Roksana nodded.
Took a step forward in the snow.
Elias blinked twice, his jaw hardening, the rare proof of sorrow from Elias cutting deep. So deep the wound might take decades to heal. It stopped Roksana in her tracks, her throat working heavily. With her free hand, she removed the red envelope from her coat pocket, handing it to Inessa without breaking eye contact with Elias. A line appeared between his brow as she gave over the envelope, but it erased just as quickly as it formed. “This I have done for you, Mother.”
“Good daughter,” Inessa praised, pocketing the game piece with a smile, completely unaware Roksana’s heart was being ravaged by a pack of wolves. “In this, you have proven yourself worthy. Now sever the tie and begin anew.”
The impatience was building in Inessa’s tone, forcing Roksana to take one more step forward. As soon as she was close enough to Elias, she would turn the stake on Inessa, the one who’d truly betrayed her. The one who’d held her in a maternal thrall, twisting Roksana’s emotions for her benefit. No longer. No longer.
Not five feet away stood the vampire who she’d treated as an enemy. Yet he’d been her protector. Her ally. The man who would place her safety and health and happiness above all else, even if it meant being seen as the villain.
He’d sacrificed a year of his life and in doing so, saved her own. Did he even remember making the deal with Inessa as his final human act?
He must remember.
He’d implied as much to Inessa, but he might have been told of his actions after the fact while imprisoned in Moscow.
Either way, he’d kept all of this from her so it wouldn’t break her heart. And it would have. She could admit with total humility that it would have cracked her down the middle.
Back when she’d been breakable.
That wasn’t the case now. She had love flowing through her.
Just a little closer and she could stand by his side.
“Stop being a coward, Roksana!” Inessa shouted shrilly. “Do it and be done! Or I will slay you both!”
Roksana took another step forward, her hand shaking around the stake she lifted, because even the pretense of hurting her husband was abhorrent.
Elias noticed the tremor in her grip and his eyes softened.
He pulled out his own stake, positioning the pointed tip over his heart.
The breath evacuated Roksana’s lungs, the earth dropping out beneath her feet. “What are you doing?” she wheezed.
But Elias was looking at Inessa, a sheen coating his eyes. “She brought you the envelope. My death marks her mission complete, no matter who does the deed. Vow she won’t be hurt once I’m gone.”
Inessa didn’t hesitate. “I vow it.”
“I’ve kept my word to you.” He pressed the stake firmly enough to his chest that it created an indent in his shirt. “Keep yours, Inessa.”
“Elias, no,” Roksana heaved, debilitating terror robbing her voice of volume.
When he transferred his gaze back to Roksana, such naked love for her swarmed there she lurched backwards, her balance obliterated. “I won’t make you choose. I won’t make you live with guilt or add to the pain,” he said in a hushed whisper, his eyes trying to comfort her even while sacrificing his own life. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”
Oh God, the wedding.
He’d rushed the wedding for exactly this purpose, though she had no doubt—not a single one—that loving her had also played a large part.
If something were to ever happen to me, I’d want you to have what’s mine.
You’ll only need to put the credit card in your name.
A low, keening sound left Roksana but Elias only reassured her with a curving of his mouth, the scar tugging at his upper lip. “This life might end here. But my love for you will continue on into the next. It’ll still be just as strong this time tomorrow.”
At the words this time tomorrow, Roksana’s knees buried in the snow.
He remembered.
He’d remembered all along.
It was like putting on a new pair of glasses, the lenses clean and clear. She could see everything so obviously—only now it could be too late. Elias had pretended not to remember that night in Vegas so he wouldn’t have to reveal Inessa’s treachery. All because she’d made her mother the keeper of her mental well-being. Hailed her as a hero, a wise leader, a noble warrior. When all along this man had been her silent hero, lurking in the wings.
Loving her from afar.
Elias raised the stake and closed his eyes. Time slowed to a crawl.
With a scream exploding from deep in the pit of her belly, Roksana scrambled in the snow. Stake at the ready, she turned to Inessa, determined to plunge the weapon into her mother’s heart and stop Elias from sacrificing himself. Her mother was closer. There was no way she could reach Elias in time. Not when the stake already arced toward his chest. The pain of not calling out to him was vast, but she needed surprise on her side to fell Inessa.