Page 107 of Beautiful Cruelty

“We will do it.” I give her hand a squeeze.

Together, we cross the lobby, hand-in-hand. The sound of our footsteps echoes off the ornate walls, mixing with the subtle whispers of the fountain nearby.

The elevator doors slide open with a soft chime. As we step inside, I catch her studying my reflection in the mirrored walls. Understanding replacing the hurt that was in her amber-flecked eyes mere moments ago.

"Thank you," she whispers. "For finally telling me the truth."

Not the whole truth, my mind reminds me.

The image of Nathan Walker's final moments flashes through my mind.

His terrified eyes, his desperate pleas, the way his body went limp. But above all else, how a savage satisfaction rushed through me at the prospect of hurting him.

Am I truly any different from Sayanaa? From Pyotr? From Kirsan?

I push the thoughts away and focus on the warmth of Lacey's hand in mine. The way she leans slightly into me as the elevator continues to rise.

She trusts me, and I don't intend on destroying that trust.

Not now.

The elevator arrives, and I push open the door to reveal our bridal suite with a clear view of the glittering Parisian skyline against the rising sun.

Tell her, you coward!My mind screams.She deserves to know everything.

But the words die in my throat each time I try to open my mouth. If she knew what I did to Nathan... what Demyon and I did to the body... she would never look at me the same way again.

She would never trust me again the way she does now.

She would leave, and the thought of her walking away makes my chest constrict painfully.

I've never feared losing someone before. Not like this.

When did she become so essential to me? When did the thought of losing her become more terrifying than anything Sayanaa or Kirsan might do?

"Vadim?" Her soft voice pulls me from my thoughts. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." I force a smile and walk her to the window, where the Eiffel Tower stabs through the morning fog. "Just thinking about what’s about to happen soon.”

It's the first lie I've ever told her.

I try and excuse myself. I try justifying it that it's all to protect this fragile thing growing between us.

But I know that it's just another secret that can shatter everything if she ever discovers it.

31

LACEY

The heavy woodendoors of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral creak open before us. My heart pounds against my ribs as Vadim's warm hand steadies mine. The weight of the fake bible hidden beneath my wedding dress feels like it's dragging me down with each step.

"Ready,zvyozdochka?" Vadim's whisper tickles my ear.

I nod, not trusting my voice. The smell of incense fills my nostrils as we enter. Pale light streams through stained glass windows, casting colorful shadows across the marble floor. My legs feel like jelly beneath yards of white silk.

The Archbishop stands at the altar, his ornate robes gleaming with gold thread. An ancient bible rests on a velvet cushion at the lectern in the front.

The one we're here to steal.

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