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He moves closer. One step. Two. I’m already backed against the door.

“Try again,” he says quietly closing in.

Mypulse hammers in my throat. I can feel it beating against skin, loud and obvious and betraying.

He flicks the light on. My eyes burn from it. I squint.

He frowns, his eyes dark.

“What the fuck happened to your face?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

His hand comes up, fingers brushing my jaw. Gentle. Too gentle. I flinch anyway.

His eyes go cold.

“Who touched you?”

“No one—”

“Ayla.”My name is a warning. “Who. Touched. You.”

I keep my breathing shallow, trying not to wince as my ribs protest

I can’t... I can’t handle him right now. I’m barely standing. Everything hurts and Maksim is looking at me like he wants to murder someone.

There’s something in his eyes... something I haven’t seen in a long time—from anyone.

“Beda?” his voice is softer than I’ve ever heard it.

My eyes meet his.

“I need to rest.”

“You need a doctor.”

I shake my head. “No hospitals.”

He snickers and nods. “Yeah, we don’t do those.”

I try to push past him, but he doesn’t budge.

“Come with me.”

My shoulders drop. “Maksim please—”

“Come to my place, I have a doctor I know, you’ll be safe from whoever you’re running from.”

Safe.

I could laugh if it didn’t sting.

Safety and Maksim are not synonymous.

“Move,” I say.