Chapter 14
“And that is how I have cherished you—deep inside the mirror, where you put yourself, far away from all the world.”
—Rainer Maria Rilke
“What did you do?” Rurik shouted at Madelyn. He slapped his brother hard across the face. Grigori gasped, his eyes flying open and then he relaxed, his expression dazed as he glanced between her and his brother.
“Grigori, are you all right?” Madelyn placed her hands on his chest and Rurik gave her a soft warning growl.
“I didn’t mean to . . .” She trailed off, but she didn’t release Grigori.
“Should have expected that . . .” Grigori coughed. “You knocked the breath out of me.”
“Expected what?” she asked.
“You might be scared the first time we mated. The joining of our hearts and souls is intense. I thought you might release a pulse on me
