Moving Objects

Chapter 4

"I'm sorry," I cried again, wrapping my arms tightly around him. Dimitri nodded against me before pressing his lips against my skin.

"I know," he whispered, squeezing me tighter. I tried to stop my tears but they were falling at such a rate that it was impossible. Dimitri pulled me off the edge of the bed and stood up with me in his arms before laying down on the bed, tucking me against him. I repositioned myself and rested my head on his chest and laced my fingers with his as he rested our hands on his stomach.

"I know it's after curfew, but I don't want to leave," I mumbled. Dimitri's other hand came up and caressed the back of my head and he turned his head to press a kiss to my forehead.

"Just stay here tonight. Please?" he said. I nodded and shifted to kick my shoes off before winding my legs together with his.

"No matter what happens, I love you," Dimitri said, tangling his hand into my hair. I tilted my head up to look at him, giving him a watery smile. I stretched up and brushed my lips against his before settling back down on his chest.

"I meant to mention it earlier, but thank you for the necklace," I said as I pushed myself up enough to pull the chain from beneath my shirt. Dimitri had a fond smile on his face when his eyes laid on the cross. He reached out and brushed his fingers over it with a smile.

"I'm glad you like it. It was mine," he said. I smiled at him despite my shitty mood and leaned down to give him a proper kiss. He responded in kind and moved his mouth against mine. I pulled away with a sigh and let my eyes drop to his chest, pulling the gold chain around his neck.

"Where is this one from?"

"It was Ivan's. I started wearing it after he died to feel closer to him. The one I gave you is the one I've had since forever. It was a gift from my mother and I wanted you to have it. I know you aren't religious or spiritual, but I like knowing that you have it," he said gently, brushing his finger over my cheekbones to collect the tears that laid there. I gave him a small smile and rested my head in the crook of his neck and placed my hand over his chest.

I let my eyes close as the steady rhythm of his breathing lulled me into a cocoon of safety before succumbing to exhaustion.

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"I was looking for you last night. Where did you go?" Lissa said as she sat beside me in class.

"I went for a run. By the time I realized what time it was, it was way past curfew so I had to sneak back in," I explained as I twirled my pen between my fingers. Lissa frowned but said nothing else and turned her attention to the front of the room as our class started. I barely paid attention to the class and my mind wandered. I knew that telling Eddie the truth was a risk but I didn't expect him to turn me in.

Lissa nudged my arm and I looked up at her only for her to jut her head towards the front of the room. I looked to see the Moroi teacher looking at me impatiently.

"Hathaway? Guardian Petrov needs to see you in her office."

I nodded and picked up my bag as I headed to the door. I took a slow breath as I walked to Alberta's office, gripping the strap on my bag so tightly that the fabric was digging into my skin. The sound of my shoes against the floor was deafening and it was almost like a ticking clock to my own demise. I came to a stop outside the office and waited for a moment, reaching my other hand up to stroke the necklace beneath my shirt, the only physical token I had of us.

I let go of it and raised my hand to the door, knocking twice. Alberta called me in and I opened the door. Alberta was sitting at her desk and gave me a nod, but the look on her face wasn't what I thought it would be. She seemed to have almost a smile on her face.