Page 123 of Vendetta Vows

She sits at the fountain's edge, fingers trailing through the water, creating ripples that catch the afternoon sunlight. Her hair glows like spun gold, loose around her shoulders. Even from this distance, I can see the tension in her posture.

Like a wounded animal ready to flee.

I want to protect her so badly that it hurts.

"Zarechka," I call softly.

She turns, startled. When she sees me, something flickers across her face—pain, longing, fear—before she schools her features.

"Ruslan." Her voice is flat, controlled. The warmth from this morning is gone.

I approach slowly, giving her space to bolt if she needs to. But she stays put, watching me with those wary hazel eyes.

"My mother's words upset you."

It's not a question.

Aurora looks away, staring into the fountain. "She's right."

"About what?"

"Everything." She stands abruptly, wrapping her arms around herself. "I don't belong here. I'm an outsider who has no idea what she's doing."

"Aurora, that's not true."

"I should leave. Before the wedding. Before someone else dies because of me."

I close the distance between us in two strides, taking her hand. She tries to pull away, but I hold firm.

"Look at me," I whisper.

When she finally meets my gaze, I see tears threatening to spill over.

"My mother doesn't know everything," I tell her, brushing my thumb across her knuckles. "And she certainly doesn't know us."

I watch her eyes flicker with doubt, and I can't stand it. She's been through hell, running from a monster that killed her family, and now my mother has planted seeds in her mind that we're doomed.

That this life will destroy her.

"Zarechka," I say, stepping closer, "my mother lived her entire life under my father's control. Being beaten, humiliated. Her world is shaped by that pain."

Aurora's eyes search mine, looking for reassurance, for truth.

"But that's not our story," I tell her firmly. "I am not my father. And you..." I cup her face, feeling her warmth against my palm. "You're the strongest person I've ever met."

"I'm not," she whispers, shaking her head. "I've been running for seven years, Ruslan. Hiding. That's not strength."

"Surviving is strength." My voice grows fierce. "You rebuilt yourself from nothing after losing everything. You think that's weakness? I've seen men in the bratva break from much less."

Her hand comes up to cover mine, and I feel that connection between us again. That understanding that runs deeper than words.

"She said I'm bringing danger to your doorstep."

I pull Aurora against me, burying my face in her hair, breathing in the scent of coconut. "Danger was already here. Lev and Mikhail weren't killed because of you."

"But what if you get hurt?"

"No." I pull back, meeting her gaze. "I won't let you blame yourself for crimes you didn't commit. Not for your family, not for mine."

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