Getting Out While You Can

Unexpected and Diabolical.

I suppressed a sigh as I walked through Court. After being ambushed, Dimitri didn't let me stray far from his sight. I could understand to a degree. He was worried and my ribs were still tender. Any sharp movement made me wince.

Despite our discussion to sit down and have a conversation about 'us' we didn't sleep alone. Either his room or mine, we stayed together. We started with space between us and woke up in the morning closer. Sometimes I was curled against him, or his arm flung over my waist, but it felt nice to wake up and feel secure.

"Are you sure?" Dimitri asked as we walked.

"It's a cup of coffee, Dimitri," I said with a smirk, "And literally everyone is out and about right now. I doubt someone is going to try and pull something like last time."

Dimitri raised a brow but left it alone, walking close enough that his shoulder brushed mine.

"How are your ribs this morning?"

"Better. They still looked a little gross," I said but gave him a small smile. Dimitri nodded and let his hand brush mine, making my smile grow. I let Dimitri open the door for me and thanked him quietly as I passed. The café was busy but I didn't mind. There were a few people who stopped and gawked at us, but I kept my head up high and ordered my coffee and breakfast politely. I snuck Dimitri's order in too and paid before he had the chance to beat me to it.

He didn't seem all that impressed, so I just stuck my tongue out at him and picked up my cup. I led Dimitri through the tables, finding a vacant one and plonking down on the chair. Dimitri moved to sit next to me and leaned back in his chair, pulling the lid off his cup.

"You drink coffee like an old man," I snickered, pointing at his cup. Dimitri shook his head and lifted the cup to his lips, humming a laugh in the back of his throat.

"No I don't," he said. I shrugged and sipped my cup, watching the people mingle around. There were a lot of Moroi in here this morning, but it was nice to see that there were Guardians and Dhampir there too. One Dhampir smiled when I made eye contact and came towards us. I recognized him too and canted my head to the side, trying to figure out where I knew him from. A quick glance over his clothes and I was fixed on the white uniform.

"Ambrose," I said sitting up straight, folding my hands in my lap. Tatiana's boy-toy. Ambrose gave me a small smile and gestured to the chair across from me.

"May I?"

I glanced at Dimitri and shrugged. Ambrose took that as confirmation and sat down, resting his to-go cup on the table. We looked at each other for a few moments before he turned his head the slightest bit to the side as if he was looking over his shoulder.

"I don't have much time, but I was asked to give this to you," Ambrose said quietly. I furrowed my brows when I felt something brush my knee under the table. I stuck my hand out and brushed my fingers against his, taking the folded paper from between his fingers.

Ambrose gave me a nod and stood up. "I know that you may not trust it, but I trust you, and I wouldn't put you in harm's way. The Royal Guardians were not instructed to attack you by Her Majesty."

I watched him walk towards the exit, keeping the paper hidden under the table. Dimitri looked at me and raised his brow. I slipped the paper into my pocket and gave him a tight smile as I drank my coffee. I was still confused.

Dimitri and I sat in silence as we drank our coffees and I picked at my muffin. When the looks started to move from curious to insulting, I sighed and put the last of my muffin back into the paper bag.

Dimitri seemed to know that I was ready to leave and he took our empty cups and put them in the garbage. I met him at the door and waited until we were halfway back to Christian's before I pulled the paper Ambrose gave me out.