Chapter 30
Nikolai
“ B rother, if I knew your wife was this beautiful in person, I would have come home a long time ago.” There’s mirth in Lilith’s mint green with black fleck eyes as she delicately holds Aspen’s hand.
With all things considered, she looks well. Her last pregnancy was hard and dangerous, but she and my baby nephew are safe. Judging by how her husband, Maxim Sokolov, is gripping her lower back, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Aspen pulls Lilith in for a hug, it surprises my sister. “In my family, we hug as a greeting.” She pulls them apart. “It’s great to finally meet you as well. When I had breakfast with your mom and sister at the compound, they would brag about you.”
“Me?” Lilith playfully questions, flipping her jet black hair behind her. “No, from what I hear, you are the family’s favorite person. They don’t fuss over me and my kids like they do over you.”
I jerk my head to Maxim, indicating we should give our women space to talk. He follows me to the bar set up in the Marble Hall of the Kremlin Palace, soft music playing in the background.
The palace is where we’ve held ascensions for centuries. My father used to tell me stories about how anyone who’s anyone from the underground would come together to show allegiance. That’s still true today.
“Any update on what I sent you, Max? ”
“The Yakuza’s west faction was wiped out several weeks back.”
He requests an Old Fashioned from the bartender.
How American of him. His father is the Pakhan of the west world.
It’s the only reason my father blessed my sister’s marriage to him.
Supposedly, the Sokolovs are distant cousins of the Morozov family who are from a world called Virelia.
Apparently, that world is parallel to ours. A different universe.
The bartender hands Maxim his drink. “I went to Japan personally,” he says around the rim of his glass. “The sight was gruesome. Someone definitely is sending a message.”
Sliding my hands my into pockets, I ask, “a message you say?”
“Whoever it is behind this massacre is saying they’re not the ones to be fucked with. If you saw how all the bodies were pulverized, it would have even churned your stomach of steel. There was nothing but body matter.”
I furrow my brows. “Who would have the power to do something like this? Neither vampires nor werewolves could have done that.”
“Fuck no. It’s an ancient vocal power. The species that could do something like this went extinct ages ago.”
“Who?”
“Sirens.”
No one has seen Sirens since the eighteenth century, after the Great Underground Wrath War. They all vanished. No one has been able to spot them on coastal lines. Or the bayous.
“Niko, your wife looks really familiar. Like I’ve seen her somewhere.”
“Aspen’s a renowned singer. I’m sure you’ve seen her on billboards or some shit. ”
“No, it’s like I know her. I just can’t place her.
” He shakes his head. “Oh, that cousin of yours?” He takes another sip of his drink.
“He’s clean. My men have been following him for weeks now.
Nothing suspicious has happened. But your redhead.
” He lets out a low whistle. “She’s been busy.
She’s been talking to men who have you on their list to kill.
Damn. What type of dick do you have to make a woman like her that scorned? ”
“She’s my greatest fucking regret. My father will be addressing her father later tonight. We’re executing her tomorrow.”
“Fuuuck.”
I shrug. “She knows the law. She committed fucking treason. Sergei, better be lucky his head won’t be lying next to hers. He still has a lot to answer for. Why the hell would he give my wife Nightshade?”
“That’s the million dollar question right there.”
The hair on the back of my neck rises, giving me goosebumps. The feeling of eyes rush over me as if I’m prey. Turning my body towards the area where I sense danger, I see him immediately.
Roman’s thick locs are half up in a tucked ponytail, the rest draping down his chest. His steel brown eyes slide from mine then to his right, my eyes follow his direction.
Aspen.
“Max, excuse me.”
My strides to Aspen are strong, deliberate, dominating. I snake my hand around her waist, tucking her to my side. “You have a guest, Malyshka.”
“Who? You’ve already surprised me with my godfather.” She slaps my shoulder playfully. “I didn’t know you knew the Pope!”
That’s because I took a secret trip to visit him at the Vatican. It seems a few threats and the removal of some priests’ heads, will grant you an audience with anyone. But to see her face light up when she saw him was all worth it.
“Pen.”
A dark brooding voice sounds from behind.
Aspen jerks away from my hold, taking quick steps towards him until she’s fully in front of her brother. She reaches both hands until they cradle his face.
“You’re whole,” she chokes out and my heart breaks a little.
I feel slightly guilty that my father orchestrated their separation. I do. But if he had to kidnap her, force her into marrying me by gun point again and a blood contract binding her to me, I would live this timeline on repeat. Every single time. As long as I ended up with her.
“You don’t know how scared I was. There was so much blood. I thought—”
“You feel that?” Roman places her hand over his heart. “I’m alive. Part of it is because of your husband.” He turns his focus on me. “The nurses said you gave me your blood for a lifesaving blood transfusion. I’m alive because of you.”
“That’s what brothers do.” I shrug.
