Involuntary

Chapter Nine

Dmitrei got the feeling it had been a mistake to leave after making love with Elena, but he didn't know what to do. He went straight to Elric the night before, so he could explain what he knew about mating, both the how to do it and the effects thereof. Apparently, he needed to give her the ring he had been given at birth, which had powers that would protect her as his mate.

Dmitrei only knew the ring to be an heirloom. It never occurred to him some of his power might be bound up inside. If it would protect Elena, he wanted her to have it. Once she knew who and what he was.

The problem, was that scared him. Telling her everything about him was almost as scary as hoping for something when that hope could go away. What if something happened? There was too much he couldn't control in the world, but he also knew he couldn't stay away from her. Or Sebastian. Too much was riding on it.

He was getting ready to get into the Volvo to drive himself to the shelter when Elric came out of the house to talk to him, hands shoved in his pockets.

"You doing okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," Dmitrei answered.

"Okay… Just checking." Elric looked to the side, "You coming back tonight?"

"I don't know. Should I not?"

Elric leaned on the car for a moment, letting the breeze ruffle his hair. "I think you should consider it. Look, I don't know what changed you all those years ago, but  I do know you are finally starting to act like your old self. And if I were you, I would try to hold on to whatever was making me do that."

Dmitrei nodded, "I know that much. I'm just not sure it's fair to her."

"Why?" Elric asked. "You are the most squeaky clean of the gargoyles. She's lucky to get someone as uncomplicated as you."

"What if I'm not uncomplicated?" Dmitrei asked, not wanting to tell his friend what had happened. "What if I have serious issues?"

"Then, perhaps, you should tell someone and let it out, rather than letting it kill you inside or keep you from happiness."

"It's not killing me," Dmitrei muttered folding his arms over his chest. "But it does bother me that I'm not who you think I am. Not who the Oracle thinks I am. Not who Elena thinks I am."

"Just because we do not agree with your own assessment of yourself, does not mean we are wrong," Elric said stubbornly patting the car door as it shut.

Dmitrei rolled down the window, "I don't know if I'll be home tonight, but I'll let you know."

"Aw, sweet," Elric teased.

Dmitrei sent him a scowl that likely only added more amusement and then focused on pulling out of the driveway. Driving was getting easier and he allowed himself to relax in the chair, pulling his sunglasses on as he pulled onto the freeway. Music played on the radio and with the sun shining outside, he truly felt like maybe he was starting to become a part of this world.

A part of him worried he was convincing himself things were fine, just like he had tried to convince himself and the other gargoyles back in the day that it was okay for gargoyles to intervene. But it was different this time. There were no little, vulnerable villages and no marauders, he could protect the people he cared about with his own two hands.

He pulled up in front of the shelter and took a deep breath. Elena was in there, and hopefully, she wouldn't be hiding that disappointed look like she had when he left last night. He hadn't left because he didn't want to stay with her. He left because it was all so fast and confusing and because he didn't want to make the wrong move.