Moving Objects

Chapter 21

"Oh yeah?"

"Mmhmm," Dimitri hummed against my lips, "She hopes that we may be able to visit near Christmas, if you're up for that."

I pulled away and looked up at him and I was glad to see the found look on his face. "You want me to meet your family?" I asked. Dimitri snorted a laugh and rolled so he was laying over me, caging me under him, not that I mind. I let my hands come to rest on his side and smile up at him.

"Of course. If I could have brought you home sooner, I would have. Mama is very excited to meet you - my sisters too. Mama gave me an earful last week about not introducing the two of you when she last called."

I smirked and slid my hands higher, enjoying the feeling of the tight muscles ripple underneath my fingers. "I mean, it's only fair that I meet them. You've met all of my family," I mused.

"I do have time saved up, and Lissa will be back at Christmas until mid-January. Maybe we could work something out and visit them?" he said, but it sounded like a question, a nervous question. I smirked up at him before stretching my head up to kiss the corner of his mouth.

"Let's do it," I said and watched a full-fledged smile grace his lips. It was beautiful, and I would do anything to see it there all the time.

That was how I was supposed to meet his family. Standing with him while he explained the best he could about his family while waiting for our baggage, watching him hug his mother for the first time in years while being welcomed into their family.

Instead, I was standing alone in an airport waiting for them to exit customs so they could collect his things and be at the memorial service for him. I toyed with the chain around my neck, letting my thoughts wander. Why couldn't things be different? Why couldn't we catch a break from the cosmic joke of the universe? Escaping a planned attack only for him to fall in a random incident. Regardless, my heart ached.

A woman appeared in front of me and I knew who it was without being introduced. It was Olena.

She dropped her bags as I straightened up and she engulfed me in her embrace, pulling me tight to her and whispering my name. I returned the hug and let myself enjoy the feeling. There was a very good chance that this may be the only time I ever see her. She pulled away and cupped my cheeks, assessing me thoroughly.

"You're even more beautiful in person. My son chose well," she chirped, her eyes warm. Her eyes were so close to his that it hurt to look in them, so I averted my gaze, finding hold on the seven other people behind her. It was clear to me who each of them was and I pulled back enough for Olena to introduce me to her family. The introductions were quick, and I showed them the way to the van I rented, getting all the car seats set before we all climbed in. The drive back to Court wasn't long, but I wanted to make it back by dark.

I knew what was out lurking in the streets at night.

Olena sat in the front with me and the ride was quiet, but she was the first to break the silence.

"You wear Dimka's bracelet?"

I looked at her before looking down at my right wrist. After the run in at the club, I'd been wearing the cuff I bought. It was a reminder to me, and I wasn't about to forget it.

I nodded my head. "Yeah. I bought him the cuff, but the nazar was mine. It was a gift from my father to my mother, and then to me. I had hoped it would protect him, but he wasn't wearing it," I explained with a tight smile. "I don't know if he ever did," I said quietly to myself, but Olena heard it too.

Olena patted my hand that was on the gear shift. "He did. I video chatted with him multiple times he was away with the Princess. He always had it on," she reassured me, and it made me feel a little bit better. Maybe it had protected him until he took it off.