Page 164 of Anton

“Fine.” She rolls her eyes, though there’s a hint of a smile. “I don’t mind him all that much now.”

“What a relief.” I give her a playful look.

“Shut up.” Her smile grows. “I’m just happy you’re not dead.”

“Yeah, me too.”

For a while, I stay with them, laughing at something Greer says while Mama talks about Rue and her fascination with little Lev. It’s nice to talk about things that don’t feel so heavy.

Anton and I decided it was best that no one in my family knows he was ordered to kill me. It’s better to keep the peace instead of making things worse. It’s our little secret.

Hopefully, as the years go by, we’ll have more things that are just ours, more things to keep and cherish and build, because there’s no one I’d want any of that with but him.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

THORA

We return home that evening. To his home. Well, technically ours now.

The door barely closes behind us before Volchok barrels toward me, and Anton throws an arm across my body to keep him from knocking me over.

“Sidet.”

Volchok drops into a sit, though excitement still quivers through his massive body, his tail sweeping wildly across the floor. The sight makes me want to throw myself around him because he’s just so damn cute.

“Aww, it’s okay.” I duck beneath Anton’s arm and crouch in front of him, laughing when Volchok pushes his enormous head into me. “You’re just happy to see me, aren’t you, sweet boy?”

He practically collapses at my feet, rolling onto his back so I can scratch his belly exactly as I did the day we met.

What can I say? It was love at first sight. The same might be true of his owner, though that took me a little longer to admit.

I glance up at my overprotective boyfriend, who looks thoroughly unimpressed with both of us.

“Stop worrying about me.” I cradle his hand. “I’m okay.”

Anton bends and kisses the top of my head. “Good luck with that, printsessa. I’m going to be worried about you for the rest of my life.”

My smile pulls wide as I straighten, wrapping my arms around him and holding his gaze. “I’m okay with that.”

“You better be.” He slides his arms under me and gathers me against his chest, carrying me up the stairs. “You need to rest.”

Volchok follows us, and the second we step into the bedroom, he jumps onto the bed and sprawls across the mattress.

Anton stops near the footboard, his eyes narrowing. “I see what you’re trying to do.” He nudges Volchok’s giant body aside. “But it isn’t going to work. She’s mine.”

Volchok grumbles, and I bite back a laugh.

“Seems you have competition.”

“Mm-hmm.” Anton points toward the floor. “Tell him to be careful.”

“Why?”

His eyes slide to mine, dark with possession. “Because you belong to me.”

Heat rushes through me, and I capture the front of his shirt, bringing him down for a kiss. Behind Anton, Volchok releases another defeated sound.

“It’s okay,” I tell him, peeking over. “I love you too, Volchok.”