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“And after that, I’ll be free to go?”

“Go where?” Alexei asks. “Back to Latvia?”

I nod. “It’s home.”

“But you heard all that,” Mirdza says. “Alexei won’t be able to use his magic without you, and there’s a villain who wants to kill Kristiana.”

“I figure that’ll keep him pretty busy here, which means I’ll be safe to head back.” I shrug. “You should come with me.”

“You won’t stay and help Alexei?” Kristiana asks.

I stand up. “Here’s the thing. You two are both very kind. You’re generous. You’re big-hearted. I love that about you, and I’m sure Aleksandr and Grigoriy do as well.” I shrug. “I’m not any of those things, and while I appreciate that you’re in a bit of a bind, it’s not really my problem.”

“Would it kill you to do the right thing for once?” Mirdza asks.

The right thing.

An image comes to mind of when I was on my knees, begging God for help. I promised I would do the right thing, three times. I vowed that when someone needed help, if he helped me, I would pay it back. This feels like a kick in the teeth, though.

I don’t even believe in God. It’s never been my thing.

Until I thought I was about to die, and then I got down on my knees and begged for help. And Boris did wash me off just as he had before. I found that clothespin just when I needed it. Then a magical horse showed up to save me.

I groan. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

If it’s being at Alexei’s beck and call, then this counts as all three nice things. Having to cater to some guy who has delusions of grandeur and needs me to hold his hand so he can perform magic?

It’s definitely all three.

“Because there’s no way I’m going to—”

“Calm down,” Mirdza says. “He just needs a little help getting acclimated to life in this century.”

“What does that mean?” I can’t help my frown. I didn’t promise to be happy about doing the right thing.

“Go with him to the dentist,” Kristiana says.

“Take him shopping and help him pick some clothes.”

“So we’re not talking about, like, helping him fight Leonid and try to reclaim the Russian throne, or whatever?”

All of them shake their heads.

“As if I’d let you risk yourself that way,” Alexei says.

I lean over the edge of the table so my face is right in front of his. “Let’s get one thing straight, though, mkay?”

He frowns, his gorgeous brows drawing together over those stunning eyes.

“You don’t get to let me do a single thing. The only person who gets to decide what risks I take is me.” I stare.

He blinks, confusion setting in.

“I’m not a dog, or a servant, or one of your little subjects. The next time you say you won’t let me do something, I’m gonna take a crop to your happy-to-be-scratched backside.”

Alexei swallows.

I turn around and march out the door, because that’s what you do when you make a big declaration like that. Only, now I’m alone in the hall, and there’s some kind of servant staring at me.