Cowardice was something I was not accustomed to. It was something I was not well acquainted with, and neither had I ever plan to properly acquaint myself ~ when it came to it.

Cowardice was a whole new experience, a whole new feeling — and sitting here feeling it, I felt like a complete failure.

It shamed me. I wanted to run. Away from Roman. I wanted to run away from this dinner. From this, when in reality the old Olivia would have thirsted for the very experience dinner tonight would bring.

Strangely though, I'd realised that somehow when it came to Romanov, I was weaker than I usually was. In fact, I was very weak.

I wasn't stupid. I knew this bite... his bite — had an effect on me. That somehow it linked both him and I together. Logically I couldn't understand how, but then I had kicked logic out the door the very night I had found out that the man who had saved me, wasn't human.

There was no time to think with logic here. At least not in the manner logic was introduced to me.

My fingers pressed on his mark and I frowned again. Roman and I were linked, yes, but how much exactly?

And what of this fiancée of his?

My frown deepened, and I slumped further against the floor.

Did he even want to be linked to me?

Another question came into my mind and I stilled.

Did he regret saving me?

The clock dinged in a far distance and I instantly looked at my iPhone.

6.00 PM

I sighed, then moving onto the messages section typed down a simple question.

To: Prue.

Pressing on send I looked down at my small bag, packed and ready beside me as it leaned against the foot of the large bed.

A tiny knock sounded around the silent room and only but a second later the door twisted open, a small, tired looking Sophia walked in, a note in her hand.

"Master Romanov gave this," she signed as she placed the letter on the bed, beside me.

I looked at it tiredly before looking back at the woman.

"Are you okay?" I signed, concerned as the girl dropped down on the bed and silently sighed.

"Yes. Just a tough day."

I nodded. "I understand,"

My eyes found the paper again and as if on impulse I reached forward and grasped it, opening it in the next second.

Only cowards run. -B.

My heart melted a little. B. For Beasty.

Then I scoffed. Only cowards run? What irony.

"What's it say?" Sophia signed curiously, and I sighed.

"Only cowards run."

Sophia smiled, then shook her head, "Guess master doesn't like you."

Shrugging, I closed the letter and tucked it into my tiny bag.

"I suppose not,"

Then getting up I turned towards Sophia and smiled tiredly.

"Well then, looks like I have to get ready for dinner." 

Walking down the wide stairs, wearing a white knee length dress, hair down, I imagined myself to be properly dressed. Definitely not extremely casually, but casually enough to be having dinner with my host for the first time.

Truth be told I was scared. Scared, beyond myself —and having dinner with Romanov was the last thing I wanted to do.

I knew he could see right through me, I knew that although he had agreed to indulge me, his patience would run thin someday. And someday, it would deplete completely.

Turning around the corner, I felt my heart race wilder as the warm glows of the dining hall came into view.

Seated on the master's chair, Romanov looked regal as he looked at all the maids setting up the table before him, I noticed as he managed to a mutter a thank you to each one.

Sweet.

As I took a step closer his eyes snapped and found mine, his lips thinned slightly and the golden in his eyes became more known.

"Have a seat, Miss Olivia."

My lips thinned, and I slowly moved forward and settled into the seat he was motioning towards, the seat closest to him.

It was strange, but I despised it when he called me miss. The sense of aloofness, formality made me angry. And that was ridiculous because I initialized this whole thing.

"How has your stay been here so far? I apologize for not being here on your first night,"

I shook my head, slightly surprised at his attempt at making conversation.

"It's all right, it's been great so far, I've made friends and explored a lot. My project is coming along well, as well." I mumbled, blushing lightly when I noticed his intent eyes on me.

"By friends I hope you mean me?"

I almost hit my head on the table when Grayson spoke up from behind me. Turning towards him reluctantly, I grit my teeth together when he moved to take a seat beside me, a grin on his face.

Suddenly a warning growl hit the table and both Grayson and I stilled.

"Tie your hair, Olivia."

My eyes widened, and I turned towards a fierce looking Romanov. His eyes snapped from Grayson's to mine. "Tie your hair."

Moving my gaze between an angry looking Romanov to a startled Grayson, I quickly pulled my hair back into a casual ponytail.

Somehow, I knew that fighting Romanov on this would be a sour mistake to make.

Turning around I watched as Grayson's eyes widened. But instantly all three of us flinched when something hit the floor.

Looking towards the commotion I looked startled when my eyes landed on a wide-eyed Sophia, her eyes on my neck.

Snapping her eyes towards Romanov she Instantly began to panic; tears welling, her lips quivering.

"I'm sorry!" She signed crazily as she dropped down to pick at the ruined duck on the marble floor.

I rushed out of my seat and towards the girl as soon as she dropped down to pick the ruined food.

My hands found her stiff hands and I tried to smile at her before beginning to help her pick the mess up.

Soon Rose and Janet rushed towards us and cleared the mess, I followed the girls into the kitchen.

