Page 129 of Ruby Malice

I nod. “We can. Let’s suit up.”

It’s late in the afternoon and Sonya is already gone for the day. Most of the other staff are gone, too. Everything will be fine. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. But once Ilya and I make it out to the water’s edge, all of my worries really do drift away.

Because he is completely and utterly free out here.

Inside, there’s a feeling of containment. The mansion is a safe space, but an enclosed one. Kirill has given Ilya an amazing environment in which to live and more than enough things to keep him entertained, but it's hard to ignore the sense that something is missing. It’s like watching a bird through a cage, never being able to see them take flight. You never get to see them fully realized.

But out here, Ilya issoaring.

“The water is orange,” he says, pointing to the horizon. “It’s fire.”

The sun is dipping below the water, streaks of gold and orange and yellow radiating out to the soft glow that surrounds us.

“It sure is. The sunset is beautiful, isn’t it?”

He grins and then wades in up to his knees. He splashes in the foamy surf and kicks the water. It sprays across my arm and chest, and I yelp and jump back.

Just like that, Ilya goes perfectly still. His entire body is tight and tense, his face creased.

He has made a lot of noticeable improvements in the last couple weeks, but Kirill told me there is no cure. And this is proof. Loud, unexpected noises still scare him.

“I’m okay,” I reassure him quickly. I hold my arms out and do a half-turn. “Look? Totally fine. Not hurt at all. You just surprised me.”

His shoulders ease down away from his ears. “You’re okay?”

“Totally okay.” I splash through the water up to my ankles and grab Ilya’s hand. “We’re safe here. We’ll be okay.”

He watches me for a few seconds, the anxiety in his face relaxing bit by bit. Then he leans down and presses a sloppy kiss to my cheek.

It’s like a toddler kiss. Just a press of lips against skin. But when Ilya pulls away, he’s giving me a goofy smile.

“Thank you, Ilya. What was that for?”

Instead of answering, Ilya wiggles his fingers through the air like it’s raining. He does it again and laughs. “For you.”

I press my hand to my heart and pat gently. “Thank you.”

It’s a beautiful moment in a beautiful setting with a beautiful soul. I do my best to absorb it all. To close my eyes, breathe deep, and soak it in.

But just as I open my eyes, I hear yelling from the beach. “What in the hell are you two doing?”

Kirill’s deep voice is always familiar. But there’s something about the timbre of him yelling that is particularly unmistakable.

Ilya freezes next to me. He recognizes it, too. The same part that’s shivering inside of me is shivering inside of him.

“It’s okay.” I reach out and squeeze his hand. “Kirill. It’s Kirill.”

Ilya gives a nervous smile, but then Kirill yells again. “Get out of the water,” he roars. “Now!”

I start walking towards the shore, but Ilya isn’t coming with me. He’s standing stock-still, water lapping around his waist.

“It’s okay, Ilya. Lion’s breath. Remember? Breathe like a lion. You’re okay.”

But he isn’t okay. Ilya is staring at the shore like he is ready to swim in the opposite direction. If he heads further out into the water, he’s way too big for me to stop him. I can’t force Ilya to safety.

“Ilya!” My voice has an edge to it. One I don’t like, but I can’t fight the panic rising up in me. “Come with me, Ilya. Let’s go see your brother, okay? He’s here to see you.”

“Now!” Kirill bellows again from the shore.

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