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“Ulla?” she stares at her new friend in confusion.
“I am sorry about this, Linka. You’re really very sweet and I can see why my brother is so taken with you. But he asked for my help and I’d never dream of refusing him.”
She looks at them both, suddenly realising why Ulla had seemed so familiar. The same dark eyes and black hair, and matching ancient gazes that have seen too much.
“I trusted you,” she whispers, “and you betrayed me.”
Mal hasn’t stirred since Ulla jabbed a knife between his ribs as their tiny rented room was engulfed in shadows, and she fears he may well be dead.
“My sister only wants what’s best for you, solnyshka,” Aleksander reaches out, his fingers tenderly caressing her cheek, “as do I. You need to be somewhere safe, where you can reach your full potential.”
“We’ll take care of you,” Ulla wraps her arms around Alina, and for all her anger she still melts into the warm embrace that has become so familiar since she met the exuberant young woman a month ago.
“My sister is right,” Aleksander murmurs, his shadows curling around her ankles, his heated gaze focused on her face, “you don’t need anyone else, solnyshka, only us.”