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There were a few wrinkles in the corners of his eyes and the beginnings of some on his forehead, just enough to show his age, and the more he frowned, the deeper they went.
“Take another breathPchelka. You aren’t breathing and you need to breathe.” He coaxed, stepping closer to me, and running his hands up and down my arms.
His hands were rough and calloused, hands that I knew were expert at pushing a person to their limits to get information, and the way he was touching me right now, it was firm and yet soft.
I inhaled sharply, tears prickling my eyes as my lungs expanded with life, like resurfacing from beneath the water.
“That’s it. And again. You’re safe, Katerina. I promise you; I will find the man who did this to you, who put this fear in your heart, and I will tear him apart slowly.” He murmured as he pulled me against his chest, cradling my head.
I closed my eyes and pressed into him, listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat.
He was like a bear, a big, muscly bear, and the way he stroked my hair right now, was the calming I needed.
“You are a warrior queen,Pchelkaand every warrior has scars. You will sweat in battle so you can win the war,” he said with conviction, kissing the top of my head as his warm hands ran up and down my back.
“We will help you and you will be okay. We will take back your throne and everyone will know that you are not only the rightful queen, but a woman with warriors at her back too.” He said before he gently placed his fingers under my chin, tilting me to look up at him.
“You are not alone anymore, and we will not let anyone hurt you, not even their ghosts. Rest. Then we will try again. And again, and again until you do not flinch.” he said firmly.
It was then I felt the stickiness soaking into my thigh and I stepped back with horror as I looked at my knife still sticking out of his thigh.
“Fuck. Alexsei…” I started and he grinned.
“It’s alright. Not the first time I have been stabbed,Pchelka. I’ll live.” He said before he yanked it out of his thigh with barely a wince.
Something about seeing him like that, after the words he said and the promises he made, cracked me open.
This man may have done some things that made me question him, but I could finally see it. He did love me.
I gripped his face, pulled him down to me, and kissed him.
I kissed him with every bit of passion, pain, and tendril of fear that lay in my heart while knowing I was finally going to accept this for what it was.
The beginnings of something new.
He rested his forehead against mine, hands idly stroking my back, and whispered.
“I have wanted to kiss you for years and now that I am, it doesn’t feel real. It also seems quite fitting that I am kissing youafter you stabbed me.” He laughed and I snorted as I tried to hold in my own laugh.
“I’ll help you clean it up,” I said and he shook his head.
“No needPchelka. I can do it.” He said with a kiss to the top of my head and then winced as he stepped back.
“Well. I didn’t see that one coming and I’m kind of glad it wasn’t me this time.” Hamish said from behind me and I turned around with a glare.
“Keep talking and I can fix that,” I muttered and he rolled his eyes, holding his hands in the air.
“I call a truce, Love.” He said and I nodded before I wrapped my arm around Alexsei.
“I’m helping and you can’t stop me,” I said before walking him inside.
Thirty six
Alexsei
“Katerina, I can do it,” I said for the fifth time as she began to prepare the suture.
“I did it to you, it’s the least I can do to fix it.” She muttered and I sighed.
