Page 15 of Cookie: Part One
“What does that even mean?” I look up at him and he smiles down at me, brown eyes glittering.
“It’s old legend zhat says zee Bershovs are descended from theUrsina Severna, zee northern bears. Creatures not born of flesh, but of lightning, ice, and bred for battle. Polar bears so large they could tear volves in half, so stealthy zhey could stalk a man through a blizzard vizhout leaving a footprint.
“Whhhat?!” I exclaim at the history.
“Da, ze Bershov line carries zheir blood. Some say zhat’s vhy our bodies run hot, even in ze vorst vinters.” Pyper smirks and I glance at them, just now noticing Pyper ain’t got on a jacket and she’s walking around like she’s Childish Gambino singing Summertime. I shiver, shaking my head, peeking over at Alik. He’s at the very least got a scarf and a flimsy sweater on, but I can’t stop staring.
“That’s really cool though… like a real fantasy novel,” I mutter, bumping Alik’s arm.
“See I told you, you were strong.” I giggle and he swoops me up,
“You know zhey say a bears rage is slow and silent, but always fatal.” He kisses my cheeks.
“Right, you can beg a volf to show mercy, but bear…” Pyper smirks, her and Alik tickling me, and I fight to get out of their arms, swatting them.
“You’re savage,” I mutter.
“Sorry sorry…” Alik jokes and I turn back to the emblem.
“And what about the antlers?” I pant, a bit winded from laughing, but I point at the center. “It almost looks like a crown, but kinda doesn’t?” I tilt my head, examining it like art, and she grins.
“Oh zhat?” Alik stares at it. “Bears don’t ask for crown. Zhey rip zhem off kings and turn zhem to corpses,” he mutters and I lay my head on his, squeezing his arm, shuddering from the cold.
“Well, that’s oddly terrifying yet cool as fuck.”
“Mmm,” he peeks down me, but his mouth quirks. “You zhink so?”
“Hell yeah! It’s crude, but I’ll roll with the punches if that means my besties are some a bad ass mythical polar bears! Because that could only mean one thing.”
“What?” Pyper snorts, but I stand on the stacked bricks in the garden and puff out my chest.
“It means I’m untouchable!” I joke and Alik swoops me off my feet, swinging me around before setting me down.
“You can have all my power. I’m always in your corner.” He kisses my cheek.
“Aww, my big strong polar bear.” I scratch his chin, but I pause. “Oh, speaking of bloodline, is that heir thing the reason you guys don’t like Mikhail?” I ask as we continue our walk.
“Ugh, vhy ruin zhis perfectly good valk talking abouthim?” Pyper rolls her eyes and I chuckle, glancing over to Alik who’s suddenly silent.
“Because I’m a nosy bitch that’s why. Now spill the tea so I can sip slow.” I wiggle my brows and she huffs, snorting. “But seriously, he seems… uhm… intense, but not so intense you guys can’t get along.” I wonder aloud.
“Us get along vit zhat jerk?” Pyper scoffs. “I don’t zhink vee could even stand being in ze same room if not for Nadya and Dimitri. Nov zhey vould get along so well vit you.” Hearing her name makes my pussy tingle…mmm… too well…
“H-how so?”
“Vell, vit Nadya because you’re adorable and she likes adorable zhings. Don’t you see Dimitri? She’s been obsessed vit him since zhey were kids when Mikhail introduced him as his best friend.” I swallow at that…O-oh… so Mikhail and Dimitri are best friends?
That tracks.I can see the Dimitri being cute and bold, leaning over and kissing Mikhail while studying, thinking he’ll be pushed away when instead they wou—My head swims and I fan my hot face.
“Connie, are you okay?” Alik asks, watching me over. I smile and turn us to keep walking.Alik is so damn overprotective.
“Y-yup… perfectly fine. Tell me more about them three.”
“Vell, you’ve met Nadya. Beautiful, right? Brilliant. Trained in five languages, three combat styles, and probably could poison a man vit her lipstick if she wanted to, but she hangs on Mikhail’s vord and only listens to him and Pakhan.”
That tracks as well. I bet she came onto Mikhail too… that man is fine as hell, so I don’t blame her for wanting to bounce on it even if they’re cousins by marriage. Yeah, it’s some sweet home Alabama shit, but man…
“Oh...”
