Chapter 36
Irelynn
I slap my hand on the table before I shoot up to stand, taunting, “Who’s the queen of Yahtzee?”
Luka laughs as Boris peers up at me from beneath bushy brows, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips even as he shakes his head. I feel even more pride, because Boris, I’ve come to realize, is a hard sell. But I’m making progress. Despite his attempts to keep me out, I’ve done my absolute best to be his friend.
Ilya has appointed him and Luka my guards, so I spend a lot of time with the men. It’s important to be friendly.
“Luck of the die,” Boris excuses.
“Oh, boo.” I roll my eyes, but I’m beaming like the sun.
Luka claps a hand against Boris’s broad back. “Don’t be a sore loser.”
Boris sends an almost playful fist into Luka’s gut. I giggle as I skip past Boris on my way into the kitchen to grab another of the warm-from-the-oven cookies Polina baked. On my way, I give his hair a ruffle, saying, “Don’t worry. I still like you, even if you lose every time.”
Polina gives me a wink as I snatch a cookie, fuel for another round, when Boris suddenly stands. His dark eyes are fixed on me as I take a nibble from my cookie, and he looks strangely stricken. I feel my smile fall as my brows furrow in confusion and worry.
“What’s—” I’d been about to ask what’s wrong when he shakes his head, turns, and leaves the kitchen.
I drop into my chair, wounded. I sigh, “I thought I was making progress.”
Luka stares at the entrance for a long moment, something dark pinching his expression. Then he turns to me. “Progress with what?”
Men can be daft sometimes.My heart feels heavy. “Boris.”
“What?”
“I don’t think he likes me.”
Luka nods slowly. Then he says, “Boris is a tough one. Don’t take it personally.”
Oh, but I am taking it personally. “What do you mean, tough one?”
“He’s—what do you call—he spends time with himself.”
“Introverted?”
“That’s it.” Luka toys with a die, flipping it with a single fingertip. “He’s always alone, but he’s watchful and good at his job.”
I sit in somber silence for a long moment. I’ve been here nearly two months. It’s December twenty-fourth, Christmas Eve in America. I’m feeling extra lonely and out of place, here in this place where, I’ve learned, they don’t celebrate Christmas until January seventh. It has something to do with the new and old calendar. Still, I’m really feeling the absence of the holiday, even though at home, I wouldn’t have done more than decorate my tiny tree with dollar store bulbs and a strand of, again, dollar store lights. Still, I would have splurged on a ham that Lucy and I would have shared.
I swallow my sigh as I force a smile, standing. “I’m going to go see the girls.” Luka stands with me, but I lift a hand. “You don’t have to come with me.”
“I do, Irelynn.”
“There are men all over the property, Luka. And I’ll have the girls with me. What could possibly happen to me here that I would need a guard?”
Luka simply stares at me for a long moment. Polina heaves a sigh and understanding dawns.
Oh, they think I might try to run.
It’s alarming that the thought hasn’t even registered these last weeks. Mostly, I’ve been content with my place here.
I’ve been falling for the monster who captured me heart and soul.
“Right.” I cast my gaze to the window. Then, saying nothing at all, I head for the entrance.
I feel heavy and sad. I need fresh air, and I need to talk to someone.
The girls always listen.