Chapter 179

Elena:

I smiled when I woke up to find Vladimir laying by my side.

His arm was wrapped around my waist, and his chest rose and fell as his even breaths told me that he was still asleep.

I leaned in and kissed his cheek only to notice a paper on the bedside table. I raised an eyebrow and carefully picked it up. The smile on my face at his concern could have been seen a mile away. 

I was careful as I set it down before I got up from bed. I knew to take a shower and get ready for the day. 

The three words that he told me yesterday still played in my mind. And though I couldn’t bring myself to say them back; it didn’t mean that they weren’t mutual. 

I was just scared that I would jinx things if I did. 

I lost everything that I loved. I didn’t want to lose him too.

I took a quick shower and freshened up, allowing the warm water to relax my tensed muscles. I was going to get my period soon, and with my pills almost out, I knew that I was going to need to ask Vladimir to get me more of them. I walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body, and I couldn’t help but smile when I saw that Vladimir’s eyes were fixed on me as he was awake. 

“Morning,” he said, and I blushed, looking down at my feet.

“Good morning,” I said, tightening my grip around the towel, fearing that it could fall. 

Vladimir’s eyes studied my expression, but he said nothing as he got up. His eyes didn’t leave mine, and though I knew that he’s seen me before, I couldn’t help but find myself being shy.

He kissed me, not bothering to wait for a moment before he pulled away to rest his forehead against my own.

“Have I told you how beautiful you look when you blush?” He asked, his eyes softened as he looked me dead in the eye. I heaved in a deep breath, and he smiled when he saw the effect that he was having on me. “How about you get ready while I shower? I wouldn’t want to make you shower again, and the two of us need to go and get ready for breakfast. You know, Konstantin is leaving in a bit, and I want him to see the two of us together.” 

“Vladimir, are you sure that this is the right thing to do? Don’t get me wrong, but you are testing your water too much by doing that. And you know Konstantin…”

“I want him to see what I am more than willing to do for my mate. I know that I am testing my water with him, but he has to understand that HE played with what is mine first. I am only going to reply in the same manner.” He said, and I frowned in confusion. “Don’t worry, baby. I have a plan. You might not find it appealing, but I am going to have to do it to rid us from the danger that I know he will throw in our faces.”

“You know something that I don’t.” I said, and he nodded.

“I know a lot, but I doubt that you would be willing to hear it.” He stated, and I took a deep breath. “Don’t worry, I have a plan. But I am going to need you to trust me.” 

“I trust you, you know that very well.” I said, and he smirked. “Go and shower, if you want us to catch this ‘breakfast’ today.” 

He smiled and nodded, and I watched as he walked inside the bathroom to freshen up while I walked toward the closet to get myself clothes to get dressed. 

“What game are you trying to play, Vladimir?”

*************************** 

“I hear that you had a bit of a misunderstanding last night.” Konstantin suddenly stated, looking at Vladimir as we were eating. I frowned in confusion, and he smirked. 

“I am amazed by the fact that Batrov is nothing but a…”

“I do not allow conflict within my ground, Vladimir.” He said, stopping him. Vladimir looked at me for a second, and I looked down at the food in front of me. I wasn’t hungry, but I knew not to cross Vladimir in front of Konstantin. My mate would be understanding, but considering his uncle, I knew that he wouldn’t be. 

“You can tell him that. I was tending to my own thing…”

“You attacked the man.” 

“For crossing his limits.” He said, raising an eyebrow at Konstantin. “I put him in place and reminded him of who he was compared to me. While I understand that he was your second hand, I am your nephew, and blood is always going to be thicker.”

“Blood is going to be thicker, yes. But that doesn’t give you any right to play…”

“Then you can be sure that he stays out of my way. I am going to stay out of his way. But if he plays his way in front of me, then I am going to be forced to respond. I doubt that he is going to like my responses, and it seems to me that you don’t like them either.” Vladimir said, stopping Konstantin, who banged the table, causing me to jump. Vladimir glared at the man, watching as his eyes hardened. 

“One more word out of you and I am going to be sure that you pay the fucking price.” He said, stopping him. Vladimir’s eyes were as hard as a stone and I could tell that things were going to be getting out of hand. 

“I am very curious about what you are going to do at this point.” Vladimir said, and Konstantin smirked before he pulled his gun from his holster. The man loaded it and pointed at me, making my heart drop.

“It might not make a difference if I do anything to you.” He said, turning his attention to me. “But nothing breaks a man’s gut more than a fucking weakness, don’t you agree…?”