Page 128 of Cruel Juliet

My mother’s face flashes back into my mind. Then Lara’s. “Yeah,” I murmur. “It does.”

We sit there for a moment. The steam from our tea curls up between us.

This conversation feels surreal. And yet, it also feels honest. Like we’ve finally come to an understanding. Not quite forgiveness, maybe, but something close. A start.

Kira finishes the last of her tea. Her eyes are still red, but her breathing has evened out. When she finally looks at me, there’s a small, tired smile on her face. “Thank you,” she says softly. “For the tea. And for not walking away.”

I shrug, try to play it off. “Didn’t seem right to leave.”

“Well, I appreciate it. Really.”

There’s a pause, the kind that feels too long. I could leave now. Ishouldleave. Pat myself on the back for a job well done, earn my gold star for the day.

But Kira still looks fraught, and I can’t leave her like this. I just can’t.

“If you need anything,” I hear myself say, “I’d be happy to help. Really. With Dimitri or—anything else.”

Kira blinks like she didn’t expect that. “Really?”

“Of course,” I say. “We’re family, aren’t we?”

The word catches in my throat.Family.It’s still new. Strange, in a way.

But I’d better get used to it again. Because that’s what Petyr and I have built. And it doesn’t stop at just Lilia and us. It involves Dimitri, and Kira, and any kids they might have in the future. They’re Petyr’s blood, and that makes them mine, too.

Kira seems taken aback, even more so than before. But then her lips curl upwards. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she looks almost smug, but it’s probably just a wobbly smile.

“You’re right. We are. And I’m glad we talked.”

“Me, too.”

It’s the truth. Making peace with Kira is a weight off my shoulders. One less source of tension in the household.

Maybe I’ll try watering Anya’s beloved rose bushes next. We might yet bond around organic fertilizers.

Kira stretches, like she’s been holding herself together for too long. “I’m going to lie down for a bit. Today’s been… a lot.”

“Of course,” I tell her. “Get some rest.”

She hesitates in the doorway before turning back. “Sima?”

“Yeah?”

“I meant what I said. I’m really glad we talked.”

I nod, and she disappears down the hall.

I rinse our mugs and venture back upstairs. In the nursery, Lilia’s still asleep. I lean over the crib and brush a curl of hair from her forehead. She sighs but doesn’t wake.

God, she’s the cutest in the whole world.

My words from earlier echo in my head.Family.

She deserves that. A family that loves her, one that doesn’t fall apart like mine did. If that means learning how to be kind to Kira, then that’s what I’ll do.

For Lilia.

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