28.

Not a sight of her beautiful brown eyes.

Disappointment settled into Nikolai when he returned the day before to Sienna's bedside. Though his grandmother's blood seems to be helping with her internal injuries, it didn't wake her up. Now standing aimlessly in his jet, looking on as they have her settled in one of the cabins he wondered when she will wake up. Nervously he twisted the bracelet on his wrist, it became a habit over the past few days while waiting for her to just open her eyes. The doctor that was accompanying them, agreed to stay on as a third doctor at Dark blood pack since she was appointed the princess' private doctor also. The middle-aged woman came up to him and slightly bowed. "She's all settled in your majesty. The flight won't bother her, I can see that you are worried," she said.

He nodded quickly avoiding her eyes, he still wasn't good with strangers and became extremely guarded. The doctor watched him closely before taking her leave. New people who approach him always set inquisitive eyes on him, trying to find what makes him tick. They would assume things then ask questions later. When you let people in you stand a great chance of getting hurt by them, he learned that lesson the hard way and wasn't going through it again. He surprised himself and his family when he became open to Sienna so quickly.

"We are about to take off sir," the air hostess said giving him a flirty smile but it faltered when she realized she won't be getting through to him. The doctor buckled into her seat across the aisle from him, the few seconds left Nikolai looked out the window and spotted his family still on the tarmac. Zarif and Mina took his parents jet, Jay was accompanying them back to Russia until everything dies down. It was their turn to leave, seated beside the window he watched Sienna's and his family waving a tearful goodbye. He wondered when next he would be home, he truly missed them.

'Bye Mama. Bye Papa' he said to them. Amelia broke down in tears as she heard her son's broken voice.

'Bye baby. I will see you soon' she cried.

'I love you, son. See you soon," his father said smiling his way.

'That's a promise?' he asked. 'Yes. A promise' Angelo said firmly.

'I love you too papa.'

As the plane taxied down the runway then up into the evening sky, Nikolai quickly made his way to Sienna's room when the seatbelt sign was switched off. Taking off his shoes and jeans, he eased his way onto space they provide for him and laid down beside her. Going under the same covers, he hesitantly put his arms around her stomach and gently pulled her close.

Her scent calmed him greatly. Closing his eyes, he put to the memory of how happy she was at the fair. Their first date ruined by someone's hatred against the throne. Vadim and himself made a promise to always create happy memories with her, no matter how old in life they become, she should always be happy. They were on their way to his home, his Russian home. It was springtime and his country would be so beautiful, he hoped that she would be awake by then when they are flying over to Moscow to show her the sights he wanted to take her to. So many things he wanted them to do.

He was optimistic about her waking soon but they all knew how long it takes for wolf and human to recuperate after such a harrowing ordeal.

"Please wake up angel. I need you," he said softly on her ear before giving in to the exhaustion of the past few days.



******



Nikolai couldn't smile at the blossoming trees at the side of the road and in the parks as they drove by. It has been six days since he returned home from America and had to jump right into work as the jet landed.

After making sure his mate was comfortable and safe in her room, he left strict instructions that he is to be notified when she wakes up, even if she twitches her eyes or fingers they call him immediately. Leaving her at his home was bittersweet, he was happy on one hand that she was finally here in Russia, on the other she wasn't lucid to see how beautiful it was around her. Kissing her lips brought tears to his eyes because whenever he did it he expected her to respond to it, for him to feel the emotions she always tried to show in their kisses.
"I know you can hear me. You are home now. I wish you can see it, my love." he said to her then let out a slight chuckle. "You can see your new home if you wake up" he continued brushing her hair gently. He paused thinking she would move but his heart dropped a little when she didn't.
"Well, little one would be with you again today. I have to go back to the company, to handle some meetings. Please don't be sad. I will be back home soon. I'll even read to you my favorite book or watch that show you love? Uh... Criminal Minds. We do whatever you want." He waited for anything, a flutter, a squeeze, anything.

A knock on the door reminded him that his car was waiting for him, giving her one last kiss he left her reluctantly. Outside stood her doctor along with three guards, two to keep post outside of her room and the other was for him to accompany him to work. To ease his mother's worry he doubled security at the office and palace. "She has been in a coma for an entire week. Is this normal?" he asked with a worry-filled voice. "In most humans, yes and sometimes in werewolves. Her body and wolf are on complete shutdown and taking it's time to be full 100%. The past queen's blood has been helping a lot but everything is left to her majesty. She should wake on her own time," she said giving him a reassuring smile. With a brief nod, he left the doctor to her duties.

"Ваше величество, мы здесь." (Your majesty, we are here) his driver said. Looking out the window, there it was Starkov Industries. 'Go in. Finish reports. Back to our Enna', Vadim said prepping him for his day as he left the security of his car.

'Enna?' he asked.

