LOGINI still knew every word.“Mom.” Max’s hand tightened on my arm. “Drop it. Look at me.”I looked at him.He had dirt on his face and his lip was split and his eyes were wide and scared and absolutely certain, all at once. He looked eleven years old and he looked forty, and I loved him so much in that
Natalia’s POVI fought like hell.My arm shook from the strength it took not to let that blade drive down toward Andrei’s chest. Max’s screams faded into the distance. The knife hovered six inches above Andrei’s chest, getting closer with each second.I had both hands wrapped around the handle now,
Natalia’s POVIt all happened so fast—a flash of movement at the edge of the platform, a small hooded figure vaulting up the steps, and then the knife coming down in a quick, hard arc that made the blade catch the red light overhead.Andrei threw himself sideways just before the knife collided with
I straightened up. My heart was pounding. I looked around the room and for a single, disorienting moment, I had no idea where I was. The black stone walls, the red sky beyond the window, the dead air of this place—none of it felt right. None of it felt like mine. I felt like a man who had woken up m
Andrei’s POVThe collar of my shirt was pissing me off.I had fastened it twice already and it still insisted on sitting crooked, pulling too tight on the left side. I undid it a third time and redid it, slower, watching my hands in the mirror rather than my own face. My reflection had been botherin
Natalia’s POVHe didn’t hesitate.The moment I swung the rod toward him, his hand shot out and closed around my wrist like a vise. My arm wrenched sideways, and I felt the bones grind together under his grip, and the rod fell. It clattered somewhere on the stone floor, rolling away into the darkness
NataliaThe next morning, I didn’t expect Karl to show up at training. After the way he reacted when I suggested the idea, I assumed that he wasn’t even remotely interested.That was why, as I tangled on the ground with David, I was so surprised by Karl’s sudden entrance that I lost focus and let Da
“Celeste,” I said, stopping in front of her and deciding to cut straight to the chase, “I wanted to apologize. I’m sure Karl told you by now—”“Right. The kiss.” Celeste looked up at me, and I was taken aback when I didn’t see a look of contempt on her face, but rather a… smile? “It’s alright. I und
NataliaThe next morning, I arrived bright and early at the arena after a quick breakfast. David promised to meet me there to begin my training, which I was so excited for that I could hardly even sleep the night before.We started with a series of stretches and poses designed to enhance my flexibil
That did make me laugh, actually laugh, and the sound felt foreign in my throat. When was the last time I’d laughed? Yesterday? A week ago? The days had started blurring together. It could have been years and I wouldn’t have known.“See?” Andrei said softly. “There’s my girl.”My laughter turned int







