Only Him

Chapter 39

"...rash of disappearances and murders in both Harrisburg and Allentown, which had been showing a decline in violent crimes up until the last few months...."

Dimitri hit the mute button on the late night news broadcast I'd been watching. I glanced over my shoulder to see him set the remote down on the side table and walk towards the kitchen, shoulders tense.

"You know he's probably hunting in Philadelphia too," I said quietly. Unlike the other cities mentioned Philadelphia would be an easy place for Marlen to hide his feeding and recruitment. I'd been keeping track of news stories ever since my rescue and I'd seen the steady increase in disappearances and deaths. I'd recognized the signs of a large Strigoi presence. Marlen was rebuilding his army.

"I know," he said through a set jaw. Dimitri, I knew, took it as a personal offense that Marlen was still at large despite the fact that he'd had no way of stopping him during my rescue. Marlen hadn't been there when he'd come. Still, for his offenses against me and his new victims, Dimitri felt responsible. He hadn't killed Marlen back in Russia like he'd tried to.

"He's getting sloppy," I offered up, fighting down my own qualms of disgust. "He's leaving a trail. Soon we'll be able to narrow down where he is. We already have the local guardians and Alchemists working on it and—"

"I know," Dimitri repeated, harder. I clamped my jaw shut. I just wanted to make him feel better. I hated that Marlen was still at large. I didn't feel safe when each note he sent me brought back memories of my kidnapping in a rush of panicked emotions and the phantom feel of iron-clad restraints around wrists and ankle. I certainly didn't feel safe with him alive but I also didn't feel guilty. I had been in no position to end him and I hated that Dimitri felt the need to shoulder that burden himself.

"We'll get him," I soothed, leaving my nest of pillows and blankets on the couch to come up behind him. He was leaning against the kitchen counter, fisted hands planted firmly on the granite countertop as he leaned over it. I reached out and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing the full length of my body against him. It was a well-worn tactic that usually worked in my favor. I'd been adopting this position throughout our relationship when he felt helpless or world-weary. As expected, he relaxed into my hold, muscles unclenching one by one as I tried to work the tension from him merely by proximity and promise of understanding. My stomach pressed into the small of his back and I knew he could feel the soft movements of our son as sure as I felt them myself.

"YA prosto Khochu, chtoby vy byli v bezopasnosti. Vy oba," he sighed softly, turning around to gather me up in his arms. I would just see you safe. Both of you.

"You always make me feel safe," I assured him in my own terribly accented Russian. He chuckled into the top of my head, planting a kiss among the dark strands of hair.

We stayed in each others arms for a few more lingering moments before breaking apart and scrambling to get ready for the day. Lissa had an open Council meeting today and both Dimitri and I wanted to be there when the shit hit the fan. During Lissa's four year stint on the throne she'd done her best to make as many Council meetings open to the public as possible, trying to show her people that they had a voice in the politics that governed them. They'd also caused me more than a few gray hairs, always a matter of contention and quick to elevate to extremes.

On the agenda for todays meeting were many boring conversations about budget cuts and healthcare. And the guardian reallocation proposal. The Council had had two meetings about that particular topic before and today it was being brought to the public forum. Everyone already knew about it but this would be the first time to really make their voices heard.