Page 207 of Bitten & Burned
And then, he was gone.
I looked to Dmitri, pulling the furs up around myself.
“You had us all worried, Rowena…” Dmitri murmured, sliding down to the ground beside me. “I couldn’t think… couldn’t breathe. I thought… we all thought…” He swallowed. “I… I don’t want to lose you. Not when I only just found you.”
“Dmitri…”
“And Anton… he… paced. Back and forth. For hours. He didn’t sleep. He looked as if he wished to tear the walls apart from the inside… the only reason he isn’t here beside me is that Cassian had to nearly physically restrain him. Someone had to stay back at the manor to be certain it wouldn’t be attacked again.”
Tears sprang to my eyes. Gods, I’d been so stupid. I should have stayed back at the apartment with Vael and Quil. Waited for them.
“This is all my fault,” I said softly.
“What is?”
“I… I insisted I’d be safe. I told them I knew Blackthorn like the back of my hand, that the wards would be enough. And then, Silas… I deserved what happened; it was so utterly stupid of me.”
Dmitri’s shoulders drooped. “Rowena…” He pulled me close, his big arms enveloping me and holding me close. “You didn’t deserve what happened. No one would.”
“I did… Vael was…” I trailed off. “He was right. And I was a fool.Ama fool. And I can’t stop thinking about how Quil looked in that tower. How he came for me. No matter how unworthy I am of his love and protection… I just… walked into danger. I actually thought I was safe. I thought…”
Dmitri hugged me tighter. “Hush now.”
I shook my head, “I… I made all of you worry, and I don’t… I’m so sorry.”
Tears fell unbidden, my nose ran, and I began sobbing uncontrollably. All I could think of was how hurt the others must have been.
“Oh, Dmitri, I don’t deserve any of you. I’m ungrateful, stubborn, and I won’t admit when I was wrong. I am wrong!” I sobbed.
He hugged me close. He rocked me slightly, just back and forth. I found myself calming down despite everything. I wanted to keep crying. I wanted to punish myself for what I’d done. Gods, I didn’t know why they even wanted me. I was more trouble than I was worth.
“You are not nearly enough trouble,” Dmitri murmured. I frowned at him. How had he?—
“You seem to be having difficulties leaving thoughts unexpressed,” he whispered, kissing the tip of my nose. “Your worth is immeasurable. And, therefore, you aren’t nearlyenoughtrouble, Rowena. None of us is upset with you. Only relieved. I… don’t know what we would have done if something had happened. Something worse.”
“I’ll stay with one of you from now on,” I promised. “I can’t take Silas on. He’s got a hold on me.”
“Are you alright, Mishka? Did he hurt you? Are you still hurting?”
I nodded, sniffing. “I couldn’t move until Quil got there and destroyed the amulet.”
“I’m glad he destroyed it,” Dmitri muttered. “Drummond… he’s…” he sighed, the rigidity melting from his shoulders as he reached for me. “He’s already a dead man. Once I have him…” He trailed off with a breath, turning to kiss my temple, to brush my hair out of my face.
I curled into him, resting my head against him.
“Are you cold?” he murmured, his fingers grazing my arm. I gazed up into his beautiful face. Ice blue eyes stared back at me. Calm and kind, even with the fire behind them that I knew smoldered still. The fire that wouldn’t let Silas Drummond escape his fate.
“I’m actually quite comfortable now,” I whispered.
He inhaled deeply. “You smell like… Quil.”
“It’s his cave.”
“Indeed you are,” he murmured, finding my lips. “I’m happy for you. Both of you. He… he needed this.”
His lips pressed softly to mine.
“So did I,” I admitted.
