Girl Gone Rogue (The Shadow Hunters #2)

45. Babushka

Before I could think further, the door opened, exposing a shirtless Alexei with ruffled bed hair. "Solnishko." I was surprised to see him, considering he was supposed to be on patrol.

"There's a car-"

"Is this her?" A guttural, taut voice came from behind Alexei.

"Babushka, please." Alexei spoke. Apology flashed across his gaze as the door widened a fraction. A short woman appeared behind him, peering up at me with knowing, brown eyes.

For a second, I stumbled over my words, uncertain of what to utter.

Alexei did not help matters either. He simply let the old woman come forward.

Up close, she gave off an aura of absolute authority. Although she was two heads shorter than I was, she regarded me like I was a miniscule Lego piece. Alexei had her aura. It was the only reason I hadn't completely shrivelled into dust beneath her intense scrutiny.

Alexei grandmother had donned herself in a blue and purple floral dress that covered her toes. She added a long cardigan that hung loosely from her dainty shoulders and her inky black hair with strands of silver, cascading down her back in slight waves.

There was a refined, particular beauty she possessed, and she wielded it like a weapon.

"You must be my grandson's mate."

"I'm Penelope Rivers."

She just stared at me.

Alexei gently nudged her to the side and pulled me inside. "She came unexpectedly. I didn't think she would come this quickly."

"It's ok." I told him just as Babushka sought my gaze. She waved her hand to the living room. I gulped and joined her.

***

It was official. That last few hours had been difficult and undeniably awkward.

Alexei's Babushka was not going to make this easy on me.

Although Alexei had left here only minutes ago to grab ingredients for lunch, it felt like an entire decade had passed.

Babushka took another long sip of her steaming tea, keeping me within direct eye contact.

"Alexei speaks very highly of you." I began, cupping my mug in my palms as the hot jasmine tea inside warmed my skin.

"Of course he would." She agreed, taking another steady sip of her hot concoction.

"I sense that you don't like me." I caught her gaze.

Her eyes widened a fraction, but she waved off her response with a nonchalant hand, "Dislike and being unfamiliar are not the same thing."

"Both are making you distance yourself from me." I replied.

"My grandson knows what pleases me. He'll do anything to seek my approval."

"He has only spoke of you with love." I affirmed.

For the first time today, her lips curled up, "He's a good grandson."

"He is." I agreed.

"You know, he had once been paired with a girl back in Russia." She met my gaze over the rim of her mug. The steam caressed the tip of her nose. "But I knew he wouldn't want to be stuck with her. It was a shame really. She was a pretty thing with impeccable manners. If my grandson wanted something ordinary, he would still probably be in St Petersburg, married to the girl and living a comfortable life."