hat curiosity, in Nikolai Vo

n with

versations that stopped when she entered a room, guards exchanging looks she wasn't meant to notice. The

to ask to know s

came harde

a careful distance that felt deliberate. He was still protective, still o

more than just

uarding

hat more than

his absence, she di

ollow

ut Elara had learned the rhythms of the house, the patterns of the guards. Sh

e wasn't supposed to know, her p

er. The walls changed from polished stone to raw c

bl

stop

ow, tense. Nikolai's voice was un

s," he was saying.

rvous. "The message was cle

cut in. "They'

stomach

rt of this," N

he voice replied,

elf against the wa

ant us to do?"

was a

hing reaches her. Nothing touch

his tone sent a

ps appr

door opened behind her. A hand clamped aro

ped-and

wn at her, fury b

g here?" he demand

I

wer

aid, pulling her wrist free

You followed me int

se," she shot back. "You don't get

n the corridor, then back to

hatever you're hi

r warring with something

itated.

said. "Before your cur

her to was unlike an

No art. N

o chairs, and a wall li

a st

iny. Faces frozen in moments o

r men. Some smi

one

eath c

Thin. Sharp-eyed. Standing too

ko

rned s

n't like question

ere dangerous,

"This is where

es

nsion. Not

N

to the photograph

he said. "M

os

as s

ck to him. "W

ough for her to know he w

t," he said finally.

est ti

who didn't forgive weakness. When

shook. "They

es

our fa

ade exa

led into fist

gaze. "Th

r w

eplac

lt suddenly

ght me loyalty, fear, control. Taught me t

burned. "You

orless smile.

ward him. "That doesn't

ion hardene

't w

and me," he sai

" she replied. "B

"You didn't choose this li

esn't ab

softly. "But it explains why y

kened. "I am

thout flinching. "Y

fell bet

, "That's eno

ded. "I

her of t

rm shattered

A sharp tone echoed

apped toward the

ra said i

s not a

uld reach me," she c

thing fierce and confl

ore under

ind me,"

guards converging from every direction.

ppening?"

Nikolai replie

use o

es

it harder tha

ai pushed her behind a concrete pilla

hed but did

way that left no room for doubt. He shouted commands,

ried to f

reacted

ridor was silent except f

st heaving. "You said

," he sa

g her face, her hands, he

N

ers sagged

thinking, fingers brushi

fro

carry this alone,

was roug

r head. "You

eyes l

orld narrowed to th

steppe

ges nothin

y has," sh

dn't

ound, Elara understood the truth she

that Nikolai Vol

hat he w

ere far easi