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He offers a brief bow, emanating the scent of coal and iron.

“I was told I would find you here and came at once, moy barìn.”

I nod. Removing my gloves, I pass them to William without taking my eyes off Zver’. Then I approach Ivan.

“Let’s go,” I say. “Lucien needs to be there as well.”

Once in the library, I sit in the armchair and motion to him, but he remains standing with his hands behind his back, his posture rigid. My gaze rises slowly and comes to rest on his dark hair. It is too short and uneven.

It was not like that twelve days ago.

“What happened to your hair?”

“Zima.”

I press my lips together.

“My cousin Oskar,” I ask softly, “did he lay his hands on you?”

Ivan gives a minimal nod of his head.

I run a hand back through my hair. “That damned bastard.”

I reach for the brandy, the amber liquid oscillates as I pour it into the glass and draw it toward me. I take a sip, noticing that Ivan is watching the glass. But he says nothing.

He would never say anything.

I fill a second glass, pushing it in his direction.

“Drink, boy. I do not want you fainting before my brother crosses that threshold.”

His hands, blackened by coal, hesitate over the crystal. Finally, he grasps it with a nod of gratitude.

“Thank you, sir.”

I tap my fingers on the table; shortly after, I take my pocket watch in my hands, watching the needles.

“What the devil is taking him so long?”

The handle turns sharply, the door opens with too much energy for a library, and Lucien enters, stopping a pace from the threshold.

A curl falls over his forehead, and the knot of his cravat is pulled askew; the cloth of his coat still carries the dampness of the outdoors. He runs a hand over his chest, inhaling more deeply.

“Finally, brother.”

He flashes a faint smile, adjusting himself as best he can.

“You did not grant me much of a margin, Dorian.” His gaze slides past me. “Ivan. Welcome back, lad.”

The boy lowers his glass immediately.

“Mr. Ravenswood.”

Lucien pulls his waistcoat over his stomach, smoothing it with both hands, then circles the desk and takes a seat opposite me.

“Well?”

“We were waiting for you.”