Page 180 of Emerald Malice

“Exactly. We’re his family now. And we have to go back for him.”

My hand goes to her belly. I feel the baby—my daughter—kick fiercely. As though she recognizes me. As though she agrees with me.

Three minutes.

“I-I’m scared…”

I’m desperate to look at Shura, to ask how it’s going. Has he narrowed it down?

Pick a color, brother. Time is running short.

“There’s nothing to be scared of.” I dig into my shirt and pull out her locket. I’ve worn it faithfully ever since she gave it to me. “See? I’m wearing your gift.”

I reach around Natalia’s throat and touch the pendant I gave her. “I’m wearing yours and you’re wearing mine. They’ll keep us safe. We have nothing to be afraid of.”

She smiles through her tears, her eyes scanning over my face again and again. Like she’s determined to take in as much as she can… just in case.

One minute.

As seconds wither and die, I feel my hope die with them. If Shura can’t figure this out, there’s no way out.

Forty-three seconds.

Forty-two.

Forty-one.

“Andrey.” Her voice is strangely, alarmingly calm. I can smell death in the room with us. I wonder if she can, too. “I want you to know something.”

I’ve been prepared to die since I was a teenager. I accepted the likelihood that my life would be short a long time again. So I know the fear in my gut is not for myself.

It’s for her.

Even if I have to go, why does she? My death will cost the world nothing. But hers? The earth will lose something precious if Natalia is not here to walk it.

All the people she’s drawn in and held close—Remi, Misha, Mila, Katya, even my fucking guards—they’ll be worse without her. Even the gardens won’t be the same without Natalia’s laugh to fill them.

Thirty seconds.

“You can tell me tomorrow,” I rasp. “Tomorrow, when we’re back in the manor and Remi is playing with Misha in the garden.”

“I love you, Andrey.” She smiles sadly, and my chest constricts.

Her hope is gone. She thinks this is the end.

I grab her hand and bring it to my mouth, breathing her in for what might be the last time. As far as dying goes, this is better than I ever imagined for myself. It’s better than I deserve.

Twenty seconds.

“Natalia—”

“Yes!” Shura’s triumphant voice cuts through the room.

Seventeen seconds.

Seventeen seconds.

Seventeen seconds.

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