Soon, my sister would insist that I return home to Belvaria, and then everything would come to a screeching halt. I needed one last memory.
His body stiffened for a moment before he relaxed into my arms, his lips as eager as mine.
A rush of air swept past me, and before we could part, his body suddenly went slack. My eyes snapped open, shock coursing through me.
I squinted up into the bright sunshine at the figure looming over me. My nostrils flared as someone hauled Kyle’s body away from me.
“Nadia!” I shouted, my British returning, scrambling to my feet to stare at Kyle’s limp form. “Why did you do that?”
“Because,moya sestra, it’s time for you to come home.”
I bent closer, pressing my fingers to his neck. His pulse thrummed against them, strong and steady. I hoped that meant he sustained no serious damage.
I crossed my arms, my irritation refusing to dissipate. “That could have been facilitated in any number of ways that did not involve knocking out my paramour.”
“Paramour,” my sister said with a scoff, “you’re joking. You’ve just met him.”
“Love at first sight.”
“More like desire at first sight. He’s off-limits, and you know it. That’s the only thing that’s driving you to be drawn to him.”
“That’s not true,” I insisted. “Kyle and I have a connection.”
My sister rolled her eyes as she holstered her weapon. Across the beach, her man dropped Kyle’s body far enough from the water that he wouldn’t be carried away when the tide came in.
“Come on, Natashka. It’s time to come home.”
“You’re the one who insisted I leave,” I retorted.
“For your own safety. That clearly has been compromised.”
I pressed my lips into a frown. My heart skipped a beat as I spotted another of Nadia’s crew dragging a body from behind a rock. I snapped my gaze to her. “One of Nikolai’s people?”
“It did not take him long,” Nadia answered. “It’s time to go home.”
I crossed my arms as she reached for me, my gaze landing on Kyle. “We should take him.”
“No,” she answered.
“Nadia, he can be useful.”
“We have yet to determine that. Besides, I’m not certain once he finds out who you really are he will be as willing to be your pawn.”
“He’s not a pawn. Papa would support me in this.”
“Papa isn’t here. I am. If I determine he can be useful, I will fetch him myself.” Nadia waved to Stefan.
I fluttered my eyelashes, unimpressed by her offer. Nadia “fetching” someone usually consisted of her knocking them out in some manner, then kidnapping them. They would awaken in a dark room, cold and alone, and there they would be given a simple choice: do her bidding or cease to exist.
“No,” I answered with a firm shake of my head. “We can–“
Before I could finish, Stefan’s firm hands grabbed hold of me from behind, lifting my slight form easily.
“Take her straight to the car. I will be along in a minute.”
“Stop!” I shouted, kicking my feet. “Put me down!”
My protestations did little good. Stefan was blind and deaf to them. His beefy muscles were big enough to easily wrangle me into the car even if I pitched a full-on fit. And he was more than used to being cursed at in all languages.
