LOGIN“Do you remember what he looked like?”“It’s all a blur. Sorry.”I nodded slowly, looking around again. I spotted Max on the other side of the yard, returning to his work with a group of other males.“What’s the labor for?” I asked. “Are we building something?”“We think it’s for an army. The stone
Natalia’s POVBy the end of the first hour, my shoulders were burning and my palms had gone from sore to numb. The rock I’d been assigned to break with a heavy pickaxe was dense and black, and I was expected to break it into small pieces, then place them on a large wagon. One of those awful gray thi
A pair of figures crossed our path as we walked across the roadway. We fell into step behind them naturally, matching their pace. Neither of them looked back.The water trough was near the center of the settlement. I spotted a short line of people standing in front of it. It wasn’t running water, bu
Natalia’s POVI jerked awake with a gasp.The red sky was the same as it always was. Max was curled on his side a few feet away, still asleep, his chest rising and falling slowly. Nothing had moved. Nothing had changed.I pressed my hand flat against the ground and steadied my breathing.The vision
Natalia’s POVThe report came back the following morning. I’d hardly slept that night, which was strange for me; usually, sleep came quickly and efficiently, serving purely as a means to regain my energy for another day of hard work.But last night, I kept tossing and turning. That pull in my chest
“It’s no use!” I heard her voice call after me. “He’s already gone, you stupid bitch! He’s not who you think he is anymore! You’ll all die here!”Her words struck me somewhere deep and painful, but I kept running. We didn’t stop until the hovel was well out of sight. Only then, once we were certain
Natalia & AndreiNataliaI spotted Lilith near the refreshment table, surrounded by a small group of admirers. She was laughing at something one of them had said, soaking up the praise like a sponge. As I approached, I overheard one of them gushing about how amazing the summer solstice ball was goin
Natalia“I’m the weak link?” I laughed out loud. “That’s rich coming from you. You’ve been an absolute dick to me for weeks now.”Andrei’s nostrils flared. “I’ve been trying to train you.”“Bullshit. You’ve been punishing me, not training me. Every time we practice together, you act like I’m just a
“I know, loves,” I said, stroking Max’s hair. “We’ll go home soon, I promise. Just a little longer, okay?”They both nodded, although Max still looked troubled. I read them their story, kissed them goodnight, and turned out the light. But instead of leaving, I sat in the rocking chair by the window,
I glared at him as I wiped blood from my split lip. “I’ll let Alina know,” I replied dryly.Truthfully, it was good to know that I needed improving. I may have picked up a lot of new skills lately, but when it came to fighting a male by myself, I had a lot more to learn. If only Andrei weren’t in su







