Page 130 of Gilded in Blood

Immediately all attention shifts to her.

“Can I feel it?” Calina asks excitedly.

Irina nods, taking Calina's hand and putting it on her belly.

“Me too.” I scoot closer, placing my hand gently over the curve of her belly.

For a second, nothing. Then suddenly, a tiny thump presses against my palm. I gasp.

“Oh my God.”

Another little kick. Calina's eyes widen. “I felt that!”

“It never gets old,” Irina says, rubbing absentmindedly over her own stomach.

Kira smiles knowingly. “Give it a few months, and you’ll be begging them to stop kicking your ribs.”

We all laugh.

“We should actually get in the pool instead of just staring at it.”

Calina’s suggestion is met with immediate agreement.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Kira says, pushing herself to her feet with a small grunt.

We slip our feet out of the water and head toward the house together. Oleg is still running around the garden with Boris, while the men remain seated at the table.

We’re halfway to the patio doors when I hear my name.

“Milana.”

I glance over my shoulder. Arytom is walking toward me.

“I’ll catch up with you,” I tell the others.

I turn back to my brother. “What’s up?”

He stops in front of me. “I need to talk to you.”

A tiny knot forms in my stomach. “Is everything okay?”

His expression softens. “No.” Then he huffs. “I mean… yes. Everything’s fine.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re confusing me.”

Instead of answering, his gaze shifts over my shoulder. Instinctively, I follow it.

Kirill is still seated at the table with Maxim and Mikhail. Whatever Maxim is saying has him listening intently, but even from here, I catch him glancing in our direction.

His eyes meet mine for a brief second before returning to the conversation. When I look back, Artyom is watching me.

“This Kirill…”

My heartbeat picks up slightly. “What about him?”

“I know I’ve asked you before. But I want to ask you again.” He studies my face for a long moment. “Do you really love him?”

The question catches me off guard. I don’t even have to think about the answer. “Yes.”