Just then, the door opens. Niko steps in, his expression as blank as ever.
“Pack your things,” he says. “We’re leaving.”
“Leaving?” Serena and I exchange a look. “To where?”
“The family home,” he replies flatly. “Please be quick.” Then he turns and leaves like that was the end of the conversation.
I stare after him, my heart thudding. “What does that mean?” Serena gives me a helpless shrug, but I repeat it, louder now. “What does that mean?”
My phone buzz. Aleksei.
Perfect. I am about to ask some pointed questions anyway. I answer with zero preamble.
“Knowing Nico,” Aleksei says, his deep accent sliding against my ear, “he probably gave you the message without explanation.”
“Yeah,” I say, shifting upright. “He mentioned the family home. You didn’t say anything about that.”
“Ah, ye
