63. Dimitri

CHAPTER 63

Dimitri

January-

I have decided that I am not leaving Aurora's side unless she asks me to. I'm concerned for her safety and especially her health while carrying her first child. Ulrich is still stirring up trouble on occasion, causing minor incidents periodically. I have a feeling that fucker is going to try something when we least expect it.

Little does that rat bastard know, I'm constantly expecting it. This morning, I'm escorting Aurora into the throne room for the typical first week of the month meet and greet with the local nobles. Alaric is overseeing the training of the troops for the next leg of our journey. Aurora has been in deep thought, receiving intel from other eagle shifters that she had me hire to work for her.

In the last few months, not only has she managed to locate Elena but she has been tracking her movements. If I know Aurora, she's plotting to attack Elena the minute she's healed from giving birth to her daughter. Two War Dragons have answered Aurora's call to arms. They remain in the corners of the throne room, acting as extra security for her. I've personally vetted these two and remember them from Anca's rule. It's interesting to know the same two War Dragons that used to escort Anca now watch over Aurora. They are loyal to a fault; they have also confirmed my suspicions that Vladimir still lives in the old castle. He's disfigured from Nicodeamus's fire, but alive, sadly.

Ulrich is back in the throne room, starting shit again about having his title stolen by a mutt. Aurora looks at both of the War Dragons and halts them in their progress towards Ulrich. "You still haven't learned, Ulrich? I am of two royal lines and two mighty species. Your ass will never sit upon this throne as long as any of my bloodline or my mates breathe. Stand down and live, proceed and die," Aurora states in a very bored tone. Her hand rests upon the swell of her stomach. She looks to be the size of a woman that's five months along now.

I move slowly around the room, positioning myself not far behind Ulrich, just in case he gets stupid enough to try anything. From somewhere behind me, I hear a rustling and a click. Before I can react, a dart goes whizzing past me, right at Aurora.

Ulrich side steps it shortly after the click, proving he knows about it. Aurora's shifted hand comes up without missing a beat, and the dart bounces off her heavily armored scales. A single nod of her head sends the War Dragons into action.They grab the man behind me and Ulrich.

Son of a bitch, Aurora was aware of the plot to assassinate her. Jayce and Dominik come bursting into the room fully shifted, as well as a fully shifted Klaus. Aurora rolls her eyes at the three of them, then bows her head to me. "Dimitri and his elite guard had me protected." Aurora raises her shifted hand, makes a fist, and holds it over her heart, slightly bowing her head to each of us in turn. "Bring forth the assassin and his boss." Dominik and Jayce take their place on either side of Aurora, Klaus stations himself off to the side, watching in his Lycan form.

"Do either of you have anything useful to say in your defense?" Aurora tilts her head to the left, then to the right, studying both of them. Her beast's faint white glow fills her eyes. Slowly, they bleed liquid mercury with black dragon slits. I'm already signaling for Klaus to leave and get food.

Ulrich starts laughing to the point of tears rolling down his cheeks. "Child, I have lived longer than you and shall continue to outlive you for centuries to come. You can't touch me!" There is his fatal mistake. Aurora's eyes move to Jayce and give him a nod. Jayce lunges forward and bites deeply into Ulrich's calf, injecting his toxin into Ulrich's bloodstream. Jayce moves back and rests his head on Aurora's lap to be petted.

"You know what, Ulrich, you're right. I don't have to touch you to kill you. That tightness you feel in your chest is from my mate's toxin. It's slowly causing your platelets to explode, and it's increasing your clotting factor. So, in a short, ten or so minutes from now, you'll be one huge blood clot. Your body will be deprived of oxygen and your lungs will collapse from increased pressure." A wicked grin graces Aurora's ruby lips as she watches Ulrich starting to look panicked. "The best part? I didn't have to get dirty, and you die a horrible death, just like the horrible person you are." Aurora smiles sweetly at Ulrich as she watches him die slowly with sadistic glee. She is definitely her great-grandmother's descendant. The original Blood Queen would be pleased with her bloodline right now.

Aurora's eyes slowly move to lock with mine, and in my mind I see what she wants me to do. I reach over, taking the assassin away from the War Dragons, then drag him before Aurora. I shift my right hand, allowing my bear's claws to be seen. I press them to the man's throat as he begins to beg for his life. He spills every ounce of information he has within his memory. As he confesses, Aurora has the War Dragons empty out the throne room. The assassin names every aristocrat that has anything to do with the plot against Aurora. I can tell by the way her eyes look, she's letting Nicodeamus and Alaric see through her eyes. They see and hear what she's hearing—scary yet effective for communicating over long distances. Aurora snaps out of her trance and issues a kill order for all those named. The twins rapidly tear out of the room. Alaric is waiting with the Black Dragons for those that try to escape.

