“Dusha moya?” A hand landed on my shoulder. “Hey. Are you okay? What are you doing here? I waited for you at the clearing for our training. I was worried sick something might—wait…Did something happen?” he asked, his voice turning deadly. “Are you hurt? Has he—”
“I’m fine,” I muttered, the sound muffled by the fabric of my dress as I leaned away from him.
The motion made him flinch. Not that I could see, but the sudden sound of the leaves crunching under his feet followed by his utter stillness was giving him away.
“Du—Ania.”
My jaw clenched on a restrained sob. I couldn’t look at him now. Not after what Amyntas had told me. Not after getting to know him in the last ten days. The pain I would find in his eyes. Theanger.
No.
He ignored my blatant refusal to speak and sat down next to me, leaning to try and catch my eyes.
“Ania, please. Look at me.”
No, go away, I thought.Please, go away.
“Hey.” He placed his hand on my arm again and I shivered, the sob breaking free from my throat. Dimitri froze next to me. “Ania, what’s going on? You said you’re fine, but you’re not… Is—”
“You need toleaveDimitri,” I said, but the sound was so muffled I wasn’t even sure it came out properly.
“I’m not going anywhere without you, you know that.”
A cry tore free as my whole body racked from the effort to keep my tears silent.
He whispered something as he grabbed me, pulling my body against his. I tried to fight him, but my attempts were futile and only half-hearted.
Now seated on his lap, my head buried in his neck, I couldn’t help but breathe him in. His smell that had grown so familiar in the few times we’ve met, now enveloped me in a warm and safe cocoon.
“Shh, it’ll be okay. Whatever it is, it’ll be okay,” Dimitri whispered in my hair. “I’m here. I’m not scared. I’m not leaving.”
“Then you’re afool.”
He didn’t say anything to that. I was right, and he knew it. Only a fool wouldn’t be scared to end up caught up in an Astral conflict. He should have run themomenthe understood I was meant to be married off to the fucking Dragons.
“I’m not,” he finally countered. “I have nothing to lose except for you.”
I scoffed, straightening up to look at his face. My eyes were puffy and probably red. He frowned, studying me.
“What about yourlife, Dimitri? I’m not worth losing it. I wouldn’t forgive myself if you were to be killed because of me.”
A wicked smile stretched over his face as his darkening eyes dropped to my parted lips. “Killed?” he said. “I mean, they can try. Many have in the past, none have succeeded.”
What the Hell was he talking about?
“If you’re referring to the Hellhound you slayed, it was impressive, yes, but probably nothing next to an Astral’s wrath.” He had the audacity to roll his eyes, holding me tighter against him. The damn smile not leaving his face. “Come on, a lot of humans have taken it upon themselves to fight demon creatures. It’s not like you’re the only one. All perish at some point.”
“But notme.”
His confused gaze searched mine, plunging deep enough to stir my soul.
“What on the stars does that even mean?” I groaned.
“Come on, you can’t be that clueless.”
“Well, apparently I am!”
I pushed against his chest to get away, but his hold was too strong. Too tight.Too comforting, for me to really try.