"Go on now!" Marsha ushered me away as soon as I washed my hands and wiped at the moisture, confused with all the stares that were coming my way. Poor Sophia had to be sent home early.

I sighed as I walked towards the dining hall again, a concerned looking Romanov sat on the seat, Grayson seated on the opposite side to where I was supposed to sit.

"How is she?" Romanov asked his black eyes on mine.

"She's fine, Marsha sent her home," I mumbled back, seating myself on my chair.

I looked up just in time to see Grayson roll his eyes.

My blood boiled. That man needs to just disappear!

Romanov, on the other hand, nodded, "As long as the girl is well, let's have dinner then."

His hand moved towards the dumplings, and then he stopped.

Looking back up he motioned towards Grayson.

"Oh, and Miss—"

"Olivia. Just Olivia." I mumbled quickly. I thought I saw a flicker of pleasure spark in Romanov's eyes before it went blank again.

"—Olivia, meet Grayson. The Delta."

There was no curtaining Grayson's position, I noticed. Then again it wasn't necessary since I knew about their world anyway.

Romanov then turned towards Grayson. And I didn't think it was possible, but his eyes darkened as he spoke out the next words.

"And Grayson... she's marked."

~^~

From: Prue.

A soft sigh left my lips as I moved towards the balcony door. Opening it I slipped out, breathing in the fresh late-night air.

The phone rang two times and then three, before Prue finally picked up. My eyes on the orange stars scattered below me, I spoke first.

"Hello?"

"Olivia, sweetie are you okay?" Prue blurted out sounding extremely concerned, and I clutched the phone tighter against my ear.

"I'm fine," I mumbled back softly, a little calmed by the slowly breeze caressing me comfortingly.

"Okay, if you say so...." Prue drawled, then quickly added, "But are you sure?"

I smiled. "I'm—"

"Olivia," "Olivia," "Olivia,"

I froze. The slow whispers hung around the night, as chilly as breeze.

"Oliiiviiiaa"

Again, the breezy whisper.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I quickly swung towards the dim lit room. Suddenly the moonlight seemed brighter than the dimly lit table lamps.

"Soon," "Soon," "Soon,"

"Soon, Oliiivvviaaa"

"OLIVIA?"

I lost it. My cellphone fell to the floor but I didn't care, instantly my feet bolted towards the large bedroom door,

The darkness of the bedroom enveloped me, and I felt myself sweat harder as I tried to reach the door.

"Oli-Iivvv-viaaa"

A pained scream left my lips when two claws reached out and grabbed me from the side of my waist. Praying I ran harder, biting away the pain the claws digging in my skin made as I ripped myself away.

Reaching the door, I grabbed the knob and flung it open, the next moment I rushed out.

Only to hit a hard chest.

Instantly a pair of protective arms wrapped around me and pulled me closer towards safety, I breathed his cologne in and despite myself shuddered, crying, held Romanov harder against me.

I just needed to feel safe. And somehow, he was the safest I felt for a very long time.

"What happened!?" Roman growled, looking into my room, alert.

I only clutched to him harder, hiding my face into the crook of his neck.

"Olivia!?"

Dark circles began filling up my eyes and I blinked away the tears, trying to rid of the haze too. But it got stronger.

"I-In the room," Was the only thing I managed to whisper before the pain and panic won out, and everything went dark. 

~^~

Something cold touched my forehead and I groaned, turning my head away from the freezing burn.

"Hush dear, you need it."

I sighed as the cold left my forehead, but instantly began to move away when it came back.

Immediately my torso fought back with the pain and I sobbed, my eyes still closed. Something crashed in the room and I flinched.

"I say that's ridiculous, Rome, really, you're only scaring her!"

Beasty...

Suddenly my body itched to have him closer.

"I'm not scaring her! I can't scare her, I'm her ma—"

"Rome," I managed to croak out the word before the pain took over again and I choked out a pained laugh at how many times I'd ended up fainting this year — though breaking into a silent sob halfway through because of the pain.

Immediately a hand found mine, while the other carefully pushed aside a strand of hair away from my forehead. Slowly, I opened my eyes.

Romanov's bright burning golden eyes met mine and I cringed when I glanced around my room and found it in shambles.

"Get me out of he—" A round of violent coughs broke head first into an attack and I gave up, staring at an angrier Romanov helplessly.

I watched as suddenly he stood up and moved his arms under me, a determined look on his face.

"Sir—" Marsha suddenly broke off but Grayson quickly butt in, rendering her silent.

"Do you really want to oppose Alpha? Right now?"

Bending slightly, his arms under me, Romanov slowly got up and I yelped.

My eyes snapped to my middle and I let out a scream.

"Wh—"

Looking at Marsha, frighteningly I quivered out the question. "How bad is it?"

"Oh, nothing bad since Alpha has—"

"Not bad at all, dear!" Marsha yelled out at once in reply, stopping Grayson mid-sentence.

Again, Romanov made a move to stand up and this time it hurt less, I kept it in, my arms flung lamely around his neck.

