Page 79 of Guardian

“I like you, Katerina.”

Our foreheads rested against each other’s while his hand found mine. Our fingers intertwined just like countless times before, but this time, it felt different. Something so strong that it squeezed my heart.

“I like you too, Alek.”

I had casual flings before. But this? It was the most real thing I ever had.

His eyes burrowed into mine. They weren’t an abyss. His expression didn’t hold a puzzle or any uncertainty. Instead, they confirmed all his words, the deep brown so intense and soft that I couldn’t help but let them embrace me.

Only Alek possessed that feature, and it was my favorite.

As if on cue, we both broke into laughter.

“My apologies, I—”

“Ah!” I said. “Don’t apologize.”

“My—”

I swiftly pecked his cheek since it shut him up instantly. It worked. “What did I just say?”

He chuckled. “It’s quite a horrid tendency, I must admit.”

“You think?” I wrapped my arms around him and brought his body into a tight hug. “Let’s take it slow, yeah? It’s been a while for me.”

I pulled away and noticed his flush spread from his cheeks to his neck as he nodded. “If I must admit, I’d never felt or done this before.”

“What an honor,” I half-jokingly said with a smile. “We’ll talk more about it later. It’s getting late.”

He nodded, and we fell into a comfortable silence as we walked toward the mansion. He guided me through the gate and toward the large doors. Our hands never left each other— not until a musky scent trailed from my door.

“We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”

“Tomorrow, then.” He leaned down and lowered his jaw onto my hairline, a kiss heating against my crown. Before I could say anything else, he vanished into his room and left me in the barren hallway.

I couldn’t avoid Lorenzo every time we fought. I especially couldn’t avoid what I stumbled upon when I entered.

Lorenzo sat on my bed with a shadowed expression. Orange jars spread across the sheets, each filled to the brim with familiar pills. What the fuck? Why were they filled?

“You lied to Lace,” he murmured. “You lied to me, Nina.”

“N-no, I didn’t!” I stepped forward, but Lorenzo drew a hand to the air, forcing me to still.

His deep eyes lowered and blurred with disappointment. “Katerina.” My name on his tongue was an insult, one that shook the air and caused the hairs on my nape to rise. “You promised you would take your medication no matter what. It was the price you had to pay to keep working.”

Hergiggles trailed beside my ear,hervoice looming over me. Instantly, she flashed the times I’d gripped the medication and tossed them into the toilet. How they’d flushed down without a trace. Over and over again.

It was allherfault.

But how? I could trace the powdery taste on my tongue from each pill. I’d felt the nausea rumbling in my stomach, even now. It wasn’t a lie— it couldn’t be.

But it is.

No—

“I’m not going to tell Lace yet.” He shook his head and continued, “But you won’t be going to the Christmas Ball. I’m staying behind to ensure that. It’s going to be a large event. We can’t risk it ‘cause you chose to not take your medication.”

My chest caved, a rasping heat clawing against my throat. “You can’t do that. Please, Lorenzo. I have to go to the Christmas Ball.”

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