Artem
My men take advantage of the moment and move on Budimir’s soldiers. With their boss dead, most of them give up immediately.
The few who struggle or attempt to run are cut down immediately.
But I’m not concerned with anyone but Esme.
I rush towards her just as she turns to me, her gold eyes meeting mine freely now.
“Artem,” she gasps as my arms engulf her.
I hold her tightly for a long time. Eventually, I lean back so I can look down at her face. She’s got tears swimming in her eyes, but they don’t fall.
“Are you okay?” I ask, aware of the way her body is shaking.
“I… I think so,” she replies. “It’s… it’s a lot.”
I nod. “You’re okay now,” I tell her. “You were amazing.”
She smiles against the tears. “Did you believe me?”
I shake my head. “Deep down, I didn’t.”
She looks at me with a dazed expression and I know she’s still processing everything that’s happened. It’ll be years before she truly gets a grip on things.
But we have that time now.
“Esme,” I say gently. “Where’s Phoenix?”
“Svetlana,” Esme answers, to my surprise.
“What?”
“Svetlana found me in the room I was being held,” she explains. “She’s the one who killed Eagle Tattoo and gave me the knife. I told her to take Phoenix and keep him safe.”
She’s talking fast and erratically, but I don’t press her for more information. I’m content with the knowledge that Phoenix is safe.
For the first time, I glance down at Budimir’s lifeless body. I feel a snarl ignite on my face at the sight of his pale, bloodless face.
In death, he has been stripped of the power and strength he seemed to possess. He just looks like a sad old man now.
“His death was too quick and too kind,” I whisper, mostly to myself.
Then I feel Esme’s hand against my cheek. She forces my eyes from Budimir and back to her.
“He’s dead,” she says. “Isn’t that enough?”
“I wanted him to suffer.”
She flinches a little, but before she can say another word, someone clears his throat behind us.
I turn to see Adrik.
“Yes?”
“We’ve got Budimir’s men rounded up,” he tells me.
“How many?”