“She was a part of Moscow society, just as my parents and I are. I didn’t know about you for a long time, but I always saw her wearing that necklace, even when it didn’t really go with her clothing for an event. When I saw it in my father’s things after the news of her death–having heard about you in an overheard conversation years ago–I knew that there was something there. And when I found out a Sasha Federova was here–”
Natalia shrugs lightly. “I’ve always been very good at piecing things together. I love mysteries. Maybe in another life, I might have been a detective.” She gives me a playful smile. “This was a mystery that was much easier to solve than I think our father would like to know that it was. And I was very certain, once I knew you were here and put it all together, that I couldn’t let him kill you.”
“I still don’t understand why he wants to,” I whisper softly, my hand clenching around the locket. “I’m no one–I can’t hurt him–”
“You can, in a way–you’re the proof of the affair he had with Nina Polovna, and that’s why he wanted you gone before you were even born. Back then, he wasn’t so powerful that her husband couldn’t have had him done away with…at the very least, kept from rising in the ranks. Now, he’s responsible for the murders of two influential members of Moscow society, to try to keep that indiscretion covered up. He could kill and torture more to ensure that no one used that against him–or he could simply kill you. It’s more efficient to do the latter, as he sees it, and our father has always been all about efficiency.”
Natalia gives me a small, sad smile. “You haven’t missed out on anything, having him as a father. The privileges of a fancy education and luxurious living, but I often don’t think it was worth it. I want out of here, too, before he marries me off to some man who will make me miserable for the rest of my life.”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t already,” I whisper grimly, and she laughs.
“I excelled at ballet and have been the prima here in Moscow. I just finished a run ofGiselle. An honor great enough for him to spare me marriage for a little while, at least. But my time is running out.”
I take a deep, slow breath. “Well, that explains one thing, at least.”
“What’s that?”
Slowly, I meet her eyes, trying to be certain that I’m making the right choice and that I’m not misplacing my trust again. “I wondered why you would risk everything to help me. I might be your half-sister, but you don’t know me. You’d lose so much, even your life, if you got caught. It didn’t make sense, but–”
“We’ll run away together.” Natalia flashes me a smile. “Or, at the very least, I’ll get you free of here, and then I’ll find another way out. But I need to know who I can go to for help, Sasha. It’s the only way.”
Now or never.If I trust her, I’ll lay so much on the line. I’ll risk so much for a chance. But as I sit there, sick and miserable, exhausted from living in a constant terror of a waiting doom, I don’t know if I can bear not taking that chance.
“Viktor Andreyev,” I say the name before I can change my mind again. “I worked for him. He might help me. He–he made me feel like a part of the family when I lived there. And his right-hand man, Levin Volkov. Levin is who he would probably send–” My voice trails off, a lump rising in my throat and cold grief gripping my chest at the reminder of the name I would normally have said first and can’t any longer.
Natalia raises an eyebrow, an expression on her face that looks almost impressed. “A powerful man and his wolf. That’s quite the combination. You’re a delightful surprise, little sister.” She reaches out slowly as if not to frighten me, like soothing a wild animal. Her fingers brush through my tangled, lanky hair, nudging it behind my ear as her soft, scented palm presses against my cheek. “I’ll get you out of here,sestra.I promise.”
“Do you really think you can?” I hear the faint, frightened hope in my voice, breaking through despite my best efforts to hold it back.
“I will do everything I can.” She closes her hand around mine, the one holding the locket. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for you–before. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop this from happening at all.”
“That’s not your responsibility.” I give her a careful, watery smile. “I’m lucky that you’re here at all.”
“I’m glad I could find a way to make you trust me.” Natalia gives me another of those bright smiles. “See,sestra?I accomplished that. I’ll accomplish this, too.”
She pats my hand and then leans towards the door, peering towards the hall where the new guards come from when it changes. “I need to go soon. Is there anyone else? Anyone I can try to find or talk to?”
That makes my chest clench all over again, the lump in my throat growing until I feel as if I can’t ever speak. I hadn’t meant to talk about Max, but something about Natalia’s gentleness, combined with the decision to trust her, makes the words spill out when they’re finally able to come.
“There was someone,” I say softly.
Natalia presses her lips together, giving me a knowing look. “What was his name?” she asks softly.
“Max,” I whisper it as if saying it too loud would hurt too much. “We met a year ago, when I came to live with Viktor and his family. He used to be a priest.”
Natalia gives me that raise of an eyebrow again that tells me she’s impressed. “Well then, Sasha. A priest? That’s sexy.”
That makes me laugh, a small bubble of humor that comes out as half laughter, half sob. “A former priest. But he–well–it made things difficult between us. He felt guilty all of the time. He tried to protect me, and we kept–he–”
“It’s okay.” Natalia’s fingers stroke the back of my hand soothingly. “You don’t want me to try to find him? Would Viktor or Levin know–”
That half-hysterical laugh and sob bubbles up again. “They would, if he–” I swallow hard, trying to force back the emotion that threatens to completely undo me. I look up, eyes watery, and meet Natalia’s gaze.
“He’s dead,” I say softly. “So no, you can’t reach him. He can’t help me now.”
“Oh–” Natalia’s eyes go wide and soft, sadness filling them. “Oh, Sasha. I’m so sorry.”
“He tried to protect me. It’s–” I shake my head, wiping at the tears welling up in my eyes. “We can talk about it later.” I tilt my chin up, trying to give her a brave expression. “We’ll have time when I’m out of here.”