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He exhales sharply, then cups the back of my neck, dragging me forward until our foreheads touch.

I close my eyes. It feels so fucking right, and that terrifies me.

"Good." His voice is quieter now, rougher. "That means you still have something to lose."

I’m lost. He’s caught me.

"If it makes you feel any better, a part of me feels like an outcast too. My brother was once one of us."

"Once?" I ask. "What happened?"

Matvei’s eyes darken to storm clouds, more gray than blue. His brow furrows, and he runs his thumb along my cheek like it soothes him. Like I’m his little good-luck charm. His fidget toy.

"He betrayed us. Suffered the ultimate punishment."

"I’m sorry."

“I’m not. It had to happen.” He looks away. “My parents will never forgive me.I’llnever forgive myself."

So his brother betrayed them. And Matvei was the one who acted as the enforcer. Served the punishment.

That’s fucking brutal. My heart aches.

I whisper, "That’s why your parents hate you."

He shrugs and smirks, but it’s not a real smile. His eyes are sad. And a part of me wants to make it better.

"Eh, they always liked my brother better."

I wonder what the ultimate punishment is for betrayal when you’re one of them. It wouldn’t be a fine, or jail, or something civilized. No.

They must hurt them, beat them, do something physically painful. And then kill them or something. Right?

His own little brother.

My mind is spinning a mile a minute. I’m about to meet my sister. What if she hates me? What if we’re nothing alike?

And my mother… I have a mother.

I’m an absolute ball of nerves thinking about facing Rafail and Polina in their own house.

"Do we have to do this?"

I’ve never been this vulnerable around him. Not after everything we’ve been through.

When he brushes his thumb along my cheek again, I feel wetness.

I’m crying.

Oh my god, I’m crying.

I hate that.

"Are you really that afraid, beautiful? My little witch?" His lips twitch. "Cast a spell and protect yourself."

Then, softer. "And trust me. You’ll be fine."

The depths of his loyalty—it’s hard for me to understand. He killed his own brother? For love of the Bratva?