Page 67 of Then We Shatter

I prowl over to the window and tuck my shoulder-length hair behind my ears. My hairstylist had managed to tidy up my hacked locks before her unfortunate accident. I’d told her twice that I didn’t want hair extensions, and she’d blatantly ignored me. When she tried to attach the first section, what else was I supposed to do?

“I only snapped one finger. The rest are just bruised. She shouldn’t have kept ignoring me,” I say switching the conversation from Russian to English for my dressmaker’s benefit.

“I’ll get to work,” Vivienne says, making a hasty exit with the skirt she needs to alter.

Vasili joins me at the window and takes my hand to examine my nails. “Do not embarrass me, niece.”

I’ve had another manicure and unsurprisingly, the nail technician understood my requirements perfectly this time. My crimson claws glint in the late sunshine.

“This marriage doesn’t just guarantee your place as my rightful heir. It justifies your very existence,” Vasili says, dropping my hand. “If you fail in your duties again, there will be no second or third chances. I might just adopt Sasha as my successor. She’d be far more capable.”

“I’ve been telling you that for years,” Grigor chimes in.

And I wonder why.

“It would be my honor,” Sasha says, fluttering her eyelashes.

I’m about to hurl a threat that would involve my new nails and her throat when Emily appears.

“I thought you might like a bite to eat,” she says in her ever-so-cheery voice as she sets down a tray.

I’ve been provided with what looks like a bland green salad, some diced up tropical fruits and a green smoothie that either contains all my essential macros, or is spiked to turn me into the submissive bride my uncle promised. My money is on the latter.

My suspicions are reinforced when Emily hands me the smoothie and waits for me to drink it like a good girl.

“We don’t want you fainting before you can say your vows,” Vasili presses.

Sasha’s expression is the most readable because I know all her tells. She bites her lower lip and her eyebrow arches, reflecting the eagerness of the others in the room. Except Grigor, who’s just discovered he has every reason to hope I’ll fuck this up.

As I bring the glass to my pursed lips, I walk over to examine the rest of the food. I don’t let a drop of the green slurry pass my lips and when I’m done with the pretense, I lean over the tray and empty some of the smoothie into the green salad.

“You can all go now,” I announce.

“Oh, I’m not sure–” Emily starts.

“What a good idea,” Sasha says, marching over to a chest of drawers where I’d hidden the gift bag she gave me. “You need some alone time, and I did promise Eric I’d have his bride primed for action.”

Her grin is too smug when she takes out the crocheted eggplant and unties the fastening to get at the contents. I still haven’t been able to look at what she’s hidden inside, but I don’t much like that she’s touching what once belonged to me.

“There’s another little toy in here somewhere,” she says, almost to herself. “Now, where is it?”

I’m shaking my head as Sasha sets down my egg vibrator. I don’t know why she’s doing this. “Everyone out.” My chest heaves as I suck in a breath. “Now!”

“I made sure it was fully charged,” she says happily.

My expression must be quite a sight to make the pakhan of the Bratva baulk. “Fine, we’ll give you space,” he says reluctantly. “Bring yourself under control, Katarina. Remember you’re a Barkov.”

As if I could forget.

My unwelcome visitors file out one by one, and Emily is the last to leave. “Please try to finish your smoothie,” she says. “And I’ll send the makeup artist to you in one hour. There can’t be any hold ups. We’re expecting another storm later and Eric is going to be so disappointed if we don’t manage to have the ceremony outside.”

Me too. But one thing is for certain. The storm is coming.

Chapter 25

Killian

Before