Page 83 of My Trojan Horse Majesty

Leonid and the others are standing several paces away, all of them watching us, and all of them confused.

“They can’t understand us,” Baba Yaga says. “I’m not powerful here, but I can manage this small feat at least.” She smiles. “But look at his beautiful face. He looks just like his many greats grandsire, Rurik.” She sighs.

Leonid’s face truly is glorious.

It’s sharp angles and bright colors and a strong, commanding air. He was born to rule. He was made to be worshipped. He’s staring right at me. His face is as light and beautiful as I’ve ever seen, but it’s ringed in dark, twisting cords of what almost look like barbed wire.

“His heart’s good, and it’s true,” Baba Yaga says. “But he’s lost sight of what he’s doing. He needs a touchstone, someone clear and clean.” She sighs. “I didn’t promise you this, but. . .” She holds up a mirror, and I see myself.

I’m bright.

I’m light.

Not a speck of darkness.

None at all.

“You’re too good for him,” Baba Yaga says. “You’re too good for all of us.” I see it then, the pulsing, twisting, bright flashes underneath. “You can see it, girl, can’t you? The divine inside of there? Only with darkness can the light become this strong. It comes from your long-ago parentage. You have magic inside of you, magic that’s contained because it’s equally light and dark. You’re in perfect balance.” She snorts. “No wonder he likes you.”

I can’t believe that. I’m nothing special. I’mnormal. Stupid, even. Gullible. When I turn to look at Leonid again, I feel very unworthy.

“Never mistake hope and optimism for stupidity, girl. My child doesn’t think it is. Keep shining for him, so he won’t lose his way. Darkness is coming, and the world will need you to survive it. I think he’ll be smart enough to give whatever it takes of himself to keep you safe after you break the bond, but that’s a risk you’ll have to weigh.”

“What?” I spin around to ask her what that means, but she’s gone.

“What did she say?” Leonid rushes to my side. “Can she unlink us?”

I frown. “You all heard her. She said we can forcibly separate, but there’s no way of knowing whether we’ll survive.” I think about telling him all the stuff she said about him giving of himself, about the pain if he tries to save me, but. . .I can’t. I can’t ask that of him. It sounds like he’s likely to survive it, and I’m the one at biggest risk.

He’ll refuse to try if I tell him that.

Leonid shakes his head. “No, I didn’t hear that. Katerina asked if we could survive, and then she walked to your side, and the two of you spoke, but none of us could hear a thing you said.”

“What?” I look around, but Mom’s nodding. They all are.

“She said. . .” I blink.

And just like that day, so many years ago, I have a choice to make. I should leave here with Gabe and Gustav and Leonid and never look back. Baba Yaga and Lechuza are worried about the fate of the world. They’re worried about what this horseman may do when awoken.

Maybe I’m selfish, but I’m only worried about one thing.

Life doesn’t matter if the quality of life is terrible. If breaking the bond destroys Leonid and his magic, we can’t awaken the beast. The world won’t be harmed by us. But how can I make any choices while I’m stuck with the one someone else made for me? How can I know what power I have to save Leonid or what magic he may have to change unless we’re free to choose for ourselves?

“She said if Leonid and I forcibly separate, the bond will break.”

“But will you survive it?” Mom asks.

“Leonid and I will try it first,” I say. “And if we survive, then Gabe should make it, too. He’s not soul-bonded. They’re just linked thanks to Gabe’s parentage.”

It’s a risk, but I’d rather die than not truly live.

Chapter22

Leonid

I’ve killed thousands.

In fact, I’ve killed so many people that I’ve lost count of the exact number. But there’s only one person I truly cared about who died because of me. His death hurt more than all the others.

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