Natalia’s POV
I stared at the ruby in his hand. In Andrei’s hand. The hand of the man I loved, twisted and turned into a tool for this monster. And meanwhile, my children were in that case behind him, asleep and vulnerable; one flick of his wrist and they would be aged into broken, empty husks.
But if I obeyed…
“Well?” The Winter King tilted Andrei’s head, waiting. “What’s your answer?”
I wrapped my fingers around the explosive ruby in my pocket. He still didn’t know about it; I could use it now. Blow us all to bits and end his reign of terror.
But I couldn’t do that. I had to try to save my children. I needed to think, to be strategic and practical. It was always one of my strong suits; I could find a way. Even if I couldn’t save myself, maybe I could save them.
Maybe these thoughts