'You do not like the name? Everyone calls our mate, Sienna. She calls you Nicky. We can call her Enna because she is special and ours,' Vadim explained proudly.

'Enna. I like it.' Nikolai confirmed walking through the glass doors held open by his men.

Greetings of the morning were spoken to him in both English and Russian as he made his way across the lobby, in return he simply nodded and gave them a stiff smile heading to his private elevator. His men looked at him with worry, they all were close having to be around him since they were kids. They were all friends in the palace, some closer than others.

"We are happy that we have a princess now," one said breaking the silence as they made their way to the top floor. Nikolai smiled and nodded, "She is beautiful. No better than beautiful." he said softly.

"The people would love her, yes?" another said nudging his prince playfully, hoping to get him out of his sad mood.

"They will love her. She fights as well as us. My Enna is so smart and wonderful" he said with a huge smile on his face. The guards looked at each other, feeling much better about their prince's mood. They knew that his day will be better now, knowing he would be thinking of his mate all day.

The door opened to his office floor, walking down the hallway, his secretary stood up immediately and walked out from her office to meet him. "Добро пожаловать, сэр." (Welcome back, sir.) She greeted sending a sultry smile his way but as usual, he ignored her. Clarisse has been his secretary for four years and never stopped with her flirting to get a reaction out of her young accomplished boss. She knew of his kind and thought he was even more worthy, with him being a prince. She gave him his schedule but he didn't take it, Nikolai didn't like how close she got to him. In the past few days it was easy to avoid her, today she was rather persistent. He flinched away from the tablet and her close proximity, one of his guards stepped between them and took the tablet, watching her coldly. "That is all." he snapped at her. Clarisse hastily took a step back and rushed back to her office.

"You need a new secretary. Princess does not approve" he said thrusting the tablet in Nikolai's hands.

Smothering a laugh, he replied, "Yes. She does not approve". It says something when his men defended his mate without actually meeting her officially. Sienna being in Russia sure has lightened up the castle.

The rest of the day went by smoothly, meetings were short, and after every meeting, he made sure and called home to check up on Sienna. A little disappointed with each call but the thought of going home to her chased it all away.

"Sir, a Mr. Viktor Bordeau is here to meet you but he hasn't made any appointment sir." his secretary said through the intercom.

"Send him in," Nikolai answered immediately discarding the reports he was doing. Quickly he made it to the door, opening it to reveal a man with twinkling blue-gray eyes, his red hair now had a sprinkle of grey, with his tall and lean frame proof of his mixed genetics.

"Uncle Vik," he said. Viktor laughed at how animated his great-nephew looked a major contrast from the Nikolai he visited a few years ago.

"Are we actually talking? Is that a smile?" Viktor teased as they both walked back into his office.

Rolling his eyes, he gestured for his uncle to sit, "What are you doing in Russia?"

"I was going to visit 2 or maybe 3 weeks ago but I was informed someone actually made an overseas trip. To America."

"Я нашел ее дядю. Я нашел мое убийство." (I have found her uncle. I have found my mate.) Nikolai exclaimed. Viktor jumped from his seat and went to hug his nephew, it was a big moment when one found their other half, and for Nikolai to be this excited this girl must truly be amazing.

"Я так рад за тебя, племянник. Наконец, вы можете ли вы мечтали о счастье." (I'm so happy for you, nephew. Finally, you can have the happiness you longed for.) He said taking note of Nikolai's wide grin. They talked about Sienna and how the company was improving before it was time for Viktor to leave. It always saddens Nikolai when this time came, having his uncle visiting him was like having his grandfather back again. Viktor Bordeau is the half-brother of the late high alpha. After the death of Nikolai Starkov the III's mother, his father went off the bend, end up having a one night stand with a human which resulted in Viktor.

"It was nice to see you again," he said standing up about to head to the door.

"Wait. Why not stay in the palace? With me" Nikolai pleaded.

"I don't want to intrude. This is a fragile time in your new relationship with your mate. Use the alone time wisely. You don't need more visitors to the palace." His nephew's eyes showed disappointment but he understood where his uncle was coming from.

"You are planning to visit, yes?"

"Of course. I want to thank the girl for bringing back the Niko we missed," he said giving his nephew one last hug before leaving. Nikolai sat at his desk and remembered that his grandfather loved it when his little brother would come and visit then he stopped for some reason. It made the past Alpha sad, knowing his last living relative decided to cut ties with him. Nikolai was surprised when the man returned for the funeral but he didn't stay long. Over the years he kept random communication with him and accepted his sporadic visits. There was nothing to do about, whatever his reason for distancing himself was none of Nikolai's business.

"Mr. Starkov, your two o'clock is here" Clarisse reminded him through the intercom.

"Three more hours," he said letting out a tired sigh then putting on his business face as one of his clients came in.

He couldn't wait to see his sleeping beauty of a mate.