Page 54 of Dimitri

“I love you too. But were you seriously struggling with the fact that you are going out on assignment all day instead of reaching out to me? We knew this was a possibility. If you are going to struggle like this, maybe we should both retire completely and just move away somewhere and raise our family there.”

Dimitri gave me a look. “Do not tempt me. I want to be helpful. I believe it is a family-honor thing. I am the only one, aside from Dedushka, that has joined the council to help. It is not a requirement, but I wish to help others.”

I reached out, and it was me who cupped his face this time. “That is what makes you so wonderful. Well, in part. You are a good person all around, and you have such a loving and protective person inside of you. I couldn’t help but fall in love quickly.” I smiled again. “But reach out. I know we’re new to being mated still. But I’ve been sitting here, worrying all day, because I could feel your conflict. I’ll be fine. Do not worry about me. I have a huge support system here. All right?”

It took a moment, but Dimitri nodded finally. “You do. Yéye said he stopped by.”

I nodded. “He did. He is just the most adorable. I can now see where you get a lot of your looks.”

Dimitri’s smile grew. “Yes. But my father also looks a lot like Yéye. My mother, of course, is not of Asian ancestry. But then they had me, and, well, you would not know that I was hers, to be honest.”

I chuckled. “I can’t wait to meet them. I got a message from Papa today. They’re here, but he’s being patient and waiting to pounce on us.”

Dimitri shook his head. “I met your father. He was at the council this morning. I am not sure he likes me.”

I rolled my eyes. “He likes you just fine.” I thought back to when Drew first met Father. It had been both comical as well as enlightening. I think Father learned quite a bit from that little cheetah omega that day. Lorenzo and I both adored Drew, as did Papa, and Father, he very much liked Drew. But he and Papa had both been a bit judgmental of Sebastian and were quite upset that he’d not informed them of his meeting his One right away.

“What?”

I blinked and smiled at Dimitri. “I was thinking about the first time Father met Drew. Much like me, Drew was sick during his first several weeks of his pregnancy. Sebastian had been so wrapped up in newly mated life and then taking care of Drew that he didn’t consider letting our parents know he’d met his forever.” I shook my head. “Our parents didn’t really take that too well. They have since learned because I think they did a lot of reflecting on how it was when they first met each other.”

Dimitri looked concerned. “Did I do something wrong? Should I have let Arturo know you were ill?”

I shook my head as I smiled at Dimitri. “You have done everything right.” I reached out and cupped his face again. “Tell me about your assignment,” I said, changing the subject.

Dimitri got up from where he’d been kneeling on the floor and sat down beside me. “It is something that has been in the works for a while now. There will be two teams in Italy at all times. We are looking for a pair of enforcers, and unfortunately, they are warlocks and can easily evade the council.”

I grinned. “We can do that, yes. What have they done to warrant so many after them? You mentioned two teams. How many are on a team?”

“Usually four. My team is Benjamin, myself, Raiden, and Briggs. We will be leaving for Italy in four days’ time. If I choose to go, that is.”

I slowly shook my head. “Why wouldn’t you? We were in agreement from the beginning that we would both do what we needed to do for work. I was going to go to Madrid for a week or so and turn over my clients. Granted, I ended up not having to do that, but still, I was going to.”

“Ja. I will go as long as I know you will be all right. I know Benjamin will send me home at a moment’s notice if you should need me for anything.”

“You should go. I’ll be fine. Not only are my parents here, but Chin as well. And although I don’t know your parents, they’re in the area. I have so many to help take care of me if I need them. But I’m not exactly helpless.”

“I realize that. I also cannot help but worry. I will go if you insist though.”

I grinned while nodding. “I do. Now, tell me all about your day. I spent mine drinking tea, not the sleepy kind, and eating crackers and fruit. I did have a couple of shorter naps, but nothing like I have been. I actually feel as if I’m starting to recover from my body adjusting to being pregnant.” At least, that was the hope. I wanted to have the ability to have a life and to enjoy being mated as well as pregnant. One couldn’t do that when they spent twenty-plus hours a day sleeping.

I shouldn’t be nervous.I wasn’t certain why I was exactly. At my insistence, we were having a “family get-together” before Dimitri left tomorrow. He was leaving for Italy in the morning, and I was sure that was the actual reason for my anxiety. I knewhe would be safe. He was a dragon, after all, but even a dragon could be overpowered by a warlock. And he would be after a pair of them.

“We can return to our cabin if it is too much.”

I looked over at Dimitri and shook my head. I was bundled up in not only jeans and a thick sweater, but I had warm boots, my wool coat, a hat, my scarf, and gloves on. It was a bit difficult to move, actually, but Dimitri had insisted, and now that we were out in the wind, I understood why. My dragon though? Nope. He was wearing a thick shirt and what I would consider a thin jacket, but beyond that, he had on what he always wore: cargo pants and boots. The fact that he’d put on the jacket was a bit of a surprise.

“Are you cold?” I asked, suddenly wondering if he’d chosen to wear it because he realized just how cold it would be.

“I am not.” He raised his hand, and when I looked up from the ground, I saw the cabin that I really hoped we were heading toward. “That is Dedushka’s cabin. You will know where it is now, and if you need, you can come to it?”

I nodded. It did no good to smile because the only part of my face that was visible was my eyes. The rest was covered by either my hat or my scarf.

“I will. But my parents are here. They’re in the cabin Rainier has for the family. At least for now.” I had talked to Papa two days ago when I was feeling up for it. It had gone exactly as I’d expected. That wasn’t bad, just that it had been an emotional conversation as I had assumed it would be. “I can go there as well. Or to Sebastian’s.”

Dimitri nodded. I knew he wanted to be with me, but we both understood that as long as Dimitri remained an enforcer, he would be sent out on assignments.

“I can come here if it makes you feel the most secure,” I told him.

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