Page 163 of To Catch A Rogue

And no doubt want to know why her favored Master of Ravens was dead.

"You'll be safe?" Lark asked, the breeze stirring a strand of dark hair across her face.

"Don't worry about me. I am very good at surviving."

"Thank you," she blurted. "For everything."

Instantly, the smile disappeared, his eyes hardening as he surveyed the Rogues who were gathered on the lawn. "You should not thank me. It was not entirely noble in cause. I am a Prince of the Blood now. It benefited me to help you."

Of course it did. She'd seen the look on his face as Sergey drove the sword between her legs. Sometimes you had to look in a man's eyes and not listen to what his mouth said.

It was eerie how well she could read him, but then they'd always been alike. She could recognize the faint walls he held between them, even now.

"I think there's someone waiting for you," he murmured, tilting his head toward the left.

Charlie rested his shoulder against the base of the stairs, his arms crossed nonchalantly over his broad chest. The wind fluttered his blond hair, and the weak afternoon sunlight gilded it. No doubt he sought to give her a moment with her brother. He was always thoughtful like that.

"He loves you," Nikolai murmured.

"And I love him," she replied, a smile breaking over her lips.

Time to let all her walls down.

Let them crumble, let them fade.

She had no need of them anymore.

"I am glad he was there for you."When I could not be, went unspoken.

"I wish you had someone like Charlie for yourself."

Nikolai breathed a laugh. "Your time in England has turned you soft. I have my loyal Wolves. That is enough."

That's what I thought too.

"Go to him. They will be boarding soon."

She drew back, glancing at Charlie once more. He was her future. Time to leave the past behind her.

"Irina."

She turned.

Nikolai tipped his head toward her in a slow salute. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye," she breathed, taking the moment to remember what he looked like.

And then she turned and slipped down the stairs into Charlie's arms before she could do something foolish. Like beg her brother to hug her.

* * *

Nikolai watchedhis sister climb the gangplank, unable to leave until she was aboard for some damned reason.

Footsteps echoed behind him, and the creak of wheels.

He turned, and there was the man they called Obsidian, resting in a wheeled chair, with his pretty fiancée pushing it.

"I can walk," Obsidian was insisting.