Page 168 of Sire

“My sweet grandson, Lev? Yes, I know about Katya taking Axel’s son. And now, let me guess; that’s where my other son is, trying to get his nephew back.”

How did she know?

I don’t have the breath to ask while relief floods me. “Yes, my Queen. But he’s…” The fear, too. “But Sire’s…”

Dammit, I’m trying to be brave, but the tears won’t stop. Please tell me it’s pregnancy hormones and not premonition. Please tell me I won’t be a young, widowed mom. I will. I’ll live on in Sire’s honor, but I don’t want to.

“He did what, darlin’?” Nadine jostles my hand. “I need to know. That boy would sell his soul to save me or his brothers, so what did he do?”

“His kidney,” I sniffle.

Nadine closes her eyes. “I should’ve known. It’s inhisfamily: a genetic kidney disorder.”

“He was going to take Lev’s,” I explain, “but his organs are too small, and Sire was a good match. He had all the tests done. The surgery was days ago, but then Sire got sepsis.”

Her pause scares me while calculations click behind her eyes. Her sons get that same lethal look. “So, he can’t be moved right now?”

“No, he can’t. The risk is too high. He needs to fight off the infection. He needs to get stronger.”

“Who is your contact over there? In Moscow, right?”

“Yes, and it’s Yakov, Ruslan’s new Sovietnik.”

She sits taller. “You let me handle this. Okay? I got more contacts than LensCrafters over there. We’ll get my medical team into that hospital. Our people who know what to do. He’ll be alright. You understand me?”

“Yes, my Queen. I understand.” I sit taller, too. “It’s just that…”

Sure, I had Nannie.

And I still have Dolly.

But I never had a real mom. I never had anyone tenderly shush away my tears after the kids made fun of me.

From the moment she wrapped a warm blanket over my shivering shoulders on the night I was rescued, Nadine has been the closest I’ve ever had to one. The only hug, smile, laugh, or tears I’ve ever shared with a woman who cared more about me than herself.

I don’t want to lose her.

I don’t want to lose my found family.

But I will protect my husband. Pinky for pinky. Soul for soul. Our love against the world. I’ll risk it all for him.

“You can’t tell Axel,” I demand. “You can’t tell anyone about any of this until Sire comes home. You’re not the queen in charge of this.” I lift my chin. “I am.”

Nadine pulls back, silent.

She wrests her hand away, leaving mine empty.

But I keep going. I keep risking. “I mean it. This is everything Sire has fought for, all by himself and for so long.Hewill be the one to tell Axel, and no one else. Give him the chance to make this right with his brother, to feel redeemed. You understand me?I’mhandling this.”

With a stony face, she blinks.

Slowly.

Deadly.

Weighing my warning.

I sit up even taller, meeting her glare.