Page 3 of Dimitri

“Your dragon is unsettled.”

“I am…considering my options. I know I wish to remain here as an enforcer. I am wondering if I will be able to do what is asked of me.”

“You do not have to. As I’ve said, you are allowed to have a conflict with your assignments and choose to reject it if you feel the need.”

I could, but I never would. If it came to that, I knew deep down I would use some other reason to leave the council rather than bring shame to my grandparents.

“Your dragon is not any happier.”

I chuckled. “I have much to think about. I only wished to talk things out a bit before going back to work.”

Yéye studied me for a moment before he shook his head. “You are only trying to placate me.”

“Nyet. I do need to return to my office. I left a meeting and came here instead of going there.” I stood up from where I had joined him on the other end of the sofa. “I will see you soon? I wish to spend time with Longwei in our scales again soon. He is growing more powerful by the day, and I do enjoy sparring with him.” That had the effect I knew it would. Yéye’s smile was both instant and beaming. He and Dedushka both loved all of their children a great deal. Longwei was the youngest and, most suspected, their last. We all loved the young alpha, and although he was much younger than I, we got along well.

“You will be by for supper soon?” Yéye asked. Only I knew it wasn’t actually a question.

“Whenever you wish, as long as I am not on assignment.”

“You are welcome any day. Come when you have time. If not, we understand.” Yéye stood, and after he gave me a hug, I received one of his smiles. He had the ability to completely shift one’s mood with just a smile.

“You know you don’t have to, but I appreciate the open invitation all the same.”

“We are dragons. We are quite social, and although I knew it was a difficult choice for you to leave your parents and siblings,and that we aren’t them, we are still family. We very much enjoy having you here with us, Dimitri. You will always be welcome.”

I grinned. “Ài ni, Yéye.”

The smile grew. He reached up and touched my cheek. We were interrupted by Dedushka entering the office. Immediately, he took in the scene and smiled.

“Is everything all right?” he asked in our native language.

“Ja,” I said immediately. “I will see the two of you tonight for our evening meal. I will stop at the bakery and bring Longwei’s favorite desserts.” Of course, they were all my favorites as well. I had a thing for sweets but didn’t share that with my fellow enforcers because if I did, I knew my desk would constantly be covered with sweets.

“Do not feel you have to leave simply because I am here.”

I shook my head. “I need to go back to work as I am certain Benjamin is wondering where I am at this point.”

I left the office before I could get held up longer. Dedushka had that ability. It didn’t take much from him. One moment, you were answering a single question; the next, you realized you had been talking about various things for over an hour. That was just how he was. Well, at least with family.

I left the hallway for his office, took a left to the main entryway room, and then entered the hallway to our office. When I finally arrived, Benjamin wasn’t there, but Raiden and Briggs were.

“Where’s Benjamin?” I asked.

“Talking to his father. Something about family or something,” Briggs said.

Ah. Yes, I understood that.

“Not that I blame either of you,” Raiden said. “But I am so glad I don’t have family here aside from Ramsey. But our family and clan aren’t worth much.” Raiden sighed.

“For us, family is everything. Dedushka would do anything for Yéye. He has always instilled family first in all of their children.” I shook my head. “I cannot fathom not having a family such as ours, and I am sorry you did not have that growing up.”

Raiden shrugged. “I had my twin. That was enough. We did what we could to make sure we weren’t too affected by what our clan insisted on.”

I couldn’t imagine such a life. I knew I was privileged in that I was the grandson of the created dragon and the golden dragon. There were stories, and I’d seen the drawings from many centuries ago of the golden dragon that could be seen at sunset flying in the sky. Most didn’t believe that there was actually a golden dragon, but they humored those that swore they’d seen one. Those in our family knew why Yéye flew as much as he did back then. It was rare that he was spotted, and Dedushka knew there was no real danger to his cherished mate because there were very few near them at the time.

“He’s lost in thought again like he gets.”

I turned my head toward the voice, blinked a few times, and focused on the speaker. “I have many memories. I was thinking about Yéye flying.”

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