“I know. I want to hear every single detail.”
“No way.” I giggled.
I took the pillow I was hugging and lightly hit her with it, making both of us erupt into a fit of giggles that were so strong, my stomach began to burn, and my cheeks ached from smiling. For the first time since the dreaded night, the house felt less heavy. Less like a cage and more like a temporary pause in my life.
“I love you, Mia,” I said, curling into her chest.
“Aw, I love you too, Evie!”
“Can I be honest?” I bit my lip, and Mia nodded. “I really don’t like that nickname.”
She gaped, her hand flying to grip mine. “Eva, I had no idea! Why didn’t you tell me? I would have stopped a long time ago.”
“I don’t know. It didn’t feel important enough to say. You liked calling me that, and for a long time, I was fine if it made you happy, but lately… I don’t know. Lately, I’ve been remembering how Alek has been trying to get me to stand up for what I want. I figured I’d start small.”
His words from before bounced around my head, echoes of a life long since gone.
It’s okay to ask for what you want, Evangeline. Demand it, even.
There’s nothing wrong with being kind. But you don’t have to sacrifice yourself for everyone. Anyone who deserves you won’t ask that of you.
I am not frightened away. I am not leaving. I never will, Eva. You are mine. Nothing can keep you from me. Not even you.
A tear slipped down my cheek, but I wiped it away before Mia could notice.
She wrapped her arm around my shoulders and tugged me close. “I’m proud of you. And I’ll stop calling you Evieifyou promise to always tell me when you don’t like something. We’re besties. You can tell me anything.”
I hugged her back, nodding into the embrace. “Okay. If only I could do that with Jules. But I can’t… I don’t know. I just can’t.”
Mia stroked my hair and sighed. “If only.”
January 26th
Aleksandr
He will not be able to keep you from me for much longer, Evangeline.
I will come to you. And you will be mine.
For good.
Murder.That was the only thing running through my mind—cold, hard murder. Killing the man who took everything from me, who thought he could cross the Reaper andlive.
I would bury him alive if that was what it took to get her back.
I would crown him with his own blood, watch it fall down his temples while my lips found hers again.
I would burn everything and everyone he thought he could hide behind.
I woulddestroyhim.
Two weeks had passed since Eva had been taken from me. Two weeks since I was knocked out in the Vallen house and dumped in a warehouse like I was fucking garbage. Nikolai found me shortly after I woke up, storming into the building, his gun raised. But I was alone, tied up in a pile of my blood, sweat, and drool. The only thing truly wounded was my pride.
“What the hell happened?” Nikolai had asked, helping me up, his face unusually serious.
And for once, I couldn’t answer him. Because I didn’t know. My mind couldn’t think of anything but one word:
Eva.
