"You're bleeding." She kneels beside me, her pale pink dress pooling around her.
The rough stone scraped my skin when he pressed me against the wall. Physical evidence of a moment that destroyed me more than his death if that was even possible.
"I'm fine," I lie.
"You're not fine. You're crying. You’re hurt. What happened?"
She goes to the sink to get more paper towels.
It’s clear she’s only just arrived and hasn’t seen him. I don’t know where he is. Maybe he already left.
"He's alive." The words come out broken. "Anya, Maksim is alive."
She freezes and then slowly turns to look at me. I can see her trying to determine if I’ve suffered some kind of head injury.
“I saw him. He’s here. He’s alive.”
"That's... how is that possible?"
"I don't know. He thinks—" My voice cracks. "He thinks I had him kidnapped. Tortured. He thinks I betrayed him so I could take power."
"That's insane." Anya gently washes the scrape on my shoulder. "You loved him. Everyone knew you loved him."
"He doesn't believe that anymore. He spent six years in a Georgian prison planning revenge. Against me."
“Did he hurt you?” she asks. “Did he attack you?”
I almost laugh. “Yes. But not in the way you think.”
A soft smile spreads over her lips. “I understand.”
“I’m so foolish.”
"We need to get you cleaned up," Anya says, practical despite her shock. "Roman will notice if you're gone too long. I have makeup in my purse."
Roman. God. How do I face him now, knowing Maksim is in that ballroom watching?
But Anya's right. I need to pull myself together.
I step in front of the mirror.
The woman staring back looks haunted. My lips are slightly swollen.
I rebuild it piece by piece. Concealer for the redness. Fresh lipstick to hide the evidence of Maksim's mouth on mine. Hair pinned back into submission. By the time I'm done, the Ice Queen is back.
On the outside, at least.
"You don't have to go back out there," Anya says quietly. "We could leave. Say you're sick."
"And let Roman wonder what happened? Let him suspect something?" I shake my head. "No. I go back. I smile. I play my part."
"Even with Maksim watching?"
"Especially with Maksim watching." I meet my sister's eyes in the mirror. "He wants to see me break. I won't give him the satisfaction."
It's a lie. He's already seen me break. Already knows exactly where to strike to make it hurt most.But he doesn't need to see it again.
The ballroom feels different when I step back inside. Charged. Dangerous. Every conversation seems to be about the fact Maksim Barinov is alive.
