Page 63 of The Devils' Darling

For the first time, I see doubt in her eyes. She’s always had such control over my life. I used to think we were so close—like best friends, or even sisters—but now I wonder if a part of her liked that I was so dependent on her. Maybe she liked that I was sick and that I needed her. Has she made me this way?

“You can’t stand it, can you, Mom? That I’ve found people who want to support me? You wanted to be the only person in my life I needed. You couldn’t even stand Dad being in my life, so you had him killed.” I know as soon as those words are out, I can never take them back, but it’s not as if she’s not said terrible things to me, too.

I have the awful thought that Nataniele might go the same route—but for different ends. Perhaps he’ll be so horrified at the thought of the four of us and the shame he imagines it will bring that he’ll get rid of Tino and Kirill so they’re not part of this. The situation would be less horrifying, I suppose, if it was just Dom and me. But then I remember that still won’t change the fact that Dom and I will one day be stepbrother and stepsister. Plus, Nataniele has witnessed the might of Tino’s army for himself. He’d be a fool to bring that kind of wrath down on his head.

No, the only thing that will work is if Nataniele somehow convinces Dom not to see me anymore.

How will he do that? Through violence and fear. It’s the only way. I’m one hundred percent sure Dom won’t give me up voluntarily.

“How can you say that?” Mom cries.

A tear spills down my cheek. “I need you to leave now.” This is too painful, and I can’t do it anymore. Not right now. I need to be able to think clearly, and she’s making me feel like trash.

She purses her lips and stares me down. “Not until you promise me that you’re not going to see those boys anymore.”

“They’re not boys, Mom, they’re men, and you’re going to be waiting a very long time, because that’s never happening.”

It’s like we’re breaking apart all over again. First Kirill is acting strangely with us—unsurprisingly, considering what happened—and now this? Maybe she’s right and we have no future, but even if that is the case, I’ll keep fighting for us, right to the very end.

“I mean it, Mom. Go. And you can tell Nataniele that what I do in my personal life is none of his business. I’m not frightened of him.”

She opens her mouth to protest, but I point at the door. “Now.”

For once, she takes me seriously. Shaking her head, she leaves my room.

I cover my face with my hands and gulp back a sob. I need to hold it together. Nataniele is going to come down hard on Dom, and Dom’s going to need our support.

Chapter 24

Mackenzie

As soon as I’m sure my mom is no longer in the corridor outside my room, I slip out and hurry through Verona Falls’ stone hallways until I reach Kirill’s room.

I pause outside the door, and knock on it, hard. “Kirill, I need to talk to you,” I call through the wood.

It occurs to me that he might not be in, but then movement comes from inside, followed by the click of the lock, and the door opens.

I wince at the sight of his face. His poor nose is still swollen across the bridge, and dark bruises are beneath his eyes.

“What are you doing here, Mackenzie?”

I don’t allow him the chance to shut the door on me again, but instead slip past him, into his room. He lets out a sigh and softly shuts the door. I’m glad he hasn’t told me to get out.

“I need to talk to you. Nataniele knows about the four of us. He’s threatened Dom.”

He doesn’t respond and he still won’t meet my gaze, but I notice his eyes are bloodshot as though he’s been crying.

“Please, Kirill. You’re the only one who truly understands what I went through in that place. I need you on my side. Nataniele is going to try to break us apart, and we need to be stronger than ever. It’s the only way we’re going to survive.”

“What if we’re already broken?”

I widen my eyes at him and reach for his hand. “What? No! How can you say that?”

Pain is etched across his handsome face. “I don’t even know how you can stand to be in the same room as me after what I did.”

I blink, not understanding what he means. “After what you did? What—coming to my rescue?”

He scoffs laughter. “I never did that.”

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