“Unlikely,” Dimitri says, stretching back in his chair. “I prefer my freedom—and my women temporary.”
Kaz smirks. “Until one of them makes you forget your name.”
“Not possible,” Dimitri fires back smoothly. “I have it engraved on my cufflinks.”
The laughter dies down, and Dimitri turns to me, eyes glinting. “So…where’s the woman who finally tamed the beast? The one who dragged Roman Rusnak into holy matrimony?”
“Weren’t you at the wedding?” Niko rolls his eyes.
“For like one second,” I answer with a huff. “He left with a woman.”
Dimitri slants me a glance. “Roman, come on,” he laughs.
Lev gestures across the garden. “That’s Elara over there—with the women.”
Dimitri turns, following his gaze—and when he spots Elara, something in his expression shifts. She’s laughing softly with Jennie and Violet, the sun catching in her hair.
He lets out a low whistle. “Damn. That’s her?”
My jaw tightens. “Watch your mouth.”
He grins without looking at me. “Relax, brother. I’m just saying—she’s gorgeous. Strong eyes. Doesn’t look like thesubmissive type.” He sips his drink, eyes still on her. “You married a storm, Roman.”
“You should feel sorry for him,” Kaz mutters. “He’s been acting like he hasn’t slept since the wedding.”
That earns another round of laughter.
“You know,” Dimitri says, pushing his chair back with a lazy grin, “I haven’t been formally introduced to all the women.” He stands, brushing invisible lint off his shirt. “I’ll do that now.”
He winks at us and saunters off toward their corner, the confident bastard.
Kaz takes a slow sip of his drink. “They’re going to love him,” he mutters, shaking his head. “That fucking bastard.”
The others chuckle, pretending not to care—but every single one of us is watching. Dimitri moves like he owns the place, all easy charm and that damn smirk that’s gotten him out of more trouble than it should.
And then Elara looks up.
Her eyes catch his, and she smiles. It’s soft, polite, radiant.
My pulse spikes.
I trust Dimitri with my life. I’ve fought beside him, bled beside him, and buried bodies beside him in the past. But right now, as I watch her smile at him like that, something in me twists sharp and ugly.
Why can’t she fucking smile at me like that?
That warmth. That ease. That light that never seems to show when it’s just us.
She tilts her head, says something that makes Dimitri laugh, and my hand tightens around my glass until my knuckles ache.
Lev glances at me, smirking like he can smell the jealousy. “Easy, brother,” he says quietly. “He’s just saying hello.”
But I barely hear him. My jaw’s set, eyes locked on Elara.
If Dimitri makes her laugh again, I swear—
The day passes in a blur; thankfully, I don’t have to tell Dimitri off, mostly because Elara keeps my attention entirely. I watch her move through the crowd, laughing with Sasha, teasing Violet, and even quietly engaging with the kids. She looks…at home. Not a captive. Not a pawn. But part of this world. Part of my world.
And damn it, it pleases me more than it should. I hate how much it pleases me.
