Page 193 of Emerald Malice

“Because I don’t want you to go through what I went through.” Her hand is so tight around my wrist that it’s starting to hurt. “Because I don’t want you to lose the twins, and I certainly don’t want them to lose you.”

God, the twins. Two souls coming to life inside of me. Two little babies that are relying on me to protect them, to keep them safe so they can have a chance to?—

Wait.

Wait.

I grind to a halt and rip my hand free of Yelena’s claws. “Yelena, how did you know I was having twins?”

Outside, the sun is shining and birds are chirping.

But in this hallway, I feel a kind of chill I’ve never felt in my life.

She blinks the question away in irritation. “You told me. Now, come?—”

I don’t let her grab me again. “No, I didn’t. I just found out myself.”

The sweat on her brow drips down the crook of her gnarled nose. “You did tell me, child,” she hisses impatiently. “You’re confused. Now, come. We’re wasting precious time.”

Why was Yelena so quick to help me?

Why is she in such a rush?

The questions I didn’t stop to ask outside are stacking up in front of me, becoming too big to summit.

“Come, Natalia!” she growls. “If you don’t make that car, you’ll have missed your chance to save your children.”

What’s wrong with you? You trusted her all this time. What’s changed now?

I don’t have time to find answers before the infirmary door opens just down the hall and Misha walks out, rubbing his drowsy eyes.

Yelena drops my hand immediately.

“Natalia!” Misha rushes forward and throws his arms around me.

“Misha…” I croak, breathing in the familiar warmth of his downy hair.

“You’re safe! I was so scared.”

I draw back a little and cup his face. “I’m fine. Andrey and Shura got me out in time. How are you?”

“I’m fine. I was with Remi. He’s doing better.”

The smile on his face gives me hope. “You’ll look after him, won’t you?”

Misha frowns. I bite my tongue, cursing myself internally. His gaze slides from me to Yelena, who’s lingering in my periphery, wringing her hands anxiously.

“Why do I need to look after him?” Misha asks. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere!” Yelena answers for me. It would have been better if she’d just let me handle this. Her words are far too harsh. Misha is too perceptive. “She needs rest, some peace and quiet.”

His eyebrows pinch together and they refuse to iron out. “Let me come with you.”

“No, that’s okay,” I protest. “You should rest, too.”

“I’ve been resting for hours. I want to do something. Let me walk with you.”

He’s not looking at me when he asks, though.

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