To Russia With Love
Apparently, Milan and her friends caught a red-eye flight to Russia last night. I think she starts to feel comfortable and too cocky that she managed to escape so far. Lazarus has their men waiting at Domodedovo International Airport, Russia. He also has some men stationed in Krasnoïarsk, where her family and most of her accomplices live.
It's only 5 am. and I only had a few hours of sleep, but we don't want to lose ground on our lead or let the trail goes cold. Constantine knows that I'm still tired and a bit sore, but he said I could sleep on the plane. The intense pain I felt yesterday is now just a little twinge and only hurt when I move too much. I'll be back to normal by tonight.
Constantine keeps my passport with his. I don't know how he managed to obtain a visa for me to travel to Russia so quickly. I guess that's one of the perks of being a Lycan Prince. It suddenly dawns on me how powerful he really is. It just occurred to me that if I changed my mind about being his, there's no place for me to run to where he can't get me back. Lycan have their people in so many high places in governments across the world. Good thing I want to be his.
The thought should scare me, but it only excites me. My eyes slide to where he's slipping a white t-shirt over his glorious body. The shirt stretched tight over his broad chest and shoulders. He's about to shrug a black leather jacket on when he returns my gaze as he feels my eyes on him. He raises an eyebrow in question. His sensual lips curl up at the corners into a sexy smirk as he continues putting his jacket on without taking his eyes off me. I could jump him right now!
“Stop looking at me like that if you want to make it to Russia anytime today...or this year,” he growls into my ear as his hands grip my hips and yank me to him. He moves so fast! My back is against his warm muscled chest. His teeth nip my earlobe playfully. Delicious bursts of heat erupt through my body. I can feel how hard he is through his jeans pressing up against my behind.
Flying cows and crazy bunnies! Nope. Not going anywhere. I'm keeping this lycan for life.
My hand grips the tiny black velvet box that I had been keeping in my underwear drawer. I've been planning to give this ring to him later during a picnic, but if I learned anything from yesterday's event, “later” might not come. I might not be here for later to happen...or worse—he might not be. Now that I don't even have the ring that he gave me, I want more than ever for him to at least have something from me. I want him to wear something as a symbol of our connection and love apart from my mark.
I turn around to look at him and watch him from underneath my eyelashes. What if he doesn't like it? Now I'm chewing my bottom lip and gripping the box harder.
He's filling up his traveling bag with some shirts, but his eyes are regarding me with amusement. Finally, he smiles and sighs. “Okay, what is it, sweetheart?”
“What makes you say that?” I ask, shuffling my feet nervously, gripping the box behind my back now.
He just raises his eyebrows as if to say “Really?”
Suddenly, I have an idea. I step to where he's standing by the bed and go down on my knees while trying to keep a straight face.
He turns to look at me with curiosity and amusement.
I open the box, hold it up and says, “Constantine Dimitri Romanov, would you do me the honor of wearing this ring as a symbol of our bond and love? And also to show other women that you belong to me. So help me, goddess, whoever messes with my man will be bitchslapped so hard her ugly face will forever be facing her ass?” Then I smile innocently and angelically up to him.
There's a surprised look on his face for a few seconds before it is replaced with a look of tenderness and love, then amusement and mirth. He then throws his head back and laughs. That deep beautiful laugh that never fails to make me weak in the knees.
He puts his hands over his heart and in a funny slightly high pitch voice dramatically says, “Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!”
I giggle, and he grabs my shoulders and pulls me up to my feet.
“I'd be more than happy to wear it, sunshine,” he says in a serious voice.
I slip the ring on his finger, and we both grin at each other goofily.
“Together, forever,” I say it like a vow and nod my head.
“Together, forever,” he agrees. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
He places his lips on mine. The kiss is gentle and sweet, yet I feel tingles running up and down my body. I know he feels it too because the kiss quickly becomes heated. He pulls away first this time, and I'm thankful for that because I totally wouldn't be able to do that.
“I love it,” he spreads his fingers to look at it.
He has such nice, strong, long, elegant fingers. I think the ring looks good on his finger.
Mine.
***
We all pack very lightly. I unzip my duffel bag, throw in a few changes of underwear, a few pairs of jeans, tops, toiletries, and I'm done. He has already done packing as well. He zips up my bag, hoists it over one shoulder while carrying his own leather duffel bag in his other hand and we make our way down the stairs.
