And that unsettles me.
“What’s going on?” I ask him.
Gavriil moves away from the cage and hurries over to me, wearing only a white undershirt and black trousers as if he was in the middle of undressing. He stops right in front of me, close enough for me to smell his familiar rich scent I dream about from time to time.
“You and Dominik are free to go,” Gavriil tells me. He draws in a long breath through his nose until his lungs are filled. He exhales just as slowly. “There will likely be an attack on the estate soon. We need to get you someplace safe.”
A jolt of fear hits me, creating a lump in my throat that I struggle to swallow past. I’m not exactly surprised by the news, but it still worries me to think of this modern fortress being stormed by enemies.
Dominik and I are leaving. That explains the comfortable clothes in case I need to run in them. But what about him? He’s going to stay behind.
I step back, my head shaking at the thought. “So, you’re sending us away and this is your goodbye? After everything you did to get me here, you’re just…done with me?”
Gavriil grimaces. “This is for your own safety. All your things that we seized when you and Dominik first tried to leave the city will be packed as well and sent with you.”
“Where? Where are we going?” I question him, my mind threatening to spiral out of control as he throws so much at me.
Once again, he’s taking control, moving us around like chess pieces on his board without asking. He has to place us exactly where he wants us to be.
I used to believe he did things just to be cruel. Now, I think he does it as a way to protect himself. Or because he thinks he knows what’s best for everyone around him.
“You’ll go to a farmhouse a few miles away until it’s safe for Dominik to leave the city,” he replies.
My heart pounds as I envision that. Dominik and I by ourselves at last.
It’s what we wanted before, but…we’ll be leaving Gavriil behind instead of running from him.
I can’t help but wonder if that’s what infuriated him most a few weeks ago, that Dominik was going to up and leave him without saying goodbye for me, a woman he just met. That attempt to abandon him hurt more than he will probably ever admit.
“What are you going to do?” I ask.
Gavriil holds my gaze in silence for a few seconds before answering.
“What I must,” he says softly. “Stay here to fight with my men.”
My stomach twists. Not so long ago, I wanted Gavriil dead. I thought I could even do it myself because I hated him so much.
Now…now the thought of leaving without him feels impossible. Like with Dominik, our trauma has bonded us in a way I never expected. Never wanted. And losing him is unacceptable. Does he think this is what we want? Him to go risk his life? Yes, probably so, because he doesn’t think he deserves a happy ending.
“You don’t have to do anything, Gavriil!” I exclaim as I step just inches away from him, determined to change his mind. “Come with us,” I demand, trying to use whatever power I have over him.
Gavriil takes a deep breath and grabs the back of my neck, making my eyes snap up to his blue ones. “I wish I could,printsessa,” he says before he leans down and captures my lips, kissing me deeper than Dominik ever has.
Like he won’t get the chance to do so again.
The thought makes my self-control shatter. I give into the kiss, give into him, grasping at his back like I’m going to die if our lips break apart, if he stops and pushes me away.
Gavriil’s hands run along the outsides of my thighs, inching their way closer to my waist.
My skin warms beneath his touch, and I can’t help but seek out more, my fingertips gliding along the grooves of his back and shoulder muscles. He’s firm and strong like a rock that has no choice but to take the constant hit of waves.
His resiliency is frustrating, but I like the way that he kisses me like I’m his source of oxygen, and he’s breathless right now.
Gavriil sucks on my bottom lip, coaxing a gentle sigh from me that makes his grip on my waist tighten. He liked that.
I slide my hand up the back of his neck, my fingers delving into his soft hair as our kiss continues to deepen. I tease his tongue with mine before his dips into my mouth, tasting me.
It’s a ritual of give and take, and he makes it hard not to be greedy because I want so much from him. And from Dominik.
