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My stomach hollowed as Tristan’s discovery came to mind. I had yet to tell Katerina the intruder’s identity. No prolonged time, in-depth analysis of varying phrasing or wording could nurture the reveal. At this moment, with her sorrowful tone, I couldn’t convey it.

Not now or ever.

“Would you like to talk about it?”

“Maybe.” She sighed and nuzzled into the curve of my neck. “We’ve just been having back-to-back fights. When I think we’ve solved one, another one comes up. I don’t know what to do anymore. Honestly, I don’t even think I can do anything with the way he’s going about it.”

“Is that what occurred on the grounds?”

She nodded. “We solved that problem. Or I thought we did. We just keep opening these cans of worms all because ofher.”

She’d mentioned this ‘her’ before, though never touched upon it. I never sought to as it proved to be a tricky subject. We fell silent, the traveling wind engulfing our surroundings.

“Do you remember when I said there were things no one knows, not even me?”

“Yes.”

“I wasn’t lying, but I wasn’t completely honest. Promise you won’t ask any questions.”

I nodded and tightened my grip around her hand. “I promise.”

“I. . . I have this medical condition, or that’s what the doctors think, that causes me to—” She cleared her throat. “It causes me to go on these rampages. You’ve seen them. Well, for the most part, they’re out of my control. I have medication, of course, but they don’t always. . .work.

To maintain it, Lace implemented a set protocol where my cousin would practically be my guardian. Sort of like now.”

She paused and looked up at me, my jaw tightening as my throat briefly confined a breath. The new greedy sensation flared through my bones as the thought of someone else closer to her undertook me.

“Who’s Lace?”

“I’m talking about a rare medical condition, and you focus on that?” She chuckled. “You might know him as one of the Fernandez’s, the CEG big bosses. He’s also my best friend. He’s helped my cousin and I with a lot.”

“Do they call you Nina?” It had been another burning question, this one more bothersome than the other. Why, I’m not quite sure.

“Yes, they do,” she said, her voice lowering.

One more inquiry slipped my lips, “Do your friends call you that, too?”

She huffed and bumped her shoulder into mine. “As if I have any friends. I’m just as distant as you were in the beginning!”

I chuckled, a smile resting on her lips. “Does that mean Tristan and I aren’t your friends?”

“Tristan’s an ally and a great coworker; I don’t know about friend, though.” She narrowed her gaze. “And you, I could consider you a friend, but I don’t think that’s right. . .”

“Is that why I refer to you as Katerina? Because we’re not necessarily friends nor allies?”

“Are you jealous that you’re not?”

“I believe so.”

“It’s cute coming from you,” she murmured and nuzzled closer. “I like the way you say my name, Alek. I like how it sounds normal. How warm it makes me feel inside.”

Slow waves resonated in our surroundings and encompassed us, the wind whispering along the still air and through the motions of our fingers interlacing with each other. `

“I hope this doesn’t steer you away,” she whispered under her breath. “But it’s the least I can share after all you’ve done for me. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Alek. For everything.”

“Thank you, Katerina, for sharing such sensitive details. I will cherish it like all of our promises— past, present, and future.”

Our eyes stumbled upon each other’s. The familiar squeezing impulse led my face to lean toward hers. Our breaths entangled, her heat swelling within the chilly air, emphasizing the desire and hunger that bridged together within me. They were unlike the variation I felt when fed, rather two halves knitting into a whole that Katerina awakened.