“No. You’re taking it the wrong way. He doesn’t do it intentionally. And when he does do it, he realizes he has and tries to explain the best way he can.” I glanced at her, seeing the shock on her face. “He isn’t just a heartless monster. He has a softer side when he chooses to show it.” I shook my head, turning my attention back to the black television screen. “He has his own issues with me, too. He can’t stand being told no. And how I’m not like all the other women he’s taken as lovers. I don’t just bow down and do what he tells me to. It drives him crazy.”
“Sounds…interesting.” She chuckled. “Good thing you said the sex was good. Otherwise, you’d both probably be running away from one another.”
I nodded. “I actually said something like that to him.”
“Oh, for fucks sake,” a female’s irritated voice muttered from the window area.
Both of our gazes darted to the voice.
Brown hair began peeking out from behind the large side curtain on the windows.
Katie and Iscreamed.
Until a head fully popped out. It was Eva.
I stopped screaming, in shock, same as Katie.
We both stared as Artur glided out from behind the other side curtain.
Grigori and Roman came out of the closet, all of them staring at us.
I instantly stood and grabbed Katie’s arm. Daniil’s children had been lying in wait for me. I yanked Katie toward the door. Closer to the door. An escape route. They could only be here for one reason.
“Katie. Why don’t you go get that nice gentleman outside for me?” I whispered. Least Ugly sounded like a pretty rainbow right now compared to the alternative.
She stilled for all of a heartbeat, her face no longer shocked as she stared at the people in my room. She turned, and started to race toward the door, but Artur was already moving and grabbed her around the waist, yanking her back against him again. He instantly placed a hand over her mouth as he restrained her.
I held my hands up, saying, “Let her go. Please.”
Roman muttered, “Let her go, Artur. Unless you don’t want to for other reasons.”
Artur glared at his brother but turned his attention to his captive. “I’ll let you go if you don’t try to run again. We don’t want trouble. We were just here to talk to Elizabeth, but then we realized she had company, so we hid.” He shrugged, glancing down at her. “Then we eavesdropped.” He paused. “If I let you go, will you run? Or be smart?”
“Smart,” she mumbled instantly from behind his hand, her voice muffled.
“Perfect,” he murmured but held her a moment longer. Staring. Then he released her, watching her carefully as she zipped over to me, grabbing my hand. His gaze moved to our hair, and he blinked a few times before shaking his head and turning back to his brothers and sister. “I honestly don’t have a damn thing to say to her anymore. Not after what I heard.”
Katie’s grip was brutal, but I held on. Artur had freaked her out.
“Me, either.” Eva shrugged. When she peered at me, she no longer scowled like she had done all day. “I’m good with her for Papa. Just wish she was a little older.”
I choked off a laugh, quickly swallowing it down. Christ, the whole family was loony.
Roman stared hard, walking silently to me. He bent down, and I tried not to cringe when he looked me straight in the eyes. He had much of his dad in him with that scary gaze thing going on. “You hurt him, and I will kill you.” Simple. And to the point.
Since I had thought this was what they were here to do in the first place, instead of just scare-talk me, I nodded amicably. “I won’t hurt him. We’re just lovers. Nothing more.”
His eyes fell to the floor, and he snorted. He walked away from Katie and me. Silent.
Yep, all loony so far.
It was Grigori’s turn now to intimidate me if he was game like Roman had been. It was silent for a full minute before he asked softly, “Why do you hate Ember so much?” That…wasn’t where I thought this was going.
I opened my mouth but quickly snapped it shut. He loved her. Like love loved her. I couldn’t say too much without angering him.
Grigori stiffened, not missing my blunder. He slowly inhaled and exhaled. “Papa has a large mouth to be speaking to a reporter.” And if I thought Roman was scary…well, Grigori was the spitting image of Daniil doing scary-crazy.
“No. He doesn’t,” I stated instantly, even taking a step toward him until Katie yanked me back. “He didn’t tell me shit. I’m a good reporter. I find where the truth lies.” I paused, seeing him get even more furious. “You and your dad could use some anger management classes. You know that, right?”