His lips tip up in the corners. “Brothers?”
“In law, but why add such distance between ourselves,” I add. “We’re family so we do what families do. Take care of each other.”
“Hmm.”
A small look passes between him and Aspen. A wordless exchange that only siblings can speak.
Interesting .
“Niko,” Sergei interrupts us. “The six Bratva’s families want a private meeting with you. They said it’s urgent.”
Sergei looks the same as he usually does. Black suit, slick back hair but he’s wearing a silver chain around his neck. He’s never been a man to wear fine jewelry.
Scanning the room, I see all six families in the hall. They’re either talking to one another or to political figures. No one looks to be leaving for a private meeting with me.
“Sergei, my ascension start in forty-five minutes. Judging by how no one is moving towards a private meeting, it can wait until Aspen and I complete the ceremony.”
He grinds his teeth.
Ever since Aspen planted that seed in my head about my cousin, I haven’t been able to shake the fact she could be onto something.
It makes me think about the time my uncle, his father, was attacked by the werewolves and he wasn’t the least bit shaken by that.
He didn’t want revenge. He did nothing. I would have leveled Stockholm to the ground for my father.
For Aspen.
“It’ll be quick. The families will make their way once they see you’re moving.”
“Give me a moment.” Stepping away from him, I bend down to kiss Aspen behind her ear. Whispering, I ask, “did you bring your favorite lipstick with you tonight?” I snake my arms around her back.
Her breath fans against my neck. “Always. Why?”
“Feeling a bit uneasy.”
She wraps her arms around me and her scent envelops me, reminding me I’m home. “What do you want me to do? Roman and I are both skilled—”
“No. Sergei is taking me to talk to the Bratva’s leaders. I want to make sure you can protect yourself when I leave.”
“Someone in your organization will try to hurt me? On a night like this?”
“They’ve already tried once. You need to remember, we’re always in an arena. When it’s all said and done, you and I will always leave as the victors.” I pull away from her. “We’re the predators, not prey, Malyshka.” I place a gentle kiss on her lips and motion for Sergei to take the lead.
We walk until the voices in the hall become small murmurs before we arrive at one of the small apartments in the palace.
“Wait here, Niko. The others will be here shortly.” Sergei opens the door and I walk in.
The room is old, frozen in time. It was built for royalty with gold leaf covering every surface except for areas not already covered in marble or crystal.
Arched ceiling, a ridiculously large chandelier dripping with hundreds— no thousands of crystals.
Ornate furniture upholstered in rich fabrics of gold, creams and sage green.
It smells like money. It feels like empires were discussed, negotiated and conquered here.
“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long, honey.” Quinn’s voice drips with seduction and something far more calculated than amusement.
This is what Sergei was plotting all along. Me alone with Quinn.
Out of all the nights. Out of all the moments. They had to pull this shit on the night my Queen gets to sit on her throne?
Fuck no .
“What the fuck do you want Quinn?” I snap.
Her movements blur until she’s directly in front of me. “You, silly.”
She runs a manicured nail down the front of my suit. I catch her wrist and push her back, forcing distance.
“Oh, you remembered I like it rough?”
“Quinn, I knew you were ambitious but never pathetic. Get the fuck out before my wife sees you—”
“And why should that matter, huh?!” she screams. “You’re mine Niko, I had you first.”
Gripping her arms, I shake her, hoping this will make her see reason. “I love Aspen. Even if I didn’t, there was never going to be a future for—”
Quinn lunges forward, crashing her lips on mine. She tries to use her tongue to pry my mouth open. I grab her shoulders, shoving her back—
CRASH.
Glass shattering echoes in the apartment.
I jerk away from Quinn, snapping my head towards the direction of the noise. My heart drops to my stomach, nausea rises in my throat.
Aspen stands there, her wine glass pooling around her feet. There’re small cuts on one of her toes from the glass shards. Her face is pale with shock.
No. No. Fucking no.
Whatever she thinks she saw, is not what it seems.
“Malyshka—” I move towards her. “Baby, let me explain.”
Quinn grabs my arm. “Honey, wait—”
The split second I took to look at where Quinn grabbed me and back to the door cost me. Aspen is already gone.
My fucking heart is gone.
“If you don’t choose me right here, right now,” she pulls my focus back to her, her voice dripping with venom and certainty. “Then you will have no one.”
My nails elongate to long points, with one swipe, I cut off her hand that held me back from going to my wife. From going to my bleeding heart.
“You’re a fucking dead woman walking, Quinn.”
I sprint out of the room, my shadows bursting from me.
They’re searching for her with me. I already felt like I was losing her, but this will only be the final nail in the coffin.
If I can’t fix this, cutting off Quinn’s hand will be the least of her worries.
I’ll make sure her death is long and excruciating tomorrow.
But she won’t be dying by my hands.
No.
Aspen will do us all the honor.