Page 124 of Nikola

I nodded, and we made our way into the waiting car.

The ride home was spent in silence. There were so many things I wanted to tell him, but I simply couldn’t find the words. Could we tackle whatever life threw our way or would he push me away again when we faced troubles?

Oblivious to my internal turmoil, the car pulled up in front of the Nikolaev compound.

Once he opened the car door, without thinking, I offered, “Let me help you.”

His body tensed and he faced me with a dark expression. “I’m capable.”

I flinched as if I’d been struck, but I forced myself to stay calm as I signed, “Of course you are.”

My lip trembled and my throat burned with hurt as I watched the dispassionate way he shifted his wheelchair over to a platform. He’d changed a lot, and I wasn’t quite sure whether it was for the better. I missed the old Nikola, the crazy and wild one. This one was too somber, too meticulous. Almost calculative.

I stared as he pressed a button, and then slowly his wheelchair was transported out of the car. I exited the car, letting my gaze lock on the Nikolaevs’ beautiful home while I waited, wondering where all this was going. Maybe coming here was a mistake. Maybe Nikola and I were never meant to be.

Then why does my heart ache so bad whenever I think of life without him?

I’d been so caught up in my thoughts that I was startled when a hand tugged on mine. My eyes lowered to Nikola’s inked fingers intertwined with mine, my name on his ring finger.

My gaze met his. “I’m sorry, Skye. That was uncalled for.”

“Yes, it was.”

“I have much to apologize for.” He pushed his other inked hand through his short pale hair. “And much to learn. For starters, I have to learn to accept help without a grudge.”

I folded my arms across my chest and nodded my head. “Yes, you do. Everyone’s hurting, Nikola, and we want to help.”

I could fall to my knees and tell him I forgive it all, but I didn’t think it would serve me in the long run. I didn’t want to have a repeat of the last several months. Nikola had to get itinto his thick head that if we were to spend our life together, we would handle everything like a true team. True partners.

“Duly noted. Let’s go in, shall we?”

The moment we entered the manor, Vasili and Isabella were there waiting for us. I didn’t even have a chance to lift my arms before Isabella pulled me into a hug and her husband wrapped both of us in his big arms.

“Welcome,” she finally said. “We promised your parents we’d take good care of you.”

I smiled.

“You always do.” Then I gazed around the foyer until I met another set of eyes and a wide smile pulled on my lips. “Sasha!”

“You didn’t think I’d stay away when my princess is home.” Vasili and Isabella released me from their warm hug and I made my way toward him. “I’ve missed you.”

“We just saw each other over the holidays.”

He shot me a stern look.

“That was two months ago. Longest I’ve gone without a visit from you.” He pecked my forehead, then continued, “Branka and Damien wanted to come, but the little rascal had some school shit to catch up on. Apparently he’s been playing video games over the past few months and got behind on schoolwork.”

I chuckled, my eyes inadvertently finding Nikola’s in the shared memory. It seemed so long ago, a different lifetime, yet only yesterday.

“He’s much like his sister at that age,” Nikola stated.

Sasha’s pale gaze found Nikola and gave him a curt nod. “Good to see you, Nik.”

Nikola nodded somberly, then pinned them all with a look. “Skye and I will be eating dinner in the library. Alone.”

“Oh, can I get some cookies for you two?” Isabella offered eagerly.

I winced, exactly aware of how those cookies would taste. I’d had the misfortune of tasting Isabella’s cooking once. Sasha had to wash my mouth out with tons of milk and warn me never to eat anything she cooks again. It wasn’t a lesson I would have forgotten anyhow.