LOGINNatalia’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
Andrei’s POVThe room was warm. The bed was soft and plush, the pillows made of feathers and velvet. Everything smelled familiar, the kind of scent that you recognize from a past life but can never put a finger on its source.Home.The woman was laying next to me, just as she always did. Amber hair
But I would do it, because the alternative was my children going through whatever came next, and that was not something I was willing to consider.I wasn’t certain yet. That was the only reason I was still trying so hard now. Because there was still a small part of me that thought that there must be
Was he really trying to mark me, I wondered? In the moment, it had certainly felt like it.But Andrei had never marked me during our years of marriage. I doubted he would want to now, not after everything that had happened. If he was contemplating it, it was likely just the effects of the full moon.
The fight was brutal but surprisingly coordinated. Despite the tension of the past few weeks, it seemed the training had paid off after all—the three of us moved together seamlessly, covering each other’s flanks, herding the rogues into vulnerable positions. Between the three of us, the rogues were
“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







