Page 108 of Marrying the Savage

The terrace feels enormous without him. Too much sky. Too much water. Too much distance between me and anything solid. I sit back down because my knees feel untrustworthy. My fingers curl around the edge of the bench, and the ring knocks against the stone with a soft, heavy click.

I stare at it.

Grigori’s wife hates me. Or maybe she is afraid of me.

Maybe those are the same thing in this house.

The doors open again behind me, and for one stupid second, I think Maksim has come back. Instead, one of Damir’s guards steps out.

“Madam,” he says.

I close my eyes briefly. “Sofia.”

He hesitates, then chooses cowardice and continues, “You should come inside.”

“Why?”

“The wind.”

I look at him. He looks back without expression.

“The wind,” I repeat.

“Yes.”

“This house has the worst liars.”

His jaw tightens.

Before I can push further, noises rise from downstairs. Not from the terrace. From inside.

Voices. A door opening hard enough that even from here I hear it strike the wall. The sound of men entering with urgency they are trying and failing to hide.

My entire body goes cold.

Damir.

I move before the guard can say anything.

He steps in front of me. “Madam⁠—”

“If you call me that one more time, I’m going to throw myself off this terrace and haunt you specifically.”

That seems to startle him.

Good.

I slip past him into the house.

He recovers quickly, following me down the corridor. “You can’t go downstairs.”

“Watch me.”

“Mr. Volodin gave instructions.”

“Mr. Volodin gives many instructions. It seems like a hobby.”

“Madam—”