na'

nning through the veins of my family like a poisoned thread. But I was no

s. It was my means of guaranteeing my escape should the dream of my life in this mansion ever become intolerable. Now, tho

y chest and discovered it empty. My last means o

rom your mother?" Behind me, Viktoria's words sounded like a sl

y mother stood at the doorway, her keen eyes shining with the s

nd her, her lips curv

ardly audible. You gathered everyth

ally think Elena could flee from us?" She snapped her tongue in imitat

hing where my trust used to be. My own sister, my blood-she was

my throat, I asked, pushing the words

ontempt. Do you believe you are unique? You are an idiot passing for something you are not. Do y

I was storing it for Mila. She would not have to grow up lik

nd it, do you? There is no getting away from it. Not for any one of us. You believe that by trying to h

y ribs while my head whirled. "You-." I gulped, t

sympathy. You have been let stay in this residence despite your unacceptable position as an unwed mother. Since you

my gut slump. "Wha

ov, you will be married tomorrow. There will be signatures on the paperwork. Should you object, r

ger will I still possessed. The same people I was meant to tru

znetsov was not a man. The kingpin of the mafia, he was a man whose notoriety made even the toughest men terrifie

my voice quivering but firm

a, you are not given options. Already signed on the

cumstances dropped on me. You are mistaken. I'll flee.

xecutioner. "You will do as advised, Elena; else, the results will be disas

e do not do this. I will wed anyone you wish, just not him. Marko.. My voic

e. I could tell anything b

ork is under preparation; you will not destroy all I have worked fo

lid into me like frigid knives. Her tone's fi

head shake. You are false.

ing a play. "Marko will be a spouse to you even if he may be stri

the idea. I wil

t all relevant to it. Elena

reply, someone knocked on the door. One, solid kno

bling with an uncertainty I

said to her angrily. "You

ock reverberated. My fingers were cold and shaking, my heart flew as I grabbed fo

Kuzn

and for a second I couldn breathe. He moved

had a smooth voice, yet his

Elena, you believe you can leave our planet? No

as I closed my hands. You canno

na, you have already lost. Tomorrow is the signing of t

words stranding my throat.

licing through the tension like a blade b