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“You should try this one,” he says, holding it out to me.

I glance between the dress, him, and my sister, who looks ready to commit murder.

I take the dress, mumbling a thank-you, and follow one of the women behind a folding screen. The young woman extends her hand, offering to help me undress, but I instinctively recoil, my breath catching in my throat.

My scars itch, as if they’re desperate to be exposed, but I refuse to let them.

“Leave it. I’ll help her,” my sister mutters in a clipped, tense voice, slipping behind the partition.

The woman nods and steps away, leaving us alone as Nikolaï begins discussing something with Miss Lugovaya, the children resuming their noisy play.

Sienna starts unbuttoning my dress, her brow furrowed, her jaw clenched—she’s clearly furious.

“Sienna…” I start hesitantly.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing, Selina, but it has to stop,” she murmurs so softly I barely hear her.

I wince at her words. The truth is, I don’t even know what’s happening between Nikolaï and me.

She carefully pulls my arm free from my sleeve, mindful of my still-healing fingers. Just yesterday, Dr. Semionov had finally removed my cast, prescribing a cream to help with the lingering pain.

“We need to leave,” she continues in the same low tone as she unzips my dress.

I look up at her in shock.

“That’s what we’re going to do… in a week,miasorella.”

“No, Selina. We’re leaving tonight,” she interrupts, pulling the new dress over my head.

“What ? We can’t just up and leave like that without telling anyone—”

Sienna grips my arms tightly, her dark eyes locking onto mine, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Wake up, Selina ! We’ve known these people for barely two weeks. You think we can trust them ? Trust me,miasorella, the first chance they get, they’ll sell us out—because that’s in their nature. I’ve made that mistake too many times over the years, and it’s cost me dearly. I won’t let it happen again, not when you and Rafael are part of the equation.”

I feel my knees weaken as I catch the fear and suspicion she’s trying so hard to mask beneath her hardened gaze.

My lips tremble as I reach up to brush my fingers against her cheek, gently caressing her high cheekbone.

“What happened to you,tesoromio?” I whisper.

She freezes under my touch, her walls cracking for just a fleeting second—long enough for me to see that lost, trembling sixteen-year-old girl beneath them.

But just as quickly, she pulls away, rebuilding those impenetrable walls.

“Be ready tonight. I’ll come for you,” she says, zipping up my dress before leaving.

I let out a slow, unsteady breath, my trembling hands pressing against my stomach.

So, I’m leaving tonight ?

“Selina ? Are you alright in there ?”

Nikolaï’s deep voice suddenly snaps me back to reality, making me jump.

I take a deep breath and step out, smoothing down the fabric of the dress—so soft, unlike anything I’ve ever touched before.

I lift my gaze and freeze as his eyes trail slowly down my body, lingering at the modest neckline just above my chest before traveling up my throat and finally locking onto mine.