“You went home with him,” Ilana said quietly.
It was not a question, so I held her gaze. Zhenya was completely silent throughout the conversation because she was one of the two people who knew about it.
“Yes. I did.”
The word fell into the center of the table like a stone dropped into still water.
Misha’s mouth fell open. “You what? Who are you and what have you done with my sister?”
Timofey blinked slowly. “Well.”
Iosif didn’t raise his voice because he didn’t need to. His silence and calm were commanding enough for everyone to be silent and focus on him.
“Was he rough with you?”
“No.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“No.”
“Did he threaten you?”
“No.”
Avgust leaned forward slightly. “Then what did he want?”
I swallowed.
“Me.”
The honesty surprised even me, and the room went very still. Ilana watched me carefully without a single speck of judgment on her face. In fact, I could see that she was the most understanding out of everyone. She placed her hand on mine in quiet support, and I truly appreciated that. It felt as if my brothers were adamant on turning this into a huge thing when it clearly wasn’t.
“That’s not something you gamble on,” Avgust said.
“I didn’t gamble.”
“You left with a stranger and went to his house, Elisse. You know better than anyone else how dangerous that is for anyone, but it is even more dangerous for someone like you.”
“Yes, Iosif. I am aware.”
“You are a Chernykh.”
“There it is,” I said quietly. The surname that comes with an invisible weight stitched into my spine.
Iosif’s voice softened slightly. “Being a Chernykh means people see opportunity where you see freedom.”
“I know.”
“Then why?” he asked.
I hesitated.
Because how could I explain that for one night, I hadn’t been Elisse Chernykh. I had just been Elle, and he didn’t know who I was or what name or family I belonged to. I had chosen him because of chemistry, not blood.
“Because I wanted to,” I said finally, once again causing everyone to grow silent. It wasn’t anger that filled the room, but concern and fear, which only made it all worse.
Timofey leaned back again, though the humor didn’t fully return to his face. “Did he know who you were?”
