He knew he should keep his excitement to himself, but Vlad couldn't help the small smile that
crept upon his lips.
"Don't get too cocky boy! This doesn't mean you should trust me or that I trust you any more
than I did when you stormed in here. It just means...I won't wage all-out war, but I won't help
you any further than that. You have to deal with the others on your own, but I won't help them,
and I won't stand in your way. Understood?"
Vlad's grin widened to a deadly smirk.
"I just knew you'd like those terms." Charles muttered dryly. "Just don't point the bodies in my
direction! And keep it under the radar. What am I saying? You're Russian, you practically live your
life hiding bodies under the radar."
Vlad stood with a wide grin and said. "That is what I needed but I need one more thing."
"Christ on a crutch!" Charles cursed. "You give a man a little inch; he wants the whole damn pie!
What is it?"
"It's about my family."
"I know, I know." Charles grumbled angrily. "The old bird's getting soft in the head in her old age,
she's accepting all sorts now."
"You did start it with your little...rebellion." Vlad reminded him.
"Yes, and I'm still being punished for it." Charles griped as he tiredly ran his hand over his face
and exhaled. "Let me guess, in case something happens you want me to acknowledge the child
as heir and the mother as the Grand Duchess."
"Yes."
"Why can't you get one of the Russian nobles to do it?"
"The only one I would've remotely trusted with the task is no longer suitable and may soon have
problems of his own."
"Yes...the other reason for your hasty visit."
"Is it already done?"
"You're not the first person she's threatened."
"She did do that with the Persian and now he's made moves to take care of it as we speak."
"You really need to stop bugging my house, cousin."
"Don't even think of leaving one here either." Charles countered.
Vlad smiled, knowing he had several he was going to place in the nursery and other places
including the ones he had already placed in here and in the car they came in. "Thank you for
your sage advice and familial assistance, dear cousin," Vlad said as he bowed graciously before
leaving. "And for the...drink as well." He finished softly and they both knew he was speaking of
the advice about Azura.
"I wish someone had told me these things when I was your age," Charles admitted, downing the
last of his drink. "It would've saved me a boatload of money and shitload of time."
Vlad chuckled and shook his head and left the den, automatically heading upstairs to the room
they would be staying. This was a vacation house for the English royals and with political strain
in the media over Russia over the years, it was easier for the families to meet here. So, Vlad had
no trouble finding his way around the fifty-room estate.
It was a bother that family members had to hide the fact that they were related because of
political ties. Theirs in England and his in Russian. To keep the common man in check and get
their just due, they had to put up with this asinine rule. It was a blessing in disguise most days
as most heads of state have either forgotten about the ties or plain don't know but either way. it
worked in their favour to watch them try to play them against each other. The elite knew those
ties were the reason you'd never find a Russian soldier fighting an English one.
He stepped into their room without knocking and watched as Azura's eyes narrowed at him but
before she questioned him about her latest disappointment, he asked in Russian. "Was Irena
placed in the nursery?"
"Yes...why don't you ever knock?"
Vlad shrugged. "I own almost all the doors I open."
"You don't own this one!" Azura pointed out.
"This is a family home. Knocking is done out of courtesy."
"Then knock out of courtesy!"
"No," Vlad replied simply, and she made a growling sound that he found just too adorable. Then
he pulled a device from his pocket and started to scan the room. She watched in silent
fascination then as she opened to speak Vlad put his fingers on his lips. After removing the three
he found in the bedroom he headed to the closet, bathroom and sitting room and removed the
bugs there as well. He tossed them all in the lit fireplace before speaking. "Be careful of what
you say in this house. The very walls have ears."
She made a hand gesture asking to speak and when he nodded, she asked: "What did you just
do?"
"Removed some eyes and ears."
"And what is that?" She asked, pointing to the device in his hand.
"This helps me seek them out." He told her then slid it back in his pocket.
"I see."
Vlad smirked then came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her. "The cameras and
listening devices at home are not that... invasive. Security only. There is no recording of what
we do."
"Or the things you do for that matter." She added bitterly, stepping out of his arms.
"I thought we were past this!" Vlad said with a sigh.
Changing the subject, Azura asked, "How did it go with your cousin...His Royal Highness?"
"He's not helping anyone, it's the best we can hope for and two major players have been taken
off the board. It's just three more I have to deal with." Vlad assured her, but she was frowning
which prompted him to ask. "What's wrong?"
"Deal with? Vlad. What exactly does 'dealing with them' entail?"
"Nothing you have to worry about. It will be taken care of..."
"How? With murder?"
"These people will not let you live in peace..."
"So, you do what? Go to war? Kill them?"
"They will not hesitate, so why should I?"
"Because I don't think you should have any more blood on your hands because of me!" Azura
blurted out in a rush. "You killed Boris..."
"Shush," Vlad said quieting her then taking her in his arms once more he soothed. "Boris was
long overdue for what he had coming and the men on the island ...were on my property after my
woman. I had every right to protect what's mine. As for these killers, rapists, and murderers, I
will be saving their governments the costs of a final meal, that is all."
"How can you talk about killing like it's...nothing!"
"It isn't nothing and every soldier knows this."
"Soldier?"
"Every male Russian Royal spends his time in a military school from the time he can walk. I
participated in global skirmishes at the age of fifteen. No one knew who I was, and my
documents were falsified. To protect me and to make sure I never got special treatment. I
attended Oxford at eighteen and took flying lessons. There isn't a military vehicle made that I
cannot pilot in the sky, drive on the ground or navigate in the water. And don't even mention ice
and snow, I can cross the spans of Russia in winter, naked on bare feet and not feel the cold.
This is what I was trained to do. The crown is but a formality, every Czar must be able to hold a
sword. I am not different from my Cossack ancestors." he stated, matter of factly.
Her mouth fell open at his words and she looked at him in a new light. "You have killed before
Boris." She whispered.
"Yes."
"He was not your first."
"Nor my last."
"You're a trained killer."
"Protection is always the first goal but sometimes...things need to be put down...permanently."
She slid out of his arms and hugged herself.
"I will never hurt you that way again, I promise you on my mother's grave..."
"What happened to your mother?" Azura cut in.
He was silent for a moment then he turned away from her before responding. "In Russia
weakness is not welcome. My father thought my mother was too...weak. He took advantage of
this. He ...did to her as I did to you. She miscarried my sister and I lost... my brother because of
this."
"How did you lose your brother?" Azura asked, stepping up behind him.
"An accident." He replied softly.
Placing her hand on his shoulder she demanded quietly. "Tell me about them." Vlad shook his
head, and she removed her hand, hanging her head as she conceded. "I understand."
"I still remember her bleeding after a visit from my father." He began softly. Azura said nothing
and he turned to face her. "I never wanted to turn into him. I always wanted to be her good boy.
Then you came...and everything went to hell." He caressed her cheek and tears shone in his
eyes as he apologized "I am so sorry. I betrayed you and my mother's memory."
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AN: Image is from Yandex. If you want to see all my book inspiration images, you can follow MB HAVEN on Pinterest.