Page 25 of Bride By Coronation

He rises. "Get Valentina to start the process. And remember, the choice is yours."

I stare at him.

He continues, "Everything in The Underworld comes with choices. Just don't make the wrong one." He winks, pats me on the shoulder, and disappears through the door.

I don't move for a long time, unable to get the different scenarios out of my mind.

I can't kill her.

It'll save her from a lifetime of disgust and hurt.

Why am I even contemplating this?

She'll never get over fucking me without my mask on.

I'm not killing her.

It'd be a blessing in the end for her.

I go over and over scenarios, cringing at every one, hating myself for each option I'm presented with and how I don't eliminate it right away.

This entire situation is wrong. Every ending only brings misery.

"Can I get you anything else?" Natalka offers, giving me the same grimace as before, then quickly covering it up.

I don't answer her. I rise, down the rest of the vodka, and hurry out of Nostrovia. Instead of getting in my car, I walk the city streets for hours, numb to the cold and unable to escape the nightmare of choices in front of me.

5

Fiona

The Next Day

Everything feels off since my encounter with Kirill yesterday. I made it through the rest of my lunch meeting with Ramone. There was plenty of time to return to the office and get in a few more hours of work, but I couldn't do it. I went home, replaying Kirill's and my exchange in the bathroom.

To make matters worse, Valentina haunts me. She's beautiful, and their lunch seemed intimate. Surely, she's more than just a friend to him?

It doesn't matter,I tell myself for the millionth time.

The alarm blares into the silence. I groan and hit the button on my phone, exhausted from no sleep and partially relieved it's time to get up.

I have to stop thinking about him,I scold myself.

It doesn't work. I can't escape Kirill's face, intoxicating scent, and strong fingers around my throat. I jump in the shower, and all I hear is my name rolling off his tongue or his Russian accent, declaring,"A queen obeys her king."

Why does he keep saying that?

Suds run down my body, and Kirill's hand over Valentina's sends a wave of nausea through my gut.

Friends, my ass.

Maybe he's telling the truth.

No way.

They looked super close.

Another flare of jealousy hits me until I see green.

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