Caspian is sitting alone at the breakfast table, munching on his bowl of colorful Froot Loops. His hair is nicely styled but still damp from the shower. I eye the Domenico Vacca duffel bag at his feet. This prince really likes his luxury.
“Did you just get in?” I ask him.
“Yeah, about less than an hour ago,” he answers. “I'll catch some shut-eye on the plane.”
It sounds like everyone has the same idea.
I'm still feeling very tired. Constantine pulls me to him, and I curl up in his lap and yawn. It's too early for me to have breakfast.
Lazarus and Serena walk in not long after. Lazarus is carrying a duffel bag and a small suitcase. I assume the bright yellow suitcase must belong to Serena.
A limo is waiting for us at the front. Constantine waits for me to get in, then he climbs in after. He picks me up and settles me on his lap.
Lazarus, Constantine, and Caspian start to discuss their findings on Milan and her associates and also the latest development in tracking her. It seems that she's been involved in more than just my kidnapping. She's involved in building up the rebel army. The rebels have been attacking our ally packs in the Southern Region for many years now, contributing greatly to the state of unrest in that region. So many deaths of the innocence and destruction of properties caused by them. From what I gather, the rebels are getting bigger in number and strength.
They got the information that she's on the way to meet another important leader of the group. If the lead is correct, she will be leading us straight to the man. The Palace has been looking for him for a long time. So this is a great breakthrough for the Palace as well.
I try to listen in to their conversation, but I can't keep my eyes open. I snuggle up closer to Constantine, wrapping my arms tightly around him and burrowing my face in his neck, getting more comfortable. He wraps his arms protectively around me. His long elegant fingers at the base of my neck gently massaging my scalp. Ummm...very comfortable. Like I'm home in our bed. Maybe it's not the bed I'm in love with after all. We fit perfectly together. Nice. I listen to the deep, beautiful, and soothing timbre of his voice talking as I let my eyelids flutter shut.
I wake up in Constantine's arms just as our car pulls up on the tarmac beside the plane.
“Wait, we're flying on a private jet?” My eyes grow big.
“Yes. Our princess over there is allergic to commercial airlines,” answers Serena, laughing while tipping her head towards Caspian.
“Say what you want, but five minutes in a crowded airport, going through the customs and security checkpoints, you'll be begging to come with me,” replies Caspian with a smirk. “You'll say, you are right, Prince Caspian. You are always right. Oh, Prince Caspian, I was wrong, you are right. I am stupid, you are clever. You're a genius, really,” he adds as he gracefully slides out of the car.
“You also have an ego too big, your head might explode, Prince Caspian,” I mutter.
“Hey! I heard that!” comes his exclamation from outside the car.
Serena giggles. “As if he ever experienced traveling on commercial airlines.” She rolls her eyes.
***
I was introduced to the flight crew, who I can tell are all werewolves. Caspian flirts with our two flight attendants, Anna and Yuliya with familiarity. Both girls blush with pleasure at his attention.
The interior of the aircraft is as luxurious and lavish as our house. The six cream leather seating at the front are plush and comfortable, so is the sofa behind them.
For the first hour of the flight, I was wide awake with excitement.
“We're starting your education on Russia with food,” states Constantine.
“Perfect! I love food!” I exclaim, almost clapping my hands.
“I know.” He grins.
Our flight attendants serve us breakfast not long after.
Breakfast consists of syrniki, a type of cottage cheese dumplings which are served with sour cream and jam, pancakes with minced meat fillings also served with sour cream, morning kasha, in this case, a bowl of buckwheat porridge with milk, and some fruits.
Constantine explains to me about the food, while I stuff my face with them. I love syrniki, and the pancake is awesome. I wasn't sure about the buckwheat porridge at first, but it's surprisingly pretty good.
Serena and Lazarus disappear right after breakfast. They've probably gone to bed.
I have a good view of the sunrise above the clouds and keep struggling to keep my eyes open.
After my third cup of tea and a hundredth yawn, Constantine pulls me up to my feet and walk me to the back of the plane.
“Off to bed with you,” he says.
“But I've slept like ten hundred hours already,” I mumble stubbornly. Fuzzy slippers! Ten hundred hours? I didn't mean to say that. I swear my brain stops working when I'm tired. That, or bad math skills.
