So, do we want a double update?
Vladimir: I watched as Konstantin walked out of the room, not even bothering to look at Elena who was still on the floor. I looked at the man over my shoulder, hearing his footsteps as he walked down the stairs before I walked toward her. Her eyes met mine as I extended my hand, and I nodded in encouragement, ushering her to listen to me. She hesitated for a moment before taking my hand as I helped her stand. She didn’t say a word, she didn’t need to. Her eyes spoke more than her lips ever would, and when she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me, I wrapped mine around her, hugging her back just as tightly, wanting to cradle her in my embrace. I knew that we were going to have to be fast and discrete, but at least I let her know that I was willing to do what it took to defend her against anyone who dared harm her. I kissed the crown of her head before pulling away to look her in the eye. I nodded in assurance and gave her a quick wink before taking a step back. “I’ll see you t
Elena: I watched as the bedroom door opened, and though I was surprised that Vladimir would be coming as early, I was surprised to see that it was Konstantin again. However, what took me by surprise was the fact that he was accompanied by Vladimir. “You turned out to be innocent,” Konstantin said, looking at me. His eyes met mine and I looked down at my feet, avoiding the man’s eyes, reminding myself of my limits. The man might be here with Vladimir, but he could still challenge him and lay a hand on me again, and I wouldn’t want him to get in trouble for my sake. I knew that he already went through enough as it was. “I came to introduce my new second hand,” he said, taking me by surprise. I wanted to frown in confusion, but I knew better than to do so in front of the man who puts a question mark on everything. “My nephew, Vladimir Ivanov.” I looked up at Vladimir for a second before looking down at my feet. My heart thumped against my chest, and I couldn’t help but hold my breath
Konstantin: I entered my underground office, knowing that he was waiting for me inside. His eyes met mine and I smirked, watching as he tended to the cuts that I made on his face. His face was a little more bruised than I intended for it to be, but I knew that it was going to be healing soon. “You just gave her to him as a prize?” Batrov asked, raising an eyebrow at me. He crossed his arms over his chest, putting the cotton piece down in the sink as he looked at me. “I doubt that it was the smartest thing to do.” “Giving him a weakness would ensure his loyalty. He would have something to lose, and it is only a matter of time before I have seen whether or not he was actually loyal to me. The man looking at Elena is not something for me to depend on.” I said, and he raised an eyebrow at me. “Had it been anyone else, this would have been deemed a crime. What not him?” Batrov asked, watching as I looked at the camera of the woman leaning to kiss him. She did it so spontaneously tha
Vladimir: “What just happened?” Elena asked, shaking her head in question as she looked at me. I smirked and winked before kissing her neck, letting my lips linger there for a few seconds as I tried to fight my own urge to claim her here and now. “There’s a camera inside your bedroom watch,” I whispered to her. “And I am going to give them the show of their lives.” “What?” She asked, frowning in confusion. Having noticed it the night that the fucker took her out, I knew to come in and check for things and how they were here to notice the small red beam and lenses in a new watch that they installed in her room. I pushed her toward the bed, making sure to use my body to hide hers from the camera, wanting to be able to talk to her without the fucker noticing. Her heart raced against her chest, and I could tell that she was more than a little concerned now. “I am going to lay on the bed and we are going to talk. I just want to use my body to shield yours, do you understand me?” I a
Elena: I smiled when I woke up to find myself lying in Vladimir’s arms. The man was shirtless while I was wearing a nightgown, and though he didn’t lay a finger on me, I was more than a little happy when he chose to have me leave that room and stay in his instead. It’s been a week since Konstantin chose to give me to him, and in that week, I have never felt more safe. “Good morning,” he said, and I raised myself to find him smiling at me. He pulled me to him, connecting his lips with mine in a gentle kiss. And it wasn’t until I heard a low purr coming from his chest that I pulled away, raising an amused eyebrow at him. “You really need to tell me the way you are able to purr, because I doubt that any normal human can do so.” I said, and he sucked in a harsh breath. It was like this whenever I asked, but I could tell that it seemed to be an involuntary habit whenever he was happy. “How’d you sleep, malyshka?” He asked, dismissing the topic. “Good, it seems to me that I find m
Vladimir: “Are you sure that it is wise for you to be going to the Ivanov Estate this early?” Konstantin asked, looking at me through the mirror of the front door while I fixed my jacket. “They were already informed that I was alive, and the meeting would be a public one. There is no need to hide while tending to the things that we have to take care of.” I said, and the man raised an eyebrow at me. “You are not the least bit worried that things would be taking a wrong turn? The man believed that you were dead…” “My heart stopped, but that didn’t mean that I was dead. Even Killian knows that one mustn’t be too foolish to believe one’s death before they have seen them buried or have burned their bodies. Anyhow, as I said, the meeting would be a public one. We will start arranging how things go accordingly.” I said, and he nodded. His eyes studied my expression for a few seconds before he took a deep breath. “I take it that you are going to want her to stay in your room?” He asked,
Elena: I watched as the bedroom door opened, and though I knew that it wasn’t Vladimir, I knew not to fear who was to come in. However, when I saw that it was Konstantin, I couldn’t help but find myself sucking in a harsh breath as he walked toward me. His stance was calm, and his eyes, which were stripping me without needing me to move, made me more and more uncomfortable. But I knew better than to move right now. I just kept looking down at my feet. “I take it that he has made you grow more confident.” He said, his tone more sarcastic than it had ever been. “You even opened your mouth to speak.” I didn’t respond as my heart raced against my chest. He took another step closer, and putting a finger under my chin, he forced my eyes on his. “I am keen about the way that he’s done it. You seem to have grown a habit of being stubborn when it comes to being with me, and…” “Please do not hurt me,” I begged, and he chuckled. “Ah, so the cat has finally let your tongue go.” He said, pu
Vladimir: I walked inside the auction hall, knowing that he was going to be waiting. Our eyes met from a distance, and though I knew that normally, the man would have gotten up to greet me and I would have walked straight to him. But I also knew that more eyes were on us than we could count, and every move that we made was being watched. And I wasn’t dumb, Konstantin’s men were more than a little anxious of what was to happen tonight. “Vladimir, it is an honor to have you.” Akshana, one of the hostesses said. Her eyes met mine and I read her silent message. The woman didn’t want any trouble, and I knew that she had given Killian the same stern look. “The pleasure is mine, Akshana. I won’t be long. I just have a few things to settle with Killian and I am to be on my way.” I said, and she nodded, allowing me to pass. She stopped the men, not allowing them in. She was one of Killian’s trusted women, and one of the very few that knew of me being alive. “He is to go inside alone.” “