Page 94 of A War Apart

A frantic knock at the door made me jump.

“Just a moment!” Alexey dragged himself into a sitting position and reached for his pants.

“Get your ass out of bed!” Izolda hissed through the door.

I looked wide-eyed at Alexey. His expression mirrored my own. I threw my shirt back on and pulled the covers back on as he put on his pants.

Not bothering with a shirt, he opened the door, and Izolda flew inside. Her brows raised slightly as she saw me, but she didn’t comment.

My mouth went dry. Something horrible must have happened.

She rounded on Alexey. “Did you know?”

“Know what?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Lady Heli’s been arrested. And the baron.”

Miroslav knew everything. He knew about the rebellion, Lord Ilya and Lady Heli’s involvement. They’d be looking for me and Izolda next.

Alexey’s brow furrowed. “Did you hear the charges?”

“What else could it be?” She crossed her arms. “Miroslav’s suspected them both of treason since the first rebellion.”

I clambered out of bed, modesty forgotten in my fear. Alexey wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me to him, and I curled into his warmth. “Did they arrest the rest of the household? Will they be looking for you?”

“I don’t think so, but I should probably lay low for a while.”

“I agree.” He looked down at me. “If the tsar decides to question Lord Ilya’s household, they may remember Lady Heli recommended you for your position and question you, as well. If that happens, just be honest. Tell them you knew the baroness very little, and you know nothing of any plots against the tsar.”

If I hadn’t been so terrified, I might have laughed. He didn’t know how wrong he was, how much I actually knew about the rebellion. I stared at the ground, swallowing hard.

“I’ll keep track of things in the palace,” he said. “Lord Kazimir may not have known about the arrests before they happened, but the tsar won’t keep him in the dark about it. I should be able to get news to both of you if there’s any danger.” He looked at Izolda. “Do you have enough money for a private room?”

“For a few nights, at least.”

“Good. The Frozen Boar should be safe enough. Get a room there, and I’ll get word to you if anything changes. And Izolda?” he said as she turned to leave. “Be careful.”

She grinned halfheartedly. “Thanks, Alexey.”

Once she left, he wrapped me in a tight embrace. “It’s going to be alright, my sun.”

I didn’t answer. He couldn’t know that. Not with who I was—what I was.

“I need to find out what’s happening. Will you be okay alone tonight?”

I nodded, not trusting my voice. If Lord Ilya and Lady Heli had been discovered, it was only a matter of time before someone found the connection to me. And even if they didn’t, I couldn’t be sure our contacts hadn’t been caught as well. Izolda might know, or at least be able to find out, but I’d have to wait until later to speak to her. I couldn’t let Alexey find out about my real connection to Borislav. Not now that he meant so much to me.

We dressed in silence. As he helped me into my coat, he kissed my neck. “You’re quiet.”

“I’m…worried.”

“It’s going to be alright,” he said again. “The tsar doesn’t pay much attention to the lower classes. Even Izolda should be fine. And your connection to the baroness is so minor, he likely won’t even consider having you questioned.”

I prayed he was right. For all our sakes.

When we reached my rooms, he pulled me tight against his body, claiming my mouth in a hungry kiss. “I know it didn’t end the way we wanted, but tonight was…” He trailed off, searching for the right word. “Indescribably wonderful.”

“Was it?” My cheeks flushed, and I lowered my gaze.

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