Hit List - Complete

It's Time To Flee

Thoroughly enjoying the feeling of Dimitri's soft lips running over the column of my neck and his hands firmly placed on my waist, I sigh and wrapping my hand into his hair and tilt my head further to give him more skin to conquer. Sitting in the hot tub in the dead of winter is pleasurable, the intense heat mixed with the nipping cold just adds fuel to the rush in my veins.

"Where are you two?!" Ivan shouts from inside our house and I groan, pulling back a little from Dimitri's assault.

"We are out here," I yell back, adjusting my bathing suit top so he doesn't see my exposed chest. "He has a habit for walking in at the wrong times," I grumble and Dimitri smirks, brushing my wet hair over my shoulder.

I turn my head to look at the back door, waiting for Ivan to stroll through like he thinks he owns the place, and I shriek when Dimitri nips at the sensitive flesh of my collarbone. I smack his arm, spraying water over the side of the tub when Ivan sides the door open and shakes his head when he sees us, walking closer and standing a few feet from the hot tub.

"Can you two keep your hands off each other for five minutes?" Ivan asks and I shrug with a shit-eating grin. "I just got word from court. We have a slight problem."

"What could they possibly have done that we should be concerned about?" Dimitri asks, moving his attention to Ivan, rubbing circles into my waist with his thumb under the water.

"The Royal Guard had body cameras on them, including audio. They know that you were the one to kill Tatiana. They've put out a hit on a Strigoi, and there is a hefty reward for taking you out Rose," Ivan says, crossing his arms across his chest and pursing his lips out to the side.

I huff and rest my head on Dimitri's shoulder. This is not something we wanted to happen.

"What about Dimitri?" I ask, wrapping my arms around Dimitri's neck and pull myself against his chest.

"So far they only care about you," Ivan says. I nod against Dimitri's shoulder and lift my head up to look at him, hoping I was able to shield my thoughts fast enough that he wouldn't hear them. He would be less than happy if he knew what I was thinking. "Get us all the information you have on what's happening at court," I tell Ivan, giving him the cue to leave. Ivan flicks his eyes to Dimitri before retreating to the house and slipping inside.

If the Moroi put out a hit on me, I can guarantee that the Guardians would be extra vigilant to find me, and I am not about to put Dimitri in the line of fire for what I wanted. Tatiana was never his idea, hell the only person Dimitri wanted on the list was Randall; the rest was all what I wanted.

I just hope he'll forgive me.

Precisely five minutes after Dimitri left to meet Eddie and Jasper, I had my bag out from under the bed, cash in my wallet, passport in hand and I left the house. I know he'll be livid when he finds out I left, but I can't risk the Guardians finding him as well.

But life is never as easy as we think it will be. The drive to the airport was quick and once I made it to the desk and purchased my ticket, I slipped through security and sat, waiting for my flight to be called. I left the majority of my things behind and only brought the most basic clothing, along with the Topaz necklace Dimitri gifted me, wanting to have a token to carry with me because I don't know how long it will be before I see him again.

"You do know he is going to lose his shit when he realizes you're gone?"

Turning in my seat to look behind me, Ivan is seated perpendicular to me, looking at me with his bright eyes and a raised brown. I turn back to face forward and cross my legs, placing my hands on my lap.

"Oh I know, but you aren't going to be tipping him off. Go home, Ivan."

Ivan scoffs and stands to walks around the row of seats, gracefully sitting down next to me, tucking a bag under the seat. "No. I'm coming with you. I've been Strigoi longer than you, and I can help you hide long enough for all the heat to die down," Ivan pledges and I roll my eyes and huff. I have learned lately that when Ivan gets his mind set on something, he is worse than me.