Page 134 of Born in Depravity

I frowned, not liking the sound of that very much. Do everything they told me to do? I wasn’t sure I could.

“They’re not going to tell you to do anything that’ll harm you,kotyonok, but outside this room, there is a certain way we have to act. But especially with you. So I need you to trust them … trust me. Can you do that?”

I grabbed his forearm. “And where will you be?”

“Around, but I won’t be joining the dinner.”

My heart raced at the thought of leaving this room. I had asked Nikolay to take me outside, but that was different. It had been only us in that garden. This was something different. It felt like I was going to be paraded in front of monsters.

I shook my head and his eyes hardened a little. His grip tightened on me just a fraction. Not enough to hurt, but enough for me to notice it. “Catalina, listen to me. This is important. You’re going to do as you’re told, and you won’t question it or hesitate. Understand?”

I bit my lip.

He shook me a little and I nodded my head.

I felt more than I saw his muscles relax before he drew me back to him and lay down with me on top, our fronts pressed against each other, our legs tangling.

I tried to relax, but the thought of what tonight might bring was nerve-wracking.

I shifted a little and he placed two heavy hands on my hips.

“Relax,” he murmured. “Everything will be fine.”

I really wanted to believe him. I really did. I just didn’t know how.

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