The air smelled different. The air felt different. Even the atmosphere was different. It wasn't as cold as Russia, but it didn't give me a sense of relief. I still wasn't home. But, where was home? Was it a country? A city? A house? Or perhaps, a person?
I couldn't find the right answer to that question. I felt that I had yet to find where I truly belonged or could go back to no matter what I did.
And if home was a person, then the man walking beside me would be my temporary home. Ilay was an open book, yet I could still feel some undiscovered mysteries about him.
He offered me a sense of comfort whenever I was around him. Made me feel as if the world was truly in my palm and I could act as I wished and get away with it.
How could a single person make me feel so worthy? The why he did the things he did wasn't important. Ilay was just out of this world and killed with a hot smile on his lips.
Yet, even knowing that he was a bloodthirsty devil, I still wanted to be around him. To show him off. To 'own' him.
But that was just a beautiful dream.
How could someone like Ilay Volkov be owned? How could I tame his carefree spirit?
Would acting domineering make him proud? Or perhaps killing a few 'chickens' that dissatisfied him?
The ringing of his cellphone startled me to the living and I almost jumped out of his hold. "Argh! How did I forget to turn this thing off?" He grumbled drawing it out of his hip pocket while bringing us to a halt.
I thought he'd toss it away from the sudden frown that engulfed his face, but he instead released my arm even though the entrance was a few steps away.
"Go ahead in. I'll be right behind you." He then turned to Mike, "Escort her in."
"Yes Boss."
I was shocked to see that Mike was still alive when we landed in Canada. Given our history, I had thought Ilay would cut his dick and send him to a temple.
"Please, let's go ahead." Mike smiled professionally opening his arm towards the heavily guarded entrance of the hotel.
He was acting like whatever happened between us months ago was nothing but a dream. But then again, which subordinate would be stupid to mess with his boss's woman? Not to mention the woman of a psychopathic murderer like Ilay? Only one who didn't value his cock and balls.
We stopped behind two women whose invitations were being checked. And only did it hit me that I had no fucking invitation.
Did Ilay have one? There hadn't been any when the letter was delivered. Or maybe it had been sent electronically?
"Invitation?" One heavily built guard demanded, wearing a serious expression probably meant to intimidate any timid attendees and not to cause any issues while in the establishment.
I glanced back, searching for Ilay without making it obvious but only saw a bunch of people lined up behind us. All wearing such high-end brands and possessing such proud auras.
To blend in, I gracefully brought back my gaze on the guard, planning to step forward and have a word with him. But Mike beat me to it when he rolled the sleeve of his left hand, exposing a strange dragon tattoo.
It looked like Ilay's, but small enough to fit just above his wrist. Its shape was also different.
While Ilay's usually was lifelike, curling around his entire arm, Mike's was tiny and curled.
I had yet to learn about Drakon's tattoos, but I could tell they had such a high impact from the way the guard reacted. There was fear in his eyes, which he transferred to his colleague after whispering something to his ear.
The second guard immediately turned away from us as his hand reached in his ear probably trying to communicate with someone.
After a few seconds, he stepped before us and bowed, Drakon style.
"Welcome. Please, follow me inside," he said respectfully.
As he led us through the doors being opened by more guards, I caught a stranger asking, "Who is she? Why did he bow to her?"
I smirked to myself, wishing I could scream at the top of my lungs exactly who I was. 'Ilay's bitch! And the Czarina in name!'
Though I doubted they'd know what the title even meant. Argh! Why wasn't Ilay with me? His presence would have made them drool like savages and I'd bathe in the glory of being his companion.
Unlike many women who'd try to resist Ilay and put on the heroine act, I had embraced my destiny and was glad that Ilay had given me this rare chance to shine. He was my savior, the protagonist of the story and I was his female lead. The kind that only stayed a few episodes and left when she got the benefits and helped the protagonist achieve their ambitions.
Ilay's ambition was to take over Drakon. As a side character, it was my duty to aid him. Then walk away rich as hell.
Maybe we'd never see each other again after our contract came to an end. Maybe he'd feel threatened and shove a dagger through my heart. Or maybe, he'd ask me to stay. No! Ilay never asked for anything. He'd 'make' me stay.
And honestly, even though I prayed for the first outcome, my heart was beginning to hope for the latter.
The lobby was occupied as well, but the people here didn't look like much. Just a few ordinary folk drinking and chatting about. Their lip movements, their postures, and their drinking looked pretty normal, but according to what Ilay had taught me, this was a line of defense or attack if needed. Disguised as attendees, Ghost Skull had planted their people close to dangerous sources to keep their invitees as safe as possible.
And when they saw one of their own personally guiding us instead of the servants, gazes were thrown my way.
Of course, they didn't have much interest in Mike because of his rather ordinary dressing as a bodyguard, which left me in the spotlight. Dazzling in the white gown bought by none other than my husband, a diamond crown on my head that matched the watch I had acquired just recently.
I was a walking flame that was only being enhanced by the person leading the way.
'This will be fun.' I smiled on the outside but grinned on the inside.
A minute later, walking along the wide and brightly lit hallway, we reached the tall double doors, which were pulled open by the doormen.
The serenity in the air, the sparkle of the large chandeliers, the tall pillars, the soothing music, yes, this was the right place. And the people moving around with their noses in the air and drinks in their hands confirmed it.
Barely two steps in, I caught the woman, probably in her thirties, hurrying straight towards us. Her skin olive and dazzling, her green eyes beautiful and alluring, she was simply charming. Her figure wasn't bad either, quite attractive if I was being honest with myself.
"Pardon my manners. I didn't expect the future Czarina to arrive this early," she apologized placing her right hand on her heart and bowing.
It felt like the entire hall came to a halt, or maybe their eyes and mouths did.
They were looking at me. Probably wondering who the fuck this little girl was.
Or maybe they weren't looking at me, rather, the person shamelessly sliding his hands around my waist from behind.
The female's eyes bulged when she straightened, further confirming that it was indeed... Ilay.