Chapter 184

Elena:

Now, if I thought that I would be getting used to the peace this much, I was going to believe that I finally lost it.

Konstantin has been gone a week, and never in my life have I felt like everything was finally in place.

No one was there to argue or fight, and I was able to get full sleeping nights without the fear of him approaching me in the middle of the night if Vladimir wasn’t around.

“You are lost in your thoughts,” Vladimir commented, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I smiled and leaned in to his touch, thankful for it.

“I am embracing the peace that we are living through. You know, it is not one that I am used to,” I said, turning to face him. “I thought that you would be at work?”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him to me as he wrapped his around my waist, raising me to sit on the dresser. He smirked and leaned in, brushing his lips against my own as he did before he bit my bottom lip gently.

“I was supposed to be, but I have a few things to deal with, and you know, when I have a beautiful mate like you, staying at work can be a little difficult. Plus, I didn’t have anything that was extremely important that I had to take care of.” He said, and I nodded, smiling at him. “Konstantin is coming home tonight, and I am going to need you to be ready for when he does.”

It was as if he knew that the smile on my face was going to fade, and I was forced to straighten as I looked at him. “Now, now, why the sad face?”

“You know that his presence alone is enough to bring a sad face, Vladimir.” I said, and he nodded.

“And that is something that I intend to change. You know, I did promise you that things were going to end soon, but there is something that I need to find out first, and when I do…”

“If you do, at this point.” I said, and he raised an eyebrow at me. His eyes hardened, and I looked away, not wanting to keep talking about this.

“Elena, it isn’t something that I can control. I want to set you free of this place, but there are things that I have to take care of first. That is something that I am going to need you to understand, malyshka,” he said, and I nodded.

“You’ve been saying that for months, and so far, it just feels like Konstantin is getting more power to himself.” I said, and Vladimir sucked in a harsh breath as he approached me. His anger could be seen in his eyes, but I knew that he could see mine a mile away too. If anything, it wasn’t just anger from my side, it was both fear and pain. Fear that I was going to end up alone here, and pain knowing that he won’t be by my side when I am.

“If I could have, I would have taken you out a very long time ago, malyshka.” He said, gently wrapping his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. I had to fight back the instinct to pull away, ignoring the pain that I felt at my own instinct. I needed to be alone, but I knew that Vladimir wasn’t the type to leave me alone when I was upset.

“You could have when he left. Time and time, you didn’t do it.” I said, and he sighed.

“Do you believe that I wouldn’t have if it was that easy? Huh, baby?” Vladimir asked. I turned to face him and shook my head, watching as he frowned in confusion. I knew that this wasn’t what he expected from me as a response, even I was surprised with myself. But I knew that when Konstantin came, the peaceful nights of sleep would be nonexistent to me, and I could forget about the idea of being able to look myself in the mirror without fearing the door opening to reveal him.

“Doubting you is not something that I want to do nor is it something that I like, but if I am doing so, there must be a reason. And God knows what that reason is, I just hope that I don’t end up falling a victim to your and his games.” I said, remembering the gun as he raised it at me. I knew that Vladimir would have killed him if he dared harm me, but the fact that it happened told me that it could end up happening again.

I went to walk past him and he wrapped his hand around my arm, stopping me from going anywhere. I had to fight back the anger and pain that I felt, knowing that I was going to end up dealing with more issues because of him.

His eyes met mine for a moment and he shook his head at me.

“I may be willing to listen to you, Elena, with everything that you tell me, I am going to be more than willing to put up with everything that you tell me. However, what I am not going to tolerate is for you to speak to me as if I am turning my back on you, because you of all people should know the fucking risks that I am willing to take to save you.” He said, looking me dead in the eye. His eyes held an anger than I knew and was sure that I haven’t seen before, and I couldn’t help but find myself feeling small because of it.

“That was before you were blinded by the power that he is giving you.” I said, and Vladimir let out a low growl, one that sent shivers running down my spine.

“I understand the game you’re trying to play, but rest assured, malyshka, it is not going to get you anywhere.” He said, his tone becoming colder than it has ever been when he’s spoken to me before. “And trust me, I am not going to accept…”

“Then don’t,” I said, taking a step back. “Because the last thing that I want or need to be left behind when I need you more than ever, because trust me, I am not going to be able to handle it if you do…”