Page 162 of To Catch A Rogue

She turned, and then there were arms around her, Charlie hauling her into his embrace. The familiar scent of his shirt hauled her back out of the past, as her bloodied knife dropped from her fingers. She didn't want revenge. Not anymore. She just wantedhim.

"You're safe," he breathed, kissing her forehead. "I've got you. Don't look."

Lark shuddered. "You came for me."

"Always." Another kiss to her temples. "Though I was expecting to have to slaughter half the Blood court myself. Didn't realize your brother was going to take that upon himself."

Sergey's scream cut off abruptly, sending a shiver down her spine.

"He's dead," Charlie told her. "You're safe."

Lark slowly looked up into his eyes. How could she even believe it? It seemed surreal after all these years...

But when she turned, Sergey lay still upon the floor.

Nikolai was breathing hard, his shoulders heaving as he crouched over the body with a bloodied knife. For a second she saw the darkness of his eyes. Not human. Not in this moment.

Her vicious, dangerous brother.

He would never accept her love, but he had stood at her side and for once.... It was enough.

The entire crowd stood silent, breathless even.

"Long live the new Prince of Tsaritsyn," Valentin Kosova called, reaching down to offer Nikolai his hand, and haul him to his feet.

Lark tried not to look at the remains of the previous one, smeared across the floor.

Nikolai slowly tilted his head toward her, then turned and limped onto the dais and seated himself in Sergey's chair. "Does anyone care to challengeme?" he demanded, blood spattered across his face and bare chest.

Nobody did.

He smiled, and gestured to Valentin Kosova. "Captain, take command of the remaining Imperial Ravens. And send for the English delegation. It seems I have something that belongs to them."

Chapter 31

Goodbyes were always hard.

Especially when she'd only just found him again.

Nikolai had to come. Surely he would see her off, despite the events of the day.

Lark watched the servant's race around the base of the airship as they inflated the balloon. She was running out of time to wait. Her fingers drummed against the marble bannister of the terrace, until she heard the familiar click of that cane behind her and released the breath she'd been half-holding.

"Your friends are eager to leave," Nikolai said, pausing at her side.

"We have injured."

And Balfour was still out there.

"Probably just as well. Questions are starting to be asked. Certain people are displeased. The Blood court just lost two of its most powerful members at the hands of your party."

"I'm sure the rest of the court is weeping."

"Or sharpening their knives," he said. A smile almost touched his lips.

Lark eyed the red velvet cloak someone had draped over his bare shoulders. "Couldn't find a shirt?"

"I need to present myself before the tsarina as the new Prince of Tsaritsyn," he replied. "She will wish to see my back."