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In that moment, something inside of me swells, and I know this is the right path. We’re supposed to confront Leonid. If not us, then who? Who else would stand a chance against someone who can burn or electrocute anyone who attacks? Thinking about the zaps I’ve endured doesn’t normally inspire, but instead of frightening me in this moment, the fact that I endured them galvanizes me.
Together, we sit down and make a plan.
A plan to find out what Leonid really wants. A plan to defend all the people of Russia from this person who thinks he’s entitled to anything he can take. We can’t just let him take things that aren’t his and deprive others of what they need. We might be able to flee Russia and live in comfort and wealth in Latvia, but how many other Russians can do the same?
That night, when I lie down in my room, my brain won’t stop spinning. I think about the time when I was locked up. I think about my first interaction with Leonid. I think about the things Baba Yaga said, and the things Alexei said.
Over and over and over.
I review our plan—which seems pretty thin, to be honest. Mirdza goes as my maid? Who needs a lady’s maid in this day and age? They all think Leonid won’t think a thing about it. She’s then supposed to use some drug Grigoriy supplied to knock out the guards, and then she lets the men in through the side of the property. Thankfully, Aleksandr has some people who are good at hacking. Apparently they’re plentiful in Russia, but at least we know the layout of the house and grounds.
Once they’re inside, they’ll search for Boris and Mikhail, and of course, Katerina. Grigoriy’s quite good at searching, thanks to his wind power, and Aleks is decent at sussing out hidden basements and the like. They’ll pump anyone they find for answers, and then the three of them will unite and face off against Leonid, threatening to destroy him, basically.
It’s hard to know what more to do, since we don’t understand how he stole the power from the other two or what he plans to do now that he’s won the election and Russia’s about to fundamentally change. Which means we don’t really have much of a plan at all.
I hate it.
Which is why I’m still tossing and turning and not even close to sleeping. There’s a very soft tap on my door.
I hop to my feet and throw on a robe.
It’s a habit now, after staying in fancy hotels and houses for a while. But when I answer the door, it’s Alexei. A tiny thrill runs through me.
“Were you sleeping?” He looks nervous. My big, tall, handsome czar looks nervous.
I shake my head.
“It took longer than I thought, but I have something for you.” He’s wearing navy blue silk pajamas. His eyes have never looked more sapphire. “I was worried—the whole idea of taking you with me tomorrow, even though you have no powers—”
I grab his arm and yank him into the blue room.
He stumbles forward, bracing himself with one hand on the dresser, but his powerful chest and other arm still slam into me, pressing his hard angles against my soft ones. His eyes widen.
“Tomorrow’s going to be a long day. A dangerous day.” His voice is soft and low. “And I don’t want you going in there without any kind of protection.”
I swallow. “And?”
He opens his free hand, and I can’t help looking. “What’s that?”
“Dad wouldn’t let me share this spell, at least, not while he was alive, but I think he’d understand my reasoning.” Alexei reaches for my face, but his hands stop a little short. “Can I take a hair?”
That is not what I was expecting. “Um, sure?”
He yanks one out, a long one, and then carefully winds it around a deep red ruby. He waves his hand over them, and the hair disappears. “This necklace is a charm, now. I’ve spelled it with my water power, which will counter any attacks directly at your person from any fire, and Aleksandr spelled it with earth, which negates any electrical attacks.”
Water counteracts fire, and earth grounds electricity. Interesting. “Okay. How do I use it?”
He shakes his head. “You shouldn’t have to. It’s keyed to you, so if your safety is threatened, it will activate.”
Handy. “Well, thanks.”
He sets it on the top of my dresser, and this time, when he reaches for me, his hand doesn’t yank any hair out. It strokes the back of my head and pulls me closer. He kisses me then, and I lean closer, finally distracted from thoughts of tomorrow. My mouth opens against his, wanting more. When he crushes me even harder against him, I can’t help a small moan.
He freezes, and his voice against my ear is rough. “I needed to be closer to you. I missed sleeping next to you.”
“Yes.”
“But we can’t do anything stupid.”