Me, I get the pleasure of decapitating the assassin. Slowly, I begin to apply pressure to his soft, thin neck. Second by second, I watch his flesh flex then break under my claws. Rivulets of blood begin to roll down his pale, white flesh.

There's a gleam in Aurora's eyes as I take my time carrying out her orders. I can tell Aurora is pleased as my claws cut first through his windpipe, then his esophagus. The assassin begins to struggle harder in my grip as blood leaks into his lungs. A slight nod is given by Aurora—playtime is over. His head falls free off of his shoulders and rolls across the floor, leaving a bloody trail behind it. Aurora smiles, watching his head roll across the floor like a beach ball. Carefully, she leans over and grabs a drum stick off the tray that Klaus has left her. "Not bad for a Monday, D. Two dead in the throne room, and another nine to die by any means possible. Eleven really isn't a horrible amount, I honestly was expecting it to be much worse." Aurora smiles as she stands up, stretching carefully.

I have to admit, she's even more beautiful pregnant. Her curves are fuller, and that ass, damn, I just want to bite it and slap it a few times to watch it jiggle. Aurora raises an eyebrow at me, then looks down at my cock. Fucking traitor. I roll my eyes and offer her my hand to help her down. Quickly, she shifts her hand back to human and takes my hand in hers.

Aurora is still smirking at me as we walk. Damn my cock for giving away my thoughts. I lead Aurora back to her part of the private chambers. Her eyes cautiously dart around her room before she enters. I truly wish she didn't have to worry so much right now. Aurora should be just enjoying her pregnancy, not watching for assassins at every turn. "I'm going to draw you a nice hot bath so you can relax some. It'll be good for you and the baby." Slowly, Aurora nods and follows me into her vast bathroom. I swear her tub could be confused for a swimming pool.

I get the bath three-quarters of the way full when Aurora stops me. She's standing next to me, completely naked. "Join me?" she asks softly. I can see the fear of rejection in her eyes. I thank the gods for this chance, to have such a wondrous mate as I do. As I slowly nod my head, agreeing to join her, her face lights up.

Aurora's small hand rests between my pecs as she backs me away from the tub. What is this girl up to? Aurora's nimble fingers make short work of the buttons on my shirt. Her small hands glide up my chest to my shoulders as she slides the shirt off of me. I never would have thought in all these years getting undressed could be so sensual.

Aurora locks eyes with me, then tilts her head to the side, asking permission as her hands rest on my belt. This Alpha female, probably one of the strongest creatures in existence, is asking my permission. Again, I lightly nod my head, granting her permission. I feel like a teenager right now. My palms are sweaty, my heart is racing. Honestly, I'm scared I'm going to fuck this up.

Aurora, sensing my feelings, stops just as she undoes my belt. "You can tell me to stop, D, it's okay. I know I'm being rather forward with you. I need you." Aurora looks up at me with those sad eyes, and it crushes me. I reach down and cup both of her cheeks, kissing her gently. My tongue dances at the seam of her lips, trying to gain access.

Aurora opens her mouth to me. Our tongues dance and glide over one another, causing my cock to pulse with anticipation. As we kiss, I lower my hands to rid myself of my pants and boxers. Quickly, I toe off my shoes and step out of my pants the rest of the way. Aurora starts to giggle at my antics, then her eyes go wide, looking at the size of my shaft. I smirk at her. Yeah, that is definitely a confidence booster.

I help Aurora carefully get into the tub and quickly follow in behind her. My bear is pushing, practically shoving me to claim her right now. I, on the other hand, have different plans. I slowly move her to the far side of the tub, where the stairs are. My hands slide under her arms, and I lift her effortlessly to sit on the top stair. Aurora raises an eyebrow at me, curious to see what I do next. I lean forward over her, the hair on my taunt abs lightly brushing her belly, making her giggle.

"I'll be gentle, I promise." My voice is rough with desire, my Romanian accent heavy, as I speak to her. I watch as she looks me over slowly, a soft smile plays upon her lips as she leans forward briefly. The tips of her fingers ghost over my skin setting my nerve endings on fire. Anticipation builds in the back of my mind. I know what I want to do, what I need to do. Over two hundred years of fighting my instincts and feelings and it all comes down to this moment. The way she's looking at me makes me feel like the only man in the world. I just hope that I can show her how much and how deep my love for her is.