Page 107 of Serpent & Saviors

Nikola slapped him on the back. Ivan cleared his throat and signaled her, and she scampered over to him. I still couldn’t wrap my head around their dynamic, but every day it became clearer that it worked for them all.

Within seconds of being in front of Ivan, Kinsley’s eyes became hard and cold. He whispered in her ear, giving her a pep talk. Small bits of their conversation made their way over.

“No, you can’t…we talked about this. He is a…I know…sniveling coward…”

In direct contrast, Isabella was checking Pasha’s scar. She reached up and pushed a strand of hair back from his face, which was stoic. Hers was etched with concern. He was once more wearing the two different colored contacts and was in character. One I knew in my heart Cameron would fear.

“You okay, angel?”

Andrew stepped in front of me, and I collapsed into his embrace. A part of me wanted nothing more than to have hatred coursing through my veins for Cameron, and I did, just not rage, at least not right at that moment in time.

“I am now. I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Then you don’t have to. This is your choice, not Kinsley’s, not Isabella’s, not mine. Yours.”

“I know, but I want to try.”

“We’re taking two cars, so as soon as you girls are done, you’ll be going with Marcus to wait while we finish up,” Andrew said.

I nodded, feeling a tiny bit of relief at his words.

“Where the fuck is Bash?” Alek barked.

The sound of heavy boots approached, and Sebastian stood there. His anger had burned out, leaving behind something quieter, something heavier. His eyes landed on Isabella first. Andy sighed. The look he gave her was like he was still struggling to reconcile the sister he’d always known with the truth he hadn’t.

He exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair.

“He’s managing, angel.”

Andrew sensed my worry and soothed the unspoken. “When Kinsley came to live here, she was still struggling with nightmares. He’s dealt with a few of the worst, so now knowing Bella was there…”

“If it makes it any better, she was never beaten. They always used those as lessons. Not that she wasn’t terrorized well, you know the details…” My voice trailed off.

“Ladies, I need you to listen closely.” Alek’s commanding presence settled the soft chatter. “I understand that on very deep and intricate levels, this is personal for you, but there are rules I’m going to insist be followed. We have something specific in mind for the coward. I’m in no way minimizing the need you have for revenge, but I must insist you don’t take matters into your own hands. Understood, Kinsley Anya?”

Her brow furrowed momentarily and then relaxed as Ivan massaged her shoulders. “Fine, but I think it’s only fair we’re allowed to watch?”

All the men, save Ivan, bellowed the word, “No.”

Kinsley pushed Ivan’s hands off her shoulders and stalked over to me.

“We have every right. He locked her in a cage, a coffin cage. My season sister slept that way for years. I want to suffocate him. I want him to be put in the same box he put her in. He branded her with his fucking initial. Damn prick.”

An intense anger burned through her, but she was nowhere near done.

“While Victoria reads her statement, we’re going to dip this…” she pulled the intricate wired letter V from her strap, “into the fire until it’s red hot and jab him over and over in his ugly—”

“Dostatochno,” Alek bellowed. “I swear, young lady, you will listen, or I’ll lock your ass in the playroom, and you can await my punishment, Ivan’s night or not. I’m still the boss of the damned Death Squad. With a flick of my wrist, Marcus will drag your ass to the car before you can even blink.”

“But that’s not…”

I looped my pinkie through hers and squeezed, silently telling her to let it go. Isabella pushed through the group and stood proudly next to Kinsley.

“It’s for me. The branding mark. It’s mine to give. No, I didn’t ask her, but she knows me well enough to know that it dances in the outer corners of my mind. I reserve the right to inflict it, should I choose to.”

Isabella squared her shoulders and glared at Alek. Something in her stance and her eyes conveyed the seriousness of the request, and he could do nothing but acknowledge it. He gave a jerk of his head.

The dark-haired girl’s chest rose and fell. “But outside of that, we will defer to you.”