Blood Between Us

Thirty-Eight

The car slows as it turns through the iron gates.

Gravel crunches softly beneath the tires.

The estate is dimly lit, warm lights glowing from tall windows against the rain-dark sky. The storm has softened now — just a drizzle.

Inside the car, Darina doesn't stir.

Ivan looks down at her.

Still asleep. Curled slightly toward him. One hand fisted lightly in the fabric of his shirt like she anchored herself there without meaning to.

Vladimir glances over. "We're here."

Ivan nods once.

Carefully — carefully — he slides one arm under her knees and the other around her back.

She's light.

Too light.

He lifts her smoothly, adjusting so her head rests against his shoulder. The moment the cool air brushes her face, she shifts.

A small sound escapes her. Not fully awake.

Her fingers tighten in his shirt.

"Ivan..." she murmurs, voice thick with sleep.

"I've got you," he says quietly.

Her eyes flutter open halfway.

Blurry. Confused.

She looks at him like she's trying to remember where she is.

Then she realizes.

And instead of pulling away — instead of stiffening like she normally would —

She presses closer.

Her arms slide around his neck without hesitation.

Clingy. Instinctive.

"I don't want to walk," she mumbles.

He huffs the smallest laugh. "Good. Because you're not."

She buries her face against his neck.

He feels her breathe in.

Warm. Slow.

Vladimir watches from beside the car, shaking his head faintly. "You're never living this down."

"Shut up," Ivan mutters, but there's no bite in it.

Darina shifts again, half-awake brain filtering slowly.

"Don't drop me," she whispers.

Ivan adjusts his hold automatically, tightening his grip just slightly. "I won't."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Her hand slides from his collar to the side of his neck, fingers warm against his skin.

She hums softly — almost content — and her eyes close again.

Vladimir walks ahead to open the door, but when he looks back, something in his expression has changed.

Less amused.

More thoughtful.

Ivan carries her up the steps, steady and unhurried.

Inside, the house is quiet.

The staff discreetly look away.

He doesn't put her down when they reach the staircase.

She stirs again when he shifts her weight.

"Ivan..." she murmurs.

"Yeah?"

"Don't go."

It's not dramatic.

It's sleepy.

Unfiltered.

His steps pause for half a second.

Then he keeps walking.

"I'm not going anywhere," he says softly.

Ivan carries her up the stairs, each step quiet, precise, the sound of their movement muffled by thick carpets. Darina's head rests against his shoulder, warm and heavy. Her breathing slows again, soft and even, and before long, her eyelids droop fully, surrendering to sleep.

At the top of the stairs, Viktor and Dimitri appear in the hallway, emerging from a side room. Both are impeccably dressed, imposing as ever, their sharp eyes immediately noting the scene.

Viktor's gaze lingers for a moment. His expression is unreadable, cool and measured, but there's a subtle softening around his eyes — a rare acknowledgment of the sight before him.

Dimitri, more blunt, raises a brow, his usual sharpness tempered by curiosity. He doesn't speak, just tilts his head slightly, observing how Ivan carries her with careful ease.

Darina, oblivious, shifts slightly against Ivan's chest in her sleep, one arm loosely draped around him.

Ivan glances toward the two older brothers briefly, a silent nod acknowledging their presence without breaking his rhythm. Viktor's lips press into a thin line, and Dimitri's jaw flexes — a mix of respect and subtle warning — before they quietly retreat down the hall, leaving Ivan and the sleeping Darina undisturbed.

Ivan continues to her room, his steps slow and deliberate. He gently lays her on the bed, keeping his arm under her shoulders as she murmurs something incoherent in her sleep. The blanket is pulled over her, and her small hand twitches slightly, brushing against his sleeve.

He watches her for a moment, the protective instinct clear in his posture, then finally steps back, quietly closing the door, leaving her safe and asleep.