The Bed You Make
Chapter 29, concluded
Nikolas Cassadine had to hand it to his uncle. It was a brilliant decision. Engaging the Russian mafia to assist in guarding him would make his grandmother pause in a way that no other security measures could. The Bratva were loyal to the highest bidder. If she had any hope of breaching the protection surrounding her royal grandson, then Helena would have to pay dearly for the privilege.
“I will be fine, Uncle. You – and Yuri – would not leave me in less than the safest hands,” Nikolas reassured his uncle. For a moment he was tempted to advise Stefan to concern himself more with his marriage and new bride than Nikolas, but the young prince knew that his encouragement in that area would only cause his uncle to distance himself further emotionally. No, patience and subtlety would have to be the weapons used to dismantle the walls between Dara and his uncle. “Would you excuse me, Uncle? I would like a few moments with Dara.”
Nikolas ignored the quiet curiosity in his uncle's gaze. If Stefan was unable to discover through him the nature of conversations with Dara, then he'd have to get the information from her. As far as Nikolas was concerned, every opportunity for interaction between his uncle and Dara was a good thing.
“Stop looking so worried,” Nikolas teased Dara. She was standing near the limousine, a pensive expression on her lovely face. “You will do just fine in Greece. You have held your own with my uncle and my grandmother. Anyone else pales by comparison.”
Dara made a face. “And I do have Yuri,” she said wryly. “I can always have him make a human pretzel out of anyone who doesn't behave.”
“You have a far more potent weapon than Yuri,” Nikolas said. He reached out and gently took her left hand. “You have this ring upon your finger that marks you as a Cassadine. More importantly, it marks you as my uncle's. You will find as time goes on that that is no small fact.”
Nikolas saw the discomfort his words caused Dara. Without comment he allowed her to remove her hand from his. “That reminds me…” Nikolas changed the subject. He reached into his jacket pocket and drew out an envelope. “I have made for you,” he opened the envelope and unfolded a sheet of paper, “a list of some of my favorite places. Most are in Greece, but there are others should you and Uncle decide to travel about Europe before I arrive.” Nikolas pointed to several names on the list. “If you see nothing else, insist that Uncle escort you to one of these.”
Dara committed the three choices to memory. “You don't think that Stefan will want to visit any of these places on his own?” she asked.
“The places I showed you have no historical significance or even a tie to the Cassadine family. They are simply… beautiful. I am afraid that my uncle will overlook them because they do not further his goals to secure my future.” Nikolas caught and held Dara's gaze. “May I count on you to remind him that taking a moment to truly see his surroundings will make me happy?”
“I will try, Nikolas.”
