Page 13 of Fate and Fury

“They may be mere broodmares, but they’re lovely to look at, are they not?” he said. “They’ll be lining up for a handsome, powerful Shadow like yours. Unless he has another?”

The only thing she wanted to think less about than being the Kniaz’s plaything was this. It was bad enough that Niko was to marry Elena. But watching her bear his children? That might actually kill Katerina.

“My Shadow will be betrothed to his Vila when the Bone Moon is full, three nights hence,” she said, raising her chin. “Alas, the Vila of Rivki Island will be safe from his advances, long may they weep.”

Kniaz Sergey stared at her for a long moment, as if he’d never seen anything quite like her. Then he began to laugh. He chuckled until his eyes ran with water and he had to wipe them with his brocade sleeve. The harder he guffawed, the more Dimi Zakharova’s glare intensified, and Katerina shot her a hard look. What was her Saints-damnedproblem?

“I like you, Dimi Ivanova,” he said at last. “You surprise me, which is a rare thing. As for your talented Shadow, here he comes now.”

“And not a moment too soon,” Katerina muttered under her breath, a smile plastered on her face as Niko bowed to the last of the Druzhina and strode toward her.

He came to a halt by her side, flashing her a quizzical look before he bowed to the Kniaz and his consort in turn. “Your Grace,” he said with impeccable politeness. “Dimi Zakharova.”

As they exchanged pleasantries, Katerina caught the other Dimi’s gaze, flicking back and forth between her and Niko. Under other circumstances, she’d demand that the woman speak. But here and now, she was afraid she didn’t want to hearwhat Dimi Zakharova had to say. Fear gripped her heart, its tendrils wrapping ever-tighter. What had the woman seen?

There were secrets, and then there weresecrets.And some were never meant to be told.

Next to her, Niko cleared his throat, and she forced herself to focus. Sofi and Damien had come to the end of the receiving line and were waiting for their audience with the Kniaz. The other Dimi signed to her Shadow, hands flying as she communicated whatever she wanted to say, in case Kniaz Sergey or Dimi Zakharova couldn’t understand. Katerina stood at the wrong angle to catch every word, but she could seegratefulandproud to fight for Iriskaclearly enough.

Katerina was the grateful one. Because thank the Saints, with Sofi and Damien right there, it was time for her and Niko to go.

“I look forward to seeing your performance in next year’s Trials,” Kniaz Sergey said, clapping Niko on the back as if they were old friends. “In the meantime, make the most of our hospitality, won’t you? You’re not betrothed yet, after all.” He winked at Niko, letting his gaze wander to the flock of twittering Vila.

To his credit, Niko managed to keep his expression stoic—although for all Katerina knew, he was planning to end the evening with a Vila-themed bacchanalia. After a battle, Shadows were well known to seek release in a bed or a bottle…not that she and Niko ever discussed such things.

And we won’t start now, she told herself sternly.What he does when he’s not fighting by your side is none of your business, Katerina. Pull yourself together.

That would be a lot easier if adrenaline weren’t still whipping through her body, demanding release. Back in Kalach, she’d seek peace in her favorite elderflower clearing or else light something on fire. But here, no such option was open to her. Maybeshewasthe one who should find solace in someone’s bed tonight. If only she could stomach the thought.

Niko was her Shadow, sworn to stand by her side, the other half of her soul. But in private, she’d always called him her Lightbringer—her best friend, the boy who knew her better than anyone else, who could always make her laugh and lead her out of her own personal darkness. It was a lethal combination, and she couldn’t imagine anyone would ever measure up.

She stole a sideways glance at him as they walked from the arena, but he was looking straight ahead, his expression impassive. They stepped onto the path that cut beneath the seating area, paved with red stones forged in Povorino’s lava fields and shipped to Rivki at great expense, and still he said not a word. Stubbornly, neither did she.

The path widened, connecting with Maripol Avenue. The street was abuzz: vendors hawking their wares, children waving orange streamers meant to simulate witchfire, gamblers’ money changing hands. Katerina drew a deep breath, taking in the welcoming scent of vareniki dumplings, her favorite. She didn’t have any coins on her, but perhaps she could charm one of the people who’d bet on her into buying her some. Tilting her head, she scanned the crowd.

“There will be plenty to eat at the feast,” Niko said, breaking his silence at last.

Her gaze snapped to his, vareniki forgotten. “Oh, so now you can talk?”

“What do you want me to say, Katerina?” His voice was laced with a weariness that tore at her heart. “WhatcanI say, that’s not going to start a fight?”

“How about what you’re thinking? That would be a start!” She kept her voice low, so as not to be overheard despite the chaos of the crowd. “Tell me you’re angry with me. That I mighthave ruined everything. That I lost control of my magic. That you’re ashamed of me?—”

He took hold of her upper arms, spinning her to face him. “Never say that again. I am not, nor will I ever be, ashamed of you, my Dimi. I am honored to fight at your side.”

She peered up at him, biting her lip. “Then?—”

His head lowered, the words a whisper against the shell of her ear. The heat of his breath sent a shiver through her entire body. “You didn’t lose control. You fought for me, as your instincts demanded. But…” He drew back to look at her face. “You kept the truth from me, Katerina. Baba never bound your magic at all, did she? What happened with the bridge at kohannya—that was you.”

Katerina drew a deep, shaky breath. Then, she nodded.

Her Shadow’s eyes widened, the moonlight falling full on his face. He ran an absent-minded fingertip over his scar, the way he did when truly troubled. “But…why?”

This close to him, with his black dog able to pick up every shift in her scent and fluctuation in her heartbeat, she couldn’t lie. So instead, she settled for a partial truth. “The longer we stayed, the more scared I was that Baba would figure out the spell hadn’t worked. When she tried to bind me…” She shuddered all over at the memory. “It was like I was being torn apart. I couldn’t go through that again.”

His eyes scanned her face, as if trying to figure out what she’d left unsaid. She couldn’t help it; her pulse sped in response, imagining what he would say if she shared the rest:It was breaking me to watch you with Elena. A minute longer, and I would’ve shattered.

“I understand that part,” he said at last. “Watching you suffer—I couldn’t do that twice, either. But Katerina…after we left, why did you not tell me?”

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