LOGINSusan and Lyra knelt beside Carla. The little fairy held her face with both hands, a golden light emerging from her palms.For a second, it seemed to work. Then the light vanished, as if swallowed by a hungry darkness. Lyra paled, her face losing all color. She tried again, her hands trembling. Nothing. The light simply wouldn’t take.“I… I can’t…” Her voice came out weak, her eyes filling with tears. “My magic isn’t working. It’s like something is blocking it.”Susan immediately took over. Her green eyes turned golden, Morrigan’s power coursing through her veins. She placed her hands on Carla’s chest, and a golden light — more intense, more ancient — enveloped her friend’s body.For a moment, it seemed to work. Carla’s breathing stabilized.Then she arched her body. She vomited even more blood, much more, a dark torrent that spread across the marble. Susan stopped immediately, pulling her hands back as if burned.Everyone looked at her. The blood spread across the floor began to dark
“I imagined it. From the day I left his property.”“I also imagined this day would come.” Anatolie placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, the gesture heavy with meaning. “For years, I was afraid. Afraid you would leave, afraid of losing you, afraid of dividing our family again.” His voice grew lower, rougher. “So I hid that possibility. I thought I was protecting you. Maybe I was protecting myself.”Alexei remained silent, but his eyes held no accusation — only listening.“Today I understand that would have been selfish. And I have already been selfish for far too long.” Anatolie took a deep breath before concluding: “The decision is yours. If you want to get to know the Demidovs, do it. If you want to spend time with Boris, spend it. If you want to understand who your mother was on that side of the family, understand. I will not stand in your way. Never again.”Alexei remained motionless for several seconds, processing every word. Then he smiled faintly — a small, melancholic, but real
The dinner was exactly as it should have been. Light, noisy, full of laughter. Demyan told stories about his mischief at the supernatural school, something involving a talking stuffed rabbit, a mud puddle, and a teacher who “made an angry face.”Lyra laughed softly at Sasha’s constant teasing. He never missed an opportunity to provoke his girlfriend.“Love, are you laughing at me?”“A little bit. Just a little bit.”“Betrayal. In front of everyone.”She simply held his hand under the table, their fingers intertwining. Sasha smiled immediately, the offended act vanishing.“It’s hard to keep complaining like this. You fight dirty.”Dmitry watched the scene, one eyebrow raised.“Impressive.”“What?” Sasha asked, still holding Lyra’s hand.“You really got domesticated. I never thought I’d live to see the day.”“She worked a miracle. I was a lost cause.”Lyra blushed, her cheeks turning pink.“Sasha…”“See?” He pointed at her with his fork. “She says my name like that and I forget what I w
September 15 — TuesdayAlexei parked the black BMW in front of the hospital a few minutes before eight in the morning. The engine was still purring softly while he checked the passenger seat for the third time: a thermal tray, two coffees, two still-warm croissants, orange juice, and a small box of colorful macarons.“Shift.” The Lycan’s voice sounded resigned. “She’s going to come out with that face that says she forgot the world exists.”“I know.” Alexei smiled, his eyes fixed on the hospital door. “It’s the twenty-four-hour shift face.”“She even forgot her own birthday. She hasn’t mentioned the date once.”“Better that way. The surprise is going to be perfect.”And it was working. Susan had managed to keep the secret, Marina had managed, even Dmitry — the man who couldn’t lie to his own wife — had managed. A true miracle of family cooperation. His phone vibrated on the dashboard.Sasha: “Mission accomplished. Lyra already confirmed. We’ll be there at seven.”Alexei replied immedia
Alexei entered balancing a huge tray, his arms outstretched as if carrying a treasure. He wore gray sweatpants and a simple t-shirt, his blond hair still damp from the shower, a satisfied smile on his lips.“Good morning, sleepyhead.”She looked at the tray. Then at him. Then at the tray again, her eyes scanning the mountain of food. Fruits, breads, omelet, pancakes, jams, coffee, juice, a small vase with flowers.“Alexei Anatolievich Rurik…” Her voice came out more incredulous than severe.“Yes?” He raised an eyebrow, his expression innocent.“Did you rob the kitchen?”“No.” He made a dramatic pause, eyes sparkling. “The kitchen collaborated spontaneously. Marina practically demanded that I bring all this.”She laughed, the sound filling the room.“That explains a lot. Marina has always been your accomplice.”He closed the door with his foot and walked to the bed with the solemnity of a five-star restaurant waiter.“Breakfast delivered with love. Courtesy of your favorite boyfriend.”
Susan turned her eyes back to Alexei and discreetly winked at him.“You’re in a really good mood today, huh?”“Excellent reasons.” He returned the wink, a crooked smile on his lips.“I can imagine.” Susan gave a half-smile. “Then enjoy it.”“I intend to. All day long.”Dmitry observed the exchange of glances between the two, his forehead slightly furrowed.“What did I miss?”“Nothing.” Susan answered immediately, her voice innocent.“Absolutely nothing.” Alexei confirmed, but the smile on his face said otherwise.“Hmm.” Dmitry took a sip of coffee. “I don’t like it when you two say that.”“Neither do I.” Susan agreed, adjusting the bag on her shoulder. “But everything will be fine.”“I hope so. By my calculations, Sasha is involved.”Alexei rested his arm on his brother’s shoulder, leaning in with complicity.“Relax. What could possibly go wrong with Sasha involved?”“Do you want the list in alphabetical order or chronological order?”“Funny guy.”“I learned from you.”Marina placed a
The drive to the Rurik Motors headquarters was made in absolute silence. The city pulsed outside, indifferent to the storm swirling inside him.Dmitry kept one hand firmly on the wheel and the other supporting his chin, his eyes fixed on the road, but his mind far away. He needed to focus. He had m
Dmitry opened his eyes and knew he was no longer in the waking world.It wasn’t the first time.That luxurious hall, with its ancient architecture and silent opulence, had welcomed him before. A distorted reflection of reality, perhaps. Or an ethereal plane that only existed in the intersections be
“This is going to be a problem, Alpha.”The Lycan murmured in his mind, its voice low and drawn out, like a warning whispered through clenched teeth.Dmitry didn’t respond. He moved his wrist discreetly, checking his watch as if trying to remind himself that time still followed rules. It was an exc
The large meeting room at Rurik Motors exuded power. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows offered a privileged view of Moscow, while the dark wooden oval table dominated the center of the room. The black leather chairs, the discreet shine of the metal details, and the absence of any decorative excess







