Page 163 of Stolen Empire

He was raised in a world of retribution and attack and I was raised in what feels like luxury now.

At the time I had no clue how bad or scary life could be.

And I hated my mother for running and moving.

Now I wish I could’ve just stayed with her and stayed hidden from all of this.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

I was stubborn and angry and prideful and I wish to god I could go back and undo that.

I want to go home.

And I want to feel safe again.

26

DIMITRI

Driving toward Zarechye, Katya sits staring out the window at the frozen landscape.

She’s been quiet for nearly an hour, lost in her own thoughts, and I don’t push her to talk.

Gavriil follows in the second vehicle behind us, three armed men riding with him.

The drive will take another forty minutes from this point, and I use the time to think through our strategy for when we get there.

"Tell me how this works," Katya says, finally after such a long time.

Her voice is calm, but I assume inwardly she's anything but.

All of this was just dumped on her in the last few weeks and even the strongest of men would be overwhelmed.

I glance at her briefly before returning my attention to the road.

"When we meet Artemy, speak clearly and directly. Answer his questions with honesty. Don’t apologize for who you areor where you came from. You don’t diminish yourself or your experience."

I don’t know the man, but if honor is something he prioritizes he'll at least listen to her.

"What will you do?" she asks, and that's when I hear the hint of apprehension in her tone.

She's probing to make sure I don’t leave her.

"I remind them of our alliance terms. If he's a wise man he will see the wisdom in it…" I adjust my grip on the wheel.

"But I won’t speak for you unless you ask me to. This is your family, not mine. I'm there to support the alliance, but you’re the one who carries his blood. It won't matter to him if I remind him of a pact his uncle made years ago. He'll have to see proof."

She nods slowly, processing the information.

"So Artemy will test us both. He'll want to see if you respect me as an equal or if you’re simply using me as a tool to further your own goals."

"I expect that," I say.

"He'd be a fool if he didn’t test me. Any leader worth his position protects his family fiercely. So yeah, he'll push and watch. He'll try to find cracks in my commitment."

She sighs and wraps her arms around herself, returning to the scenery we're passing.

"I'm not here because I'm using you, Katya. I am here because I refuse to let you face this alone. And if you want to turn around right now just say the word. You're not a pawn."