Page 32 of Gilded in Blood

The fabric carries his scent. Clean soap, cedarwood, and something distinctly masculine that is uniquely him.

The smell wraps around me almost as completely as the hoodie itself, warm and comforting in a way it has no right to be.

The drive to the restaurant is quiet. Ilya focuses on the road while I stare out the window, watching the city pass by.

Every now and then, the scent of him drifts up from the borrowed hoodie, and it takes every ounce of willpower I possess not to snuggle deeper into it and take a long, shameless breath.

It's already dark by the time we pull up to the restaurant, one the ones my family owns. It is upscale and completely closed to the public tonight.

The lack of cars outside and the subtle presence of my brothers’ men stationed around the perimeter make that obvious.

My heart beats faster with a mix of nerves and excitement as Ilya parks and comes around to open my door, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

The moment we step through the doors, I see my family. Calina is already standing, and the second our eyes meet, I break away from Ilya and run straight to her.

We crash into each other, hugging so tightly I can barely breathe. Tears prick my eyes. It’s been months since I’ve seen her in person, and it feels like forever.

“Calina,” I whisper, burying my face in her shoulder. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you more,” she murmurs, squeezing me tighter. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I tell her, pulling back just enough to look at her. She's glowing.

My brothers come over next. I hug Mikhail tightly, then Artyom, who holds me a second longer than usual, checking me over with that quiet intensity of his.

I tease them lightly about being jealous of my sister getting the first hug, and they both grumble good-naturedly. Even Maxim gives me a brief, warm embrace.

We settle around the large table. Maxim hovers near my sister like always, a formidable, constant shadow, protective and completely devoted.

Calina leans in closer to me, lowering her voice with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Nice outfit.”

I roll my eyes. “You have no idea.”

She laughs. “So… who is the hottie you walked in with? Is that the bodyguard I've heard so much about?”

I follow her gaze to where Ilya is standing a short distance away, speaking quietly with my brothers. Even from here, his presence is impossible to ignore, tall, broad, radiating controlled danger.

“Yup.”

Calina’s eyebrows rise. “Hmm. He’s hot.”

Maxim, who is never far from her, lets out a low, possessive growl. Calina immediately turns to him with a bright, teasing smile.

“Of course, I only have eyes for you, my love. You’re better. Much better.”

Watching them together makes something ache in my chest. The way Maxim looks at her, like she’s the center of his entire world. It’s everything I’ve secretly yearned for.

I’m so happy for my sister. Truly. When Maxim first demanded one of us as payment for the blood debt, he had chosen me.

But Calina sacrificed herself and took my place. At the time I was terrified for her. Now, seeing how deeply he loves and protects her, I’m endlessly grateful it was her.

He treats her like a queen. He makes her happy in a way I’ve never seen before.

I want that someday. That kind of love. That kind of devotion.

“Are you two having a fight? He's looking at you like he wants to reprimand you for something you did,” Calina comments.

I steal another glance at Ilya across the room. He’s watching me, those piercing eyes intense even from a distance.