barely able to keep her eyes open as she screamed in pleasure. Her body shook, her climax dragged out by Dimitri's tongue still moving over her clit until Rose laid boneless on the couch. Air was difficult to draw in, her heart pounding in her ears. "Oh God," she gasped.

Dimitri chuckled, cheek resting against her thigh while he caught his breath. "I thought that was my line."

It took a while for either one to move; Dimitri crawled his way back onto the couch and settled beside Rose with a huff. She reached for him, carefully turning his face; she took more from him than normal, not as much as she would from Mason, but it was still a lot. It was more than a human could take.

Her eyes searched his, looking him up and down, and then back at his face. He was tired, but it was more relaxed exhaustion than him being drained. "Are you okay?"

Dimitri blinked lazily; it took a moment for him to make his tongue work, "I'm okay. Just tired."

The concern was still in the back of her mind, her lips twitching. "You should sleep. We can talk more in the morning."

"I'll head off." Dimitri's words were as sluggish as his movements, swaying when he stood until Rose caught him.

"You are not driving."

"Where…"

Rose rolled her eyes, throwing his arm over her shoulder and then guided him back to her bedroom. Mason had been similar when she first took as much as she could, but over time he grew used to it. Rose just hoped that Dimitri would be the same and not have any lasting effects.

Her father's words played in her head again and the icy feeling of dread went down her spine.

Would Dimitri be strong enough for her to stay with him?

Thank you so much for all the comments, I'm really glad you are enjoying the story!