Page 95 of Twilight Tears

“This is incredible,” Mariya is jabbering as she pulls back. “He’s going to be okay. Like, really, actually okay. To be honest, I had my doubts. I wasn’t sure if he’d—Wow. He’s awake.”

“He’s awake. Once it’s safe, you can go see him.”

She frowns. “I want to go see him now.”

“I know. Nik wants to see you, too. You’ll see him soon, though.”

“Will I?” she asks. “Do you have a scheme to take out Pavel or is the plan to keep us in this bunker indefinitely?”

“I have a plan for everything, Mariya,” I lie. “Have a little faith.”

Mariya plants her hands on her hips and inhales for what is sure to be the beginning of a long rant that would make even our mother proud. But before she can, Luna yawns. “I’m exhausted,” she blurts, squeezing my arm. “Can you come lie down with me for a little while?”

I nod. “Of course.”

Mariya glares after us as we walk to Luna’s bedroom. Just as the door closes, Mariya calls, “You can’t avoid me forever!”

“But you can avoid her for now,” Luna whispers, locking the door.

“I don’t need to be saved from Mariya. I can handle her.”

“Yeah, I know. But you don’t have to do it tonight.” Luna kisses my shoulder on her way to the bed. She slips under the covers and rolls onto her side, her head pillowed on her arm. “Can you stay for a little while or do you have to leave?”

How could I possibly walk away from her now?

I shrug out of my jacket and shoes. “I can stay.”

I slide in behind her, my arm draped over her waist like normal. Except she feels different. We’ve only been apart for a few days, but her body has changed. Her bump is growing.

And I haven’t been here for it.

Luna presses back against me, snuggling closer. “What’s wrong with Nik?”

“He’s better. The doctor thought he might die, but he’s awake.”

“I know,” she says softly. “But I also know there’s something you’re not saying. I could see it in your face. Can he talk? Does he remember who you are?”

I sigh. “His mind is fine. He’s doing better than Dr. Tung expected as far as that goes. It’s the physical part that isn’t coming along as well. Right now—maybe forever—he’s paralyzed from the waist down.”

Luna curses under her breath. “I’m sorry, Yakov. How is he taking it?”

“Fuck if I know. He doesn’t want to talk to me about it. He won’t even let me bring up physical therapy.”

“He probably needs time. You Kulikov men pride yourselves on being physical specimens. I’m sure this is going to be a hard adjustment for him. Just be there for him and give him time. He’ll come around.”

I kiss the soft curve of her neck. “Complimenting me and giving sage advice all at the same time. Well done.”

“I don’t have much time with you, so I have to multitask.” She hugs my arm, her fingers trailing over the muscles of my forearm. “I’ll also throw in that I think you should tell Mariya what is going on. All of it. She already feels like she’s the last to know everything.”

“I just want her to revel in the good news for a little while. My brother just came out of a coma and I should be ecstatic, but instead, I’m bogged down in his recovery and whether he’ll ever walk again. I just want Mariya to be happy she has her brother back.”

Luna nods. “You must trust me to keep your secret if you’re telling me the truth.”

“I do trust you,” I say, realizing exactly how much I mean it. “I’ve never had someone in my life that I want to share everything with, but with you… I didn’t even consider not telling you.”

Without me even realizing it, Luna became the person I want to take everything to. The person I want to talk with when anything good or bad happens.

“I want to share everything with you, too,” she says, sniffling.

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