Page 126 of Vendetta Crown

"Come with me."

I take his hand and let him lead me up the stairs, past the rooms where the girls are grieving, to our bedroom. He closes the door softly behind us and pulls me to the windows that overlook the sprawling estate grounds.

The moonlight bathes everything in silver, softening the harsh edges of our reality. His hand covers mine over my growing belly, the warmth of his palm seeping through my clothes.

"When I found you in that alley criticizing my script, I had no idea you would become my strength." His lips brush against my temple. "You make me believe we can win this."

I lean back against his chest, letting his words sink in. "Do you still believe that?"

"I do." His hand tightens over mine. "Semyon, Kristofer, Gregor. They have power, yes. But they're not fighting for anything. Not anything important."

I turn to face him, searching his golden eyes. "And we are?"

"Yes, we are. We're fighting for them." He gestures toward the hallway where the girls are. "For these two." His hand returns to my belly. "For each other."

"For family." I say.

"Exactly."

A soft knock at our door interrupts the moment. Ruslan's brow furrows as he steps away from me to answer it.

Daria stands in the hallway, her expression tense.

"I apologize for disturbing you," she says, her voice low. "But this just arrived for..." Her eyes flick to me, "for Jamie Fields."

My heart doesn't race the way it used to at the mention of that name. Instead, I feel heat rising in my chest.

Not fear, but something sharper.

Something fiercer.

Ruslan's entire body tightens like a coiled spring. "Who delivered it?"

"A courier service. They've already left." Daria holds out a small, elegantly wrapped box with a cream-colored ribbon.

I step forward. "I'll take it."

"Aurora, wait." Ruslan places his hand on my arm. "We don't know what's in there. It could be dangerous."

"It's not." I shake my head.

"How can you be sure?"

"Because I know him." My voice sounds cold even to my own ears. "He wouldn't hurt me. Not like this. Not from a distance. This is just another game to him. He wants me rattled. Scared. To remember my place." I take the box from Daria's hands. "Thank you, Daria."

She nods, eyes darting between Ruslan and me. "Is there anything else that you might need?"

"No. We'll handle this."

Once she's gone, I turn the box over in my hands. It's lighter than I expected, wrapped in expensive gold paper that catches the light. Nothing ticks inside. Nothing leaks. It's just a box, designed to crawl under my skin.

"You don't have to open it," Ruslan says, watching me carefully.

"Yes, I do." I meet his gaze, steady and unflinching. "I used to be terrified when these would show up. I'd throw them away unopened." I untie the ribbon with deliberate fingers. "Not anymore."

What surprises me isn't the gift itself. It's how distant I feel from the fear that once defined my existence.

Now all I feel is rage, clean and clarifying.

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