Soaring a quick glance my way, Romanov walked out towards the new room, a group of people left behind in the old one.

"Hold on," he muttered, and then everything around me made no sense at all. Just blur.

It seemed like seconds before the blur disappeared and Romanov stopped in front of the dark wooden door with the golden frame I'd come to know belonged to his room.

I blinked, my grip on Romanov's shirt tightening.

"You'll stay here tonight,"

"She was there Rom—"

"She was the two kids of Marsha's, playing a joke on you. They confessed after you fainted, unfortunately one of their... traps went wrong and your..." I cringed, knowing he was talking about my middle.

I couldn't believe it. Kids? A joke?

"The voices?" I whispered, frowning.

Romanov settled me on his large king size bed.

"Melanie. The eldest."

He made a move to step away and immediately my hand found his. I shook my head.

Lips thinning, Roman sat down beside me.

"Why would they do such a thing?" I whispered aloud, confused.

"Tom, the youngest is only nine. Melanie, is just eighteen, barely out of school."

I flinched. My mind running through the event.

So maybe I had not seen the culprit.

And Lady Edika only attacked the brides, that too, mostly pregnant ones.

I was neither.

My eyes widened, and I felt all colour blanch out of my face.

What if they were just kids? Doing it for the sake of harmless joke?

My middle throbbed and I place my hand on it, flinching as the pain of the pressure hurt. Immediately Romanov's hand found mine and removed it from my middle.

I watched him with a contemplative look.

Slowly, I nodded.

"Maybe you can let the kids and I play someday, bonding will be good, right?" I chuckled brokenly as I managed to deliver the whole sentence without catching a breath.

Romanov's eyes widened.

His eyes seemed to look me over, carefully, before he nodded. Slowly, reaching into his pocket he slipped out my iPhone and putting in on the black silk covers of the bed, pushed it towards me.

"You dropped it. On the balcony,"

Gratefully I picked at my iPhone and put it beside me.

"Thanks," I whispered back, sincerely.

Slowly shrugging Romanov turned around and began making his way towards the washroom.

"Just going to take a shower," he called out as he closed the door behind him.

I let out a slow air through my mouth before I turned toward my iPhone.

Good if I text Prue I'm okay.

I frowned when I noticed new messages.

From: Prue.

The last text remained unread, and I frowned. Looking at the notification I finally shrugged and tapped on it.

From: Private Number

~^~

The morning sun rose, and I watched it with numb disdain, turning towards a sleeping Romanov on the large sofa, I sighed as I felt the mark on my neck tingle.

The text message had felt like a cold shower, and after not being able to sleep the whole night, sitting there in the morning, without sleep, I still felt the chill in my bone.

Eight hours.

I had spent eight hours lying down on Romanov's bed, looking at the text and contemplating what to think of it.

In the end, I'd decided to just think it was the kids again. After all my phone has been unlocked when I had dropped it down.

I sighed as I reached for my phone and unlocked it, quickly finding the contact I was looking for I pressed on call and brought my phone to my ear.

Abigail picked up in the third ring.

"Liv?"

"Hey," I couldn't help but let the tiredness I was feeling slip in my tone.

"Hey!" Abigail replied, sounding slightly surprised.

"I won't be coming to university for a few, okay? I — err, had an accident."

I felt a shuffle on the other side before Abigail spoke again.

"Sorry, Jaydin slept over."

My eyes widened, and I grinned. "Oh, no worries!"

Immediately Abigail yelled in protest, giggling. "Nothing of that sort! Just crashed in, like friends."

"Uhhuhhh," I chuckled back, already feeling better than I had all night.

"Okay forget that! I'll pick up your papers and tell Madame Crawfort. Do you want me to drop it over?"

Smiling my eyes danced around the room, it froze on the man standing at the foot of my bed.

A small shiver ran down my front as I looked into his dark eyes, slowly I blinked and then looked away.

"Whenever you can, please Abi."

"Okay cool, take care of yourself okay."

"Umhum, give Jaydin a morning cuddle from my side—" my grin widened when I heard her groan. "—Byeee Abi."

I could practically imagine Abigail rolling her eyes as she replied.

"Bye, Cupid."

The line went dead, and I sighed, putting my iPhone back on the bed.

"You didn't sleep all night."

I stiffened when Romanov spoke up, then nodded slowly.

A growl left Romanov's mouth and he moved forward.

"Sometimes you make me so mad,"

Our eyes peered into each other's before I gave up and looked away.

"I don't know how." I mumbled back, slowly, feeling that my middle didn't hurt so much I made a move to turn away slightly.

Instantly Romanov's hand wrapped around mine and he stopped me.

"Just a little longer. It'll be gone by then."

I blinked. Gone? Cuts that hurt so much? That should scar?

"How?"

Romanov eyes met mine and it blazed, my breath hitched when the next second, in a blur of movement, he was looming over me, his lips brushing his mark.

"How is something you're currently trying to pretend you have no idea about, Miss Olivia."