“Ten hundred hours, huh?” His mouth curls up into a smile and his eyes alight with mirth. “Your body is repairing itself. You need a lot of rest, sunshine.”
Caspian is already sprawled on the sofa, sleeping soundly. A blanket is nicely spread over him. His long legs are dangling slightly out at the end, but he looks comfortable enough.
Constantine walks me all the way to the back and slides open a door to a bedroom. The room isn't big, but the bed looks really comfortable. It carries the same plush cream, white and black decor as the front cabin. The lights are dimmed, and the windows are drawn.
“Come on, sweetheart. Let's sleep ten hundred and seven hours more,” he murmurs against my forehead as he tugs me closer to him. He wraps his arms securely around me as we lie in bed. Warm and comfortable. Huh, what do you know, I think I'm in love with this bed too.
***
We are met with five lycans dressed in black fighting gears in a private lounge as soon as we arrive at Vnukovo Airport. They all look tough and formidable. Constantine introduces me to the leader of the group, Darius, who seems to be a close friend of theirs. He's as tall as the three but even bulkier than Lazarus. His blond hair is almost white and is swept neatly back. He seems very intimidating. His pale blue eyes are almost as pale as Constantine's. I sense warmth, strength, honor, and loyalty in him.
“So, finally I get to meet Constantine's mate. I'm sorry about what happened, but I'm glad that you're doing very well.” He smiles, offering me his hand. His English is thick with the Russian accent. He will be traveling with us to track down Milan who is now meeting with the rebel group leader. They are believed to be in a werewolf pack territory suspected of supporting the rebels.
“It's nice to meet you too,” I reply, taking his hand.
I climb in a big black Hummer-like vehicle that is waiting for us. Darius is driving, with Caspian sitting beside him. I sit next to Constantine in the second row, while Lazarus and Serena sit behind us. We're traveling with three other cars behind us.
“There will be an army of werewolves in that territory. There are also six lycans that we know of who are going to fight us in there,” says Constantine. “You've been hurt...badly, just yesterday. I'd rather you sit in the car with two of our men...”
“No! Costa!!! Seriously???” I almost yell. Not only he wants me to hide in the car, but he's also going to assign babysitters for me too?
I can see Darius's amused eyes glancing at us in the review mirror. Caspian hides his snickers behind fake coughs.
“Listen, sunshine, we'll bring Milan to you, I promise. I know your lycan wouldn't be satisfied until you can exact revenge, but let us deal with...”
“No, you didn't hear me when I told you we're together forever,” I interrupt him. I touch his ring, and he sighs in defeat. I know he's worried about me, but I'm not a helpless little girl who's going to gnaw on my fingernails waiting in the car while my mate and my pack are out there fighting the bad guys. No, thanks. I'll fight next to my mate and my pack.
“Okay...but you're staying close to me. At all times.” He relents reluctantly. He brings my hand up to his lips and kisses my ring finger. “I'm going to put that ring back on your finger,” he vows.
***
Just like all the other lycans that I know, Darius drives very fast. It takes over an hour drive to get to our destination. We're driving into a territory that belongs to a werewolf pack called Krasnyy Volk Pack.
It must be close to midnight by now. It is dark, and all I can see are trees around us.
Darius had briefed us on our strategy during the drive. It sounds pretty simple to me. The palace task force is already in place, just waiting for our signal. They are to take care of the fleeing rebels, and also to take the women and children to safety.
Our job is to go into the very center of it. We are to deal with the rebels and the lycans. I'm making it my personal mission to hunt Milan down. I'm going to make sure that she's not getting away this time. Ezra's hunger for her blood is a constant twinge in my consciousness. It's like an itch you can't scratch. It won't go away until she is gone.
Once we entered their territory, I'm sure they are all alerted of our arrival. Four cars with all lycans in them wouldn't go unnoticed.
“They know we're here now. We have to act fast,” says Darius. He then barks orders into his radio in Russian. The cars behind us suddenly swerve into different directions.
Constantine squeezes my hand. I look up and our gaze locked. I know he's worried about me, I can feel it, but I'm telling him with my eyes not to worry. Despite what happened yesterday, I'm not made of glass.
I look at my pack mates, Serena, Lazarus, and Caspian. We have all phased halfway into our lycans. Our senses are sharper. We are ready.