“Mira…”
“It’s okay, dear. My plans haven’t changed, and you just walked right into my trap.”
“What are you talking about? I don’t understand. What’s going on, Mira?”
Her face changes, morphing into someone I don’t recognize. “I’ve always known you weren’t the real Anastasia.”
I stand, sucking in a sharp breath that stings my lungs. “How did you know?”
“Because the whole thing was my idea.”
What the hell is she saying to me?
“What was your idea?”
“To kill your parents and take you.”
Stars speckle my vision, and I back away. “No, it can’t be. No. You did that to me?”
“Yes. As it stands now, it doesn’t matter who you are. Mischa or Anastasia. Uther legally adopted you as a precautionary measure, so you are still his heir and I still get what I want.”
“What do you want?”
“The oil company,” comes a voice from behind me.
I whirl around and come face to face with Viktor, who catches my wrists.
He smiles, baring his teeth.
“Viktor…”
“Yes, baby. You won’t get away from me this time.”
“This time?”
“It was me who chased you through the woods.”
More shock grips me, and I don’t know how my head hasn’t exploded yet.
“You?”
“It was me. Of course, I didn’t mean for you to get hit by a car. But it was convenient that you forgot. Until now.”
“You bastard.” I look from him to Mira, and my stomach twists like someone rammed a wrench inside me and churned up my guts. “You’re both evil.”
“I suppose we are.” His grip tightens around my wrists. “I told you I was going to get you back. And look at you here in my arms. You won’t be keeping that baby, though.”
“No, let me go!” I pull hard, trying to break free of his grasp, but he yanks me to him, and I crash into his chest.
“Never. I meant it when I said I loved you. You are mine now, Anastasia. You will never see my brother again.”
“No.”
He presses a finger to my throat, pushes into the pressure point there, and in seconds, blackness fills my vision.
My last thought is of Desmier.
And our baby.