Alina is the glue that solidifies us even more.
“A lot of cleanup needs to be done. Not just here at the estate,” I add, wondering what my brother’s plan is going to be.
I know he suggested that I take over asPakhandown in the bunker, but that was probably just a temporary request. It would feel good to lead but it’s also nice to still have him by my side.
It feels…right.
I just don’t see my brother giving up the position he was trained to fill from the time we were kids.
Gavriil nods as he lowers his eyes. “I’ll take care of things. It’ll be a pain in the ass, but worth it.”
“Scissors,” Alina says as she pulls the thread tight.
I hand her a small pair of scissors from the first aid kit that I found.
Alina snips the thread and hands me all the equipment to put up. “There. Done.”
Gavriil glances at his stitched-up wound. “Thank you.”
I frown when Gavriil gets to his feet like he’s about to leave. “Where are you going?”
Gavriil avoids our gazes. “I have a lot to do. You two should go.”
“Go?” Alina questions him as she gazes up at him with a hurt look on her face.
“Go live your lives away from this mess,” Gavriil replies as he waves his hand dismissively. “You don’t deserve to live in my aftermath.”
Alina’s eyes widen as my jaw sets. He’s pushing us awayagain. Didn’t he learn his lesson the first time?
Before Gavriil can even take a step, I stand up and put my hand on his chest, blocking him from moving.
Gavriil frowns, still not meeting my eyes. “The survivors could retaliate. You’ll both just be in danger again.”
Alina stands up between us, moving so that he has to look at her. “We’re not leaving. Never again.”
“Why would you stay?” Gavriil questions her. “You two could go anywhere, do whatever you wanted, and I wouldn’t be in the way.”
“So, what, offering me the crown was just a wartime convenience?” I ask. “Something you planned to take back once the blood dried?”
Gavriil swallows. “I…wasn’t sure if you wanted to stay and lead. Wouldn’t you rather be with Alina?”
“No one is going anywhere!” Alina says firmly. “We came back for a reason, Gavriil. For you.”
“To help me win the war. That’s done,” Gavriil replies, looking between the two of us. His composure is already starting to crack.
Alina sighs as she places her hand on his arm, both of our touches making him tense in surprise. “You still don’t get it. I guess I haven’t made it clear enough. I’m not choosing between you and Dominik,” Alina says. “I’ve lost too much already. Choosing one of you would mean cutting out half of my heart, and I won’t do that to myself ever again.”
Gavriil shakes his head. “Alina, you can’t…we can’t…”
“This is the life that I want, that I’m choosing,” Alina tells him. “And I don’t care how unconventional it looks. Say you want this too, Gavriil.”
I think my brother stops breathing.
Alina looks at me, her face softening. “Dom, I know you don’t understand. Not yet. But, I have you to thank for…everything. If it wasn’t for you, I never would’ve survived long enough to love him too.”
I give her a small smile, hearing the happiness and gratitude in her voice. Everything that we’ve gone through and done has been a team effort in some form or fashion. We’ve been connected in ways that we didn’t even realize. And for the first time, leading doesn’t feel like a burden, it feels like a decision I’m choosing.
“I don’t see this as a competition anymore,” I tell her and my brother. “There’s nothing to win here, only something for us to both protect.”
