Page 62 of Rites of Passage

Marlena smiled tremulously. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions for me. May I come in?”

The black terrier at her feet let out a soft, friendly woof.

“I—sure,” Nikolai mumbled.

He retracted his powers and stepped aside, his mind still reeling. It dawned on him that he was being reckless letting a complete stranger into his room. She could be lying for all he knew. Still, there was no denying what he could see in the woman’s face.

She had his mother’s eyes.

They gazed wordlessly at each other for the longest time. It was Alastair who broke their daze, the crow landing on the floor with a soft flutter of wings to inspect the terrier. The dog sniffed him curiously.

“You have Gabriella’s features.” Emotion choked Marlena’s words.

Nikolai startled as she touched his cheek.

She withdrew her hand hastily, regret darkening her gaze. “I’m sorry. That was too forward of me.”

“It’s alright.” His throat tightened. “Are you—are you my mom’s younger sister?”

Marlena nodded jerkily.

Nikolai’s heart twisted. “But—my father told us you were dead! He showed us your graves when I was still a child! He said there were no Stanisics left alive!” His voice broke, rage and sorrow squeezing his chest until he could barely breathe. “He told my mother she was an orphan!”

Marlena’s eyes blazed. “Whatever Vedran showed you and Gabriella was a lie. He didn’t want you to have any contact with her family. We are very much alive, Nikolai. And we’ve been trying to find a way to reach you for decades.”

Nikolai sagged, the enormity of the untruths his father had told him weighing him down so heavily he was surprised his knees didn’t buckle.

Did Oscar know? Did Barquiel?!

He fisted his hands, his nails biting so hard into his palms he almost drew blood.Alastair flew up onto his shoulder and butted his cheek gently with his head, soft croons rumbling from his chest. Nikolai touched the familiar, grateful for his comforting presence.

“Did she—” Marlena stopped and inhaled raggedly. “Did Gabriella ever speak of us?”

“Yes, she did.” Childhood memories swam up from the depths of his mind. “She called you Marley.”

Marlena pressed a hand to her mouth and swallowed a sob.

Nikolai motioned her awkwardly to the seating area and offered her a tissue. Marlena murmured her thanks and dabbed at her eyes before perching on the edge of a chair.

“I’m sorry.” Her eyes glimmered. “We couldn’t stop him from taking her.”

The tension tightening Nikolai’s body faded. It had been a long time since he’d let go of his anger toward his mother’s family. “There was nothing you could have done in the face of my father’s powers.”

Marlena’s fingers sank into the material of her dress, her remorse all too clear.

Nikolai hesitated before reaching over and placing his hand atop hers. “If I had known you were alive, I would have reached out to you after I escaped my father’s clutches. I now have a permanent target on my back, so I have to be careful about my movements.”

His gut twisted as he recalled all he had sacrificed over the years to achieve his goals. He frowned, fury surging through him once more.

And I’m still nowhere near fulfilling the promise I made to my mother. I have to avenge her and punish my father for the atrocities he’s committed.

Marlena turned her hand over and clasped his fingers. “How did you do it?” She studied him with a fierceness that reminded him painfully of his mother’s strong spirit, before the Sorcerer King broke her will. “How did you manage to break free of his hold?”

“It wasn’t easy. But I had no choice.” Nikolai furrowed his brow. “Had my father gotten his hands on Mae Jin before her awakening, all would have been lost. I knew the only way to save the world of magic and to avenge my mother was to get to her first.”

Marlena’s fingers twitched against his. She frowned faintly. “You intend to avenge Gabriella?”

Nikolai bobbed his head jerkily. “It’s why I laid low all those years and did as I was told.” His voice turned bitter. “My father thought he had me under his heel. I was probably the most loyal dog he owned. But I was only biding my time, waiting for the right moment to enact my revenge. Now that Mae has awakened, I’ll finally get my chance.”

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