Page 86 of Ruthless Bonds

Too late, my mind was already thinking worst-case scenarios again.

“Let’s change the subject to stop whatever destructive path you’re about to go down. Did you see it’s a lunar eclipse tonight?”

I stopped splashing, narrowing my eyes at her. “Are you lying?”

She grinned, shaking her head. “Promise. Remember that idea you had for your finale photo for the competition? The church? Well, imagine it under the blood moon. It would be mind-blowingly beautiful.” Her cheeks puffed out as she blew out air, her hands popping open like an explosion.

I bit my bottom lip, thinking for a moment. I’d been thinking of my last photo for the competition. All the pieces seemed to click into place for me then. A nude woman who embodied the beauty and vulnerability of life, set against a decaying church—a symbol of eternal promises, now taken over by decay.

Now add in a blood moon? A known omen for death and transformation? It was perfect.

The only reason I hadn’t done it was because I hadn’t found a subject. But what better subject than me? I had all the equipment, and could set up a timer that would capture all the photos for me.

“You’re a freaking genius.” I lifted myself out of the pool and grabbed a towel. Tash and Grig would haveto come with me, but I would just make them wait in the car so they didn’t see me naked. Kreos would definitely flip out about that.

I called out to Grig, who had stood off to the side, doing his best not to look at me in my bathing suit. He rushed over, nodding hello to Dove. “I need you to take me somewhere tonight. Kreos is in meetings all day, so he can’t take me.”

Grig visibly swallowed as he shook his head no. “No can do, Mrs. Zokrova. You and Dove are to stay on the estate until further notice.”

I scoffed, putting my hands on my hips. “Says who?”

“The Pakhan,” Gavriil said, coming up from behind Grig like the damn shadow devil he was. “It’s for your own protection and will only be for a day or two.”

“Well, I need to go out tonight. It’s a blood moon. This won’t happen again for months.” Were they really going to keep us locked up here? Solene’s taunt about being locked in a beautiful prison rang in my ears.

“We don’t always get what we want, Mrs. Zokrova.” His eyes narrowed at Dove, who was lying on her stomach on the lounge chair. “Dove, the sun is quite harsh this afternoon. Cover up before you get burned.”

I turned to look at Dove, who had on an oversized T-shirt that had ridden up, showing off her bikini-clad butt. A “ding, ding, ding” went off in my head, knowing that Gavriil didn’t want the guards to look at her ass. I chuckled as Dove scrunched up her nose, tilting her head to the side as if pondering. After a second, she shook her head no.

Gavriil’s eyes blazed with fire, his jaw clenching as he stared down at her. “I would suggest rethinkingthat, little bird.” He turned to look at me, then at Grig. “Make sure they stay put.” A second later he stalked off, not before giving Dove one more warning look.

I whistled and plopped down next to her on the lounge chair. “I knew something was going on with you guys.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she rolled her eyes. “Nope. Not a damn thing.”

“Liar.” I chuckled, tapping my fingers on my thigh.

“What are you going to do now? I guess the picture would look cool without the blood moon.”

“Oh, no, I’m getting that picture tonight. Looks like I’ll just have to sneak out.” I smirked, a plan forming in my head.

I sat with Dove for a while until the sun set. Kreos had left with a convoy, only briefly stopping by to give me a kiss. When I asked him about going out, he’d given me the same answer as Gavriil. Only he ended it with, “Be a good girl or I’ll punish you.”

Pfft, like the thought of punishment had ever stopped me.

I understood something serious was going on, but it wasn’t like anyone would follow me tonight. If anything, I should be more worried that he was going out right after someone had just tried to kill him less than twenty-four hours ago.

Besides, I’d have my knife with me. Dove offered to come with me, but I didn’t want Kreos to get more angry with me knowing I’d broken her out too. God knew what Gavriil would do, either.

My plan was simple. Get the keys from Grig, get past the security gate, and head to the church. Thatwas less than an hour away. The blood moon should be visible at eleven p.m., so that should be just enough time to snap my photos before Kreos sent someone to come get me.

Oh, I knew he would send someone. What I didn’t know was whether the tracker in my neck alerted him when I left the property, or whether he only knew because he checked his little app. I would find out soon enough.

I packed up my equipment into a bag—my best camera, my LED lights, and my stand—and also threw in the red silk robe I’d planned on wearing. The image was crystal clear in my mind. I just hoped I could capture it exactly as planned.

The key to sneaking around was to just blend in and act like you belonged. So I carried my bag to the garage and hid it behind some bushes. I didn’t want to do the next part, but I had no choice. I slipped off my engagement ring and shoved it into my pants. I pulled up Grig’s name and sent him a text to meet me by the pool for an emergency.

“Mrs. Zokrova, what’s the matter?” His face was so serious as he looked around the pool area.

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