Protection - d. belikov

Chapter 9

Kat and Dimitri were sitting on her bed, each reading a novel. The novels were vastly different. Kat was reading something completely out of her preferred genre as she had a horror in her hands. He had let slip that it was his favourite and she took it upon herself to read it. In return he was reading one of her favourites. Kat had honestly never felt so content. Their peaceful moment was interrupted by Rose, banging on the door.

"I'm really sorry to interrupt but Christian and Mason are doing something crazy and they need more than me right now," she said quickly.

"What do you mean?" Dimitri asked as he got up off the bed.

"Christian's parents have been sending him creepy gifts and he went to meet them by the old church."

The heaviness of this moment hit Kat like a semi-truck. Christian's parents had willingly chosen to turn Strigoi, the worst sin that any Moroi could commit. They killed a person while feeding and that horrendous act turned them into monsters. They were immortal and had no moral boundaries. They thrived off of chaos and fear and commonly killed innocent people to feed their bloodlust. If Christian was going to meet with them, they had to have had a hidden agenda. Strigoi couldn't be trusted. Most Strigoi used to have loved ones and family, but they don't remain the same after they turn.

Dimitri felt Kat's worry and turned to comfort her. He lifted her chin up and she redirected her gaze to his. "I will sort this out and I will come back to you. I promise." He kissed her with a vigour that she had never felt before. She could feel his promise in the kiss and she felt reassured.

In the blink of an eye Dimitri and Rose were gone. Kat tried to not think about what was happening, but she failed, miserably. It was all that she could think about. This was the first time – since they had met – that Dimitri had gone off to fight Strigoi. She knew that it was his job and it was literally what he had been born to do, but it didn't mean that she had to like it. She was worried sick about him and she struggled not to. She decided that she would go for a walk and hoped that it would help her focus on something else. The night was busy and she saw a few friendly faces, including her mother.

"Hi Mama."

"What's wrong my little bug?"

"That's not usually the response one gives when someone greets them, Mama."

"It is when a mother can clearly see that her daughter is upset."

"I'm not sure that I am allowed to speak about it."

"Well then, tell me what you can."

"Dimitri is currently fighting Strigoi."

"I see." Priscilla stayed quiet for a moment. "What do you need from me?"

"A hug," Kat barely got the words out before a tear rolled down her cheek. Her mother embraced her and her quiet tears turned into sobs. Her mother tightened her arms and stroked her hair.

"It's okay, Bumblebee. Let it out."

"I know its his job Mama, but it hurts to think about him in danger. It physically hurts."

"I know, Bub."

"What do I do?"

"You love him enough so that he has something to fight for. You stand in his corner and be his support system. I know it'll be tough, but you just have to be tougher."

Kat and her mother walked for a little bit longer and Kat returned to her room. She was about to get dressed for bed, when there was a knock at the door. She had barely opened it when she was lifted off of her feet. She knew immediately that it was Dimitri.

"I am so glad that you are back. I missed you."

"Not as much as I missed you Printsessa," Dimitri said into her hair. They stayed in their embrace for a few moments and Kat was the one who pulled away first.

"Can you stay here tonight?" Dimitri could hear the need in her voice. He knew that she needed to know that he was safe.

"Of course. Let me just swap out my shift with Mikhail and put on some comfortable clothes then I'll be right back."

"I don't want to be in the way of your duties. You don't have to stay." She went to turn away from him, but he pulled her back towards him.

"I want to stay. Give me five minutes and I'll be back." He gave her a quick kiss. Her spirits lifted and she made ready for bed. In his absence, she had time to think of what she had requested of him. She had asked him to stay the night, in her room, and she didn't want him to get the wrong impression. She certainly wouldn't be sleeping with him, and she hoped he would understand that.

She was sitting on her sofa, reading a book, when Dimitri let himself into her room. He was wearing a pair of grey sweatpants and a hoodie and Kat had to actively concentrate not to drool.

Keep it in your pants Katerina

Dimitri laughed. "Did you hear that?"

"I did," he replied with a laugh. "But don't be embarrassed. I find it very cute."

"But I don't want you to think that I sexualize you."

"Finding me attractive when I wear a certain item doesn't mean you are sexualizing me. It just means that I'll wear grey sweatpants more often."

"The world thanks you Cowboy." After a few seconds of silence Kat asked, "Can we talk?"

"Of course." Kat led them to the bed and they sat down. "Is everything okay?"

"I'm not ready to have sex," Kat blurted out.

"I'm not asking you to have sex."

"I know that, but I need to have this conversation with you. I don't know when I will be but I know now that I am not."

"Printsessa, calm down. I know that you're not ready and I am not pushing you toward anything."

"But I asked you to stay with me tonight. Some might think that's a sexual code."

"I'm not some random man that you invited into you room, Darling. I know you and knew from the moment you invited me that it was in air of innocence. I also want you to know that I would never, ever force you."

"I know that." Dimitri pulled her into a hug and he manoeuvred them so that they were laying down. 

"Did you kill all the Strigoi?"

"We did. It was an ambush, but luckily, we brought back up."

"I thought that the Ozera family died."

"They must have escaped when the Guardians went to kill them. They led the St Jude's massacre."

"Really?"

"It's not great news. It shows that the Strigoi are evolving. They can now work in teams."

"How did it happen?"

"I really don't know."

"We should get to sleep. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Why?"

"The Novices have a last benchmark test to do. They have to take a Moroi out of the school grounds and protect them when the Guardians attack."

"Who is the Moroi?"

"They haven't decided yet. We'll know in the morning." With a kiss to her forehead he pulled her closer to him and the fell asleep.