Page 126 of Ruins
Luca watches me carefully before giving a slow nod. “I’ll relay the message to Maksim.”
He turns to leave, his hand reaching for the door when I stop him.
“Luca.”
He stops, turning back toward me, his expression unreadable. A question in his eyes.
I hold his gaze. “It’s time you take a couple weeks off.”
Luca’s face falls, but only for a fraction of a second. He schools his features so quickly I almost don’t catch it.
Almost.
“And when you return,” I continue, “be sure to let me know where your loyalties truly lie.”
Luca hesitates. Just for a moment, then he gives a sharp nod and exits without another word.
The door clicks shut, leaving me alone with the storm in my chest. I drag in a breath, but it doesn’t settle me. My eyes flick back to the monitor.
Vasilisa.
She’s curled up on the bed now—still in that stunning lace dress, her delicate body folded into itself. My chest tightens. I turn up the volume, listening.
A soft sniffle.
I inhale sharply, the sound gutting me.
She’s crying.
My jaw clenches, my entire body tensing with the urge to go to her. To pull her into my arms, press my lips against her hair, wipe away every tear, but something holds me back.
Shame.
Not because of what I’ve done, but because she doesn’t know what I am.
She wants a prince.
I willneverbe that.
I drag a shaking hand through my hair, trying to steady myself. My mind flashing back to her beautiful smile, her laughter echoing through the cold walls of my heart, warming them in a way that nothing ever has before.
The thought of that smile fading intofear…
The thought of her looking at me like I’m a monster… It’s enough to drive me insane.
I stand abruptly, my chair scraping back, my pulse pounding.
I need to tell her.
Not want.
Need.
She has to know she can trust me, she has to know she can rely on me—regardless of who I can be.
Before I can second-guess myself, I stride toward her room. I need her to see me, all of me. Just as I raise my hand to knock, I hear it.
A soft whisper filters through the door.
