Page 22 of King’s Promise

I control my enthusiasm over the honeymoon. If I let him know what I like, he might use it to punish me for not conforming to his every whim. He doesn’t need to know I’ve been dying to use my passport to go anywhere but Russia!

I learned a few tactics from Papa. He was savvy at chess and poker; I never could read him, so I lost every game we played. I prefer games where one wins by skill, not craft, like soccer. Not that I’ve played much. I like the challenge of school and earning the grades I get. I take pride in accomplishing my goals.

Dinner is over and Katerynia arrives as planned. After greetings we’re left to our own devices. If only Nikolay knew how dangerous it is leaving the two of us without supervision.

“Kat, thanks for coming!” We kick off our shoes and dive on to my huge bed.

“Oh, I miss hearing from you, you’re too busy and you aren’t even married,” she exclaims as she picks up a pillow and beats me with it. I pick up the other one and hit her back and we’re laughing. It’s nice to break up the reality of this being the first time we’re alone together since Papa died.

“I’m here, you need to text more. How are you, really?” I ask.

“Sad, but each day I’m better. Mum is doing better than expected.”

“No wonder there. She’s young enough to get her own life,” I add.

“Anya! We were her life.” She clutches the pillow to her chest as she sits. She crosses her legs and faces me.

“I just mean she doesn’t have to live how Papa wanted her to.”

“It must be scary; I’m worried about college. Mum said she can pay for it, but I don’t know what I want to do.”

“It will come to you. The experience will be good for you.”

We both fall onto our backs and lay with our heads on the pillow like old times. We’re close in age and, as such, we share many interests. She’s just now leaving her formal schooling and is on her tenth crush. She was afraid to disagree with Papa and lived a life where she kept her friends hidden.

Sergei was the keeper of our secrets. He never sold us out if we were up past bedtime texting friends or talking on the phone even if we were grounded. However, he kept the security cameras working much to my dismay.

I know we have cameras here, but I doubt there are any in my bedroom.

“How are the wedding plans coming?” I ask to cover the bases.

“Fine. Don’t worry. We have ice sculptures and a photo booth. This house is large enough to accommodate everyone with how many bathrooms? Six?”

“Something like that,” I agree.

“We’re shopping tomorrow morning, right?”

“Oh, yes, I need to find a wedding dress, and Nikolay gave me a credit card. We can spend whatever we want.”

Kat giggles. “Papa would never do that.”

“Is the will being settled? The tabloids are reporting he was worth a ton of money.” I love to follow breaking news. I never dreamed we’d be the news.

“Probably. Why?”

“Well, you can marry anyone you want, and leave this world behind.”

Her pretty lips frown. “Why would I want to leave you?”

“Not me, but the life, you can go to another country, city, where no one knows who you are. You can marry for love and get out from the family with a life of crime. Can you imagine going to school with Papa’s suicide following you? You could get a new identity. What if someone marries you for your money? What if the bad guys are after us?”

“I never thought of it.”

“I’m marrying Nikolay so you can be free to do what you want,” I explain. “He’s our protection. You can marry whomever you want but I want you to get a career first.”

“But what about you?”

“I’m fine. I’m strong enough to stand up to him or any man who wants to bully me.”

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