Moving Objects

Chapter 24

"You have to understand, Dimitri is having a hard time dealing with what has happened. Too many people may overwhelm him. Right now the only people he is willing to see are me, your mother, and Rose."

Olena smiled gently but again this statement pissed Sonya off. "See you and her?" She hissed flicking a finger between us, "You're the reason he got into this mess. Last I heard he had put in allocation away from you, but somehow he got stuck with you," she sneered at Lissa before turning to me.

"And you. You almost ruined my brother's reputation. I mean, I get it, my brother is a man and it's clear why he would be attracted to you, but you couldn't leave well enough alone!" Sonya continued, flicking her eyes over me in disgust.

"Sonya!" Olena snapped, her voice full of disapproval and irritation. Everyone in the room looked at her and I could feel Lissa getting worked up. She already felt enough guilt about the situation, and Sonya's claims didn't help at all. I wrapped my arm around her and squeezed her gently, glaring at Sonya all the while. I liked Karo and Vika enough, but I was starting to dislike Sonya.

Olena looked at me and frowned apologetically before standing. "I believe our welcome has run dry. We will be leaving. Girls," Olena said gesturing for her daughters to leave. Olena watched as they left, Sonya stomping ahead while the rest followed, giving apologetic glances.

Olena took both Lissa and me in her arms, hugging us tightly while reassuring Lissa that this was not her fault. Lissa nodded against her and pulled away, sniffling. "When Dimka is ready, let me know?"

I nodded and bid her goodbye and leaned against the shut door.

"Well then," Lissa said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Mmmhmm," I replied as I leaned against the door, closing my eyes.

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I wasn't quite awake, but I wasn't fully asleep anymore. I could hear something shuffling around quietly behind me as I laid on my side before the covers lifted, a body sliding into the bed next to me. I turned quickly and stopped when I realized who it was.

"Comrade," I whispered. Dimitri wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me tight to him. I was surprised, but it had been too long since I had his arms around me. I tuned to face him and snuggle in close to him, tilting my head up to kiss him. It was a long kiss, deep and true, but it was full of longing. I missed him, I missed holding him, missed kissing him, missed his smell. It seemed he felt the same because his hands held me to him tightly, his lips firm against mine. I pulled away to breathe and brushed my fingers over his face tenderly.

"I'm not dreaming right?"

Dimitri shook his head, tucking a curl behind my ear. He brushed his lips over mine again before pulling away. "No. I was released tonight. Lissa was able to persuade them to let me choose where I wanted to stay. I barely stayed at my place before all of this happened, and I knew that my time with you would be limited. I hope that's alright," he said, biting his lip. I smiled and nodded my head, curling as tight as I could against him.

I breathed deeply and rested my face in the crook of his neck as his hands slipped under the back of my shirt, stroking the curve of my lower back. "I missed you. So, so much," I whispered into his skin. He sighed and pressed his lips to my ear. "I missed you too, Roza."

I was surprised that I was able to fall asleep so quickly with him here, but his presence was like a balm and I was out quickly, only to be woken up but pained yells. My eyes snapped open as he thrashed in bed next to me. I popped up and tried to wake him from his nightmare when the bedroom door banged open. Three Guardians stood there, stakes raised but I yelled at them to stay there.