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His blue gaze searches mine, brows furrowed in concentration. “I love you, malishka. Never forget that. If you choose to die, you choose my death sentence, too, because I refuse to live in a world without you in it.”
“That’s a manipulative thing to say.”
“I will use all the devious and underhanded tactics at my disposal to convince you to stay. I will not play fair, especially when it comes to your life.”
There is no trace of humor on his face, nor is there any on mine. We stare at one another in a battle of wills, though it’s evident we want the same thing.
To be together.
But there are forces at work that want nothing more than to see us apart. And if they win, I’m not sure I could survive another heartbreak.
When Alek and I leave school together, he’s careful not to touch me. However, as we walk toward his car in the parking lot, we earn some curious glances from the other students, and I know Alek is secretly loving it.
We haven’t revealed our relationship to anyone except a select few, but everyone can see I belong to him.
“Willow, wait up!”
On the lawn, I turn around to see Prisha waving me down. She slows when she sees Alek standing close behind me like a bodyguard.
“Oh, are you leaving already?” she asks, avoiding his gaze. “I have a new book to lend you.”
“Maybe tomorrow at lunch?” I ask. “Alek is tutoring me.”
Come to think of it, I didn’t see her in the dining hall today.
“Uh, sure,” she says. “Maybe. I’ll see you around.”
She pushes up her glasses before turning her back, clutching a textbook to her chest as she hurries away.
“Come on, malishka. Let’s go.”
I give Prisha one last look before following Alek in the opposite direction, where he leads me to his sleek Maserati in the faculty parking lot. He opens the passenger door for me to climb in.
“Where are we going?” I ask once he’s settled in the driver’s seat.
“My house.”
Alek calling the President’s Estate “his house” is like calling a million dollars pocket change.
“I thought we were avoiding your dad?” I ask.
He starts the engine, which roars to life around us. “My parents left for vacation in Paris this morning, so we have the estate to ourselves.”
I do a double take. “Vacation? After what happened on Saturday?”
His hands tighten on the steering wheel as his jaw sets. “Yes. Ill timing for Andarusia, but great for us.”
I think about what type of leader Alek will be when he ascends to the presidency one day. Will he follow in his father’s footsteps? Or will he be the one to break the cycle and turn things around for this country?
And if we’re destined to be together forever, what does that mean for my role in all this? Will I become the first lady of Andarusia? Do I even want that?
Alek peels out of the parking lot at top speed, and as Mrs. Marshmallow crosses the asphalt, she jumps out of the way, seeking refuge behind a small sedan. I can’t help but laugh at the horrified expression on her face in the side mirror as we race away.
“Next time she should think twice before asking Dmitry Volkov to tutor you.”
My smile falters, and I glance over at the demented grin on his face. This is Alek’s violent side, though he could have done much worse to Mrs. Marshmallow if he’d wanted to.
And he would get away with it because of who he is.
