CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 12
NATALIA MOROZOVA
Alexei Volkov gives me his glass, and I throw my head back, downing the fruity drink.

The bartender, Anastasia Korvin, giggles as we walk away. "Have fun, si?" she calls out. "And if anyone asks, Anastasia took care of you!"

Alexei pulls me onto the dance floor and tilts my face up, then claims my lips in a kiss that overwhelms me as the alcohol flows through my system. We rock back and forth, losing ourselves in the beat of the music as I try not to think too much about the ticking clock.

He kisses me again as we dance, and when he releases me, I scan the room, my gaze drawn to a woman who stands by herself in the corner. She's absolutely beautiful—but her beauty is tainted by the sad smile on her face. Her dark hair is drawn back from her face, and I can see that the red dress she wears hugs her waist before dropping into a huge blood-red skirt that catches the moonlight and glows.

Her eyes lock onto mine, and she smiles. I get a surge of peace and smile in return.

"Hey, where'd you go?"

Alexei's voice pulls my gaze upward, and I glance up at him. "I was looking at—" I start to tell him about the woman, but when I turn to where she'd been standing just seconds earlier, she's gone.

“You okay?” Alexei’s brows draw together in a tight line.

“I’m fine. Promise.”

He spins me before pulling me back against him. “Good.”

It feels like seconds later when the music begins to slow. Alexei grasps my hand once more and pulls me toward the back of the gathering crowd. A firebird explodes above in a choreographed burst of brilliant color, and my heart thuds against my ribs as the seconds tick away.

This is it. This is the finale.

"Now's the time, Natalia," he whispers in my ear. "Give me a name."

We step forward with a little blonde girl who stares up at me with large, blue eyes. Her purple gown is mesmerizing, and I wish to hell I'd had a choice in mine. Because I can tell you, it wouldn't have been this red and black pack wedding dress.

"How was your night?" I ask when her gaze meets mine.

"It wasn't a complete disaster," she replies, smiling. "I'd inquire as to whether you had a good one, but judging by the man-candy accompanying you, I'm assuming I have my answer."

My cheeks flush, and I nod. "I'm Natalia Morozova. This is Alexei Volkov."

"Liv. It's nice to meet you both."

The woman diverts her gaze back to the crowd as if searching for someone, so I look up at Alexei as the siren of the band announces, "We hope you've all found love, if only for a little while. If you haven't done so already, please make your way up to the Siren's Deck for the finale."

"I need a name, Natalia, or a location—something," Alexei pleads.

"Viktor Dragunov," I tell him. "I'm being held captive in the Dragunov Manor."

Alexei tightens his grip on my hand as the band begins to play a somber melody. He buries the fingers of his free hand in my hair, pulling me close and taking my mouth in a searing kiss that fills me with life and leads me to hope—if only briefly—that he will rescue me.

That maybe, just maybe, there's a happily ever after waiting for me.

There are more fireworks exploding around us as Alexei kisses me, and soon he's all that I can feel, taste, hear.

My heartbeat pounding in my ears blocks out every other noise, and when I open my eyes, I gasp, shrinking back from him.

"What is it? Natalia—" Alexei's blue eyes widen as he turns in a circle, taking in the Volkov Alley we're in. 

"How did we get here?" I follow his example. "And where is here?"

When I turn back to Alexei, he's grinning like a madman. "We're home. My home. Natalia, you're here. You're here!" He closes the distance between us, wrapping his arms around me and spinning us both.

"I didn't—I'm not—I don't have to go back?" I can't believe it. Like it's a dream or some trick my mind is playing on me. Perhaps I'm so traumatized at the possibility of being returned to the Dragunovs, that I've created some sort of illusion for myself.

Even as I think it, I dismiss it. This feels real. Alexei feels real. And what I feel for him? That's as real as it gets.

"No, you don't ever have to go back." Alexei sets me down and cups my cheek, kissing me passionately.

I dive my hands into his hair and kiss him right back. Excitement at being free is so intense, my legs feel like jelly.

"Uh-hum." A clearing of the throat makes me pull back, and I turn to see a handsome dark-skinned man with an amused smile early in the morning.

"Hey, Marcus," Alexei greets.

"Alexei. I see you put that suit to good use."

Alexei grins down at me. "Natalia, this is my best friend and the owner of this bar." He gestures toward the building we're standing beside. "Marcus, this is Natalia."

"Natalia." Marcus Reed extends his hand for me to shake. "Nice to meet you."

"You, too."

He releases my hand. "Need me to open back up for ya? I'm happy to get you two a drink."

"No," Alexei answers, threading his fingers through mine. "I have plans."

Marcus chuckles. "Well, in that case, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. See you later. Or in a few days."

"See you." Alexei leads me down the alley to a silver sedan parked on the street in Saint Haven City. He unlocks the passenger side after clicking the button on his keypad and opens the door for me. When I'm safely out of his line of vision, I pinch the skin on my arm just to ensure that I'm not dreaming.

"I'm assuming I can take you back to my place?" he asks the second he's in the driver's seat. 

I answer immediately, "Yes, please do."

The drive passes quickly, and soon Alexei is opening my door once more and dragging me toward concrete steps. We climb two flights and stand in front of the first door near the stairs. He unlocks the door and drags me inside.

It's small but orderly, with maps pinned to one wall. Some have red flags on them and others have white flags. He's tracking something or someone—which, I suppose, is to be expected since he's a hunter.

"What are all of these?"

"I've been trying to find answers." His presence is warm as he comes to stand next to me.

"To what?"

A friend of mine was killed two years ago," he says to me. "I was in love with her." His admission makes me look up at him, but he's staring at the map. I reach down and intertwine my fingers with his.

"How did she die?"

"Shifters."

My jaw tightens as I nod. "Was she another hunter?"

"Yes. One of the last in this area."

"I'm sorry.".

"It's a reason I went tonight," he tells me. "To see if I could find answers."

"I'll help you if I can."

"You'd do that?" he asks, and I nod, meeting his gaze.

"I will. If I can help provide you with closure, it isn't even a question to me."

"But they're your people."