Primal Desires

Chapter 10

AN: Brief section of explicit content.

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Dimitri's POV – Two weeks later

My head ached. The numerous files and pieces of paper sprawled across the table in front of me had blurred into one and I was struggling to concentrate. I needed to find something, anything. It had been nearly two weeks since Rose's birthday and I was no closer to finding Nathan, much to my despair. It was also becoming harder to hide the threats from Rose – the longer I looked for him, the angrier I got and the less like myself I was acting. She was growing more suspicious by the day and I was running out of excuses to keep this from her. I was beginning to think I should just cave and inform her about Nathan, but every time I was about to I backed out, knowing she would just worry. I knew also that she'd be angry at me for not telling her but it was too far gone now. How could I justify keeping something from her for a month if she ever found out?

There had been a further two attacks from the group of Strigoi – the most recent was within a mile from court. People were justifiably worried, concern permanently etched on their faces as they went about their daily lives. We had tried to reassure them that we were doing the best we could to find this group and stop them before they reached us, but this was difficult when a number of guardians were still opposed to scouting them out – citing a risk too great. I knew this was a mistake, and they would surely know it too when there are casualties on their hands because they wouldn't strike first. They believed that even if we were able to find out where the Strigoi were located, fighting them would lead too many deaths.

I had to agree with that point, knowing what had happened when we retaliated after the attack at St. Vladimir's, but that didn't matter. This was our job. We were trained to defend and that meant stopping the Strigoi before they found their way into court and killed those we swore to protect. They come first. The wards could only do so much to keep the Strigoi out – again, look at what happened at the Academy. We needed to act.

Despite the hours I was putting in searching for a connection between Nathan and the attacks, I struggled to link the two. This group of Strigoi were good at not leaving any indication of their identities or their 'home' location at the scenes of the attacks, and Nathan's letters had no indication that he was behind the attacks either. My initial belief that the two were connected was becoming more unlikely the longer I searched.

I had received many more letters and threats from Nathan in the previous weeks, each one more disgusting and infuriating than the last. They never failed to get my blood boiling as rage coursed through my body. Currently, I had them splayed across the table just in front of me, reading over them for what felt like the hundredth time. It pained me to read them but I needed to find him – I hoped that his words would miraculously change and give me any kind of indication of where he was.

'Belikov.
Hope you're not keeping too close of an eye on Rose. Trying to keep her safe is a wasted effort. I will no doubt have an opportunity to see her soon.
Nathan.'

'Belikov.
I was thinking yesterday just how good it is going to feel when I can finally make your girl mine. I can't wait to feel her insides around me.
Nathan.'

'Belikov.
I bet she's a whore in bed. I can't wait to find out.
Nathan.'

My heart sunk whenever I stepped outside the door and saw the god-forsaken envelopes with 'Belikov' written across the front, discarded on the door mat. They were always delivered at night, I had realised, so I had attempted to stay up until I heard the tell-tale rustling outside our door. This never worked, much to my dismay. I would stay awake for hours on end, waiting to pounce on whoever was leaving them, but they always seemed to come after I had given up, thinking that perhaps there would be no delivery that night. I was always wrong, and missed the delivery. I had resorted to waking up early instead, knowing that there would be an envelope waiting patiently for me on the doormat. I knew I had to reach it before Rose left for the day - I couldn't have her seeing the envelopes and asking questions – so I would slip out of bed earlier than usual, read the dreaded threats and shove it in the file with the others to look over later.