Technically, Nikhail hadn’t signed up for anything. She’d warned him that something like this could happen—that she was dangerous and she couldn’t risk being with anyone.
But Nikhail had rejected her warning.
That was before, though.
Before her father’s death.
Before she had brokenagain.
Before she’d proven, once and for all, that her father was wrong, and she was the Cursed One.
Barbed vines grew around River’s heart, twisting and piercing her vital organ. Dark clouds edged her vision, and she shrank in on herself.
Nikhail had said that he didn’t care that being with her could be perilous, but now, he had to know the truth. He had to leave her alone, for his own safety.
No one in their right mind would remain with someone as broken as her. As cursed. As deadly.
“What are you saying, River?” Nikhail’s voice was a gentle murmur. Soft, and River didn’t deserve that.
She’d called another storm. Lost controlagain. Even if no one died this time, that didn’t remove the burden of the lives she’d already taken from her soul.
She was not a good person, and she did not deserve to be treated with kindness.
It would be easier if Nikhail were yelling at her. Treating her coldly, like Tertia. The gentleness with which he held her would make the heartbreak even worse when he inevitably left.
Gods, River never should’ve let Nikhail in. Her brother’s best friend was a good man. Far too good for her. She never should’ve let herself hope that they could be together.
She was cursed, and people like her didn’t get to be with people like him.
Shifting out of Nikhail’s grip, River glanced away. It turned out that on top of everything else, she was a coward. She couldn’t bear to look at Nikhail right now.
“Thank you for staying with me while I… slept.” For not leaving her alone in this cold, dark space. “I appreciate it so much, and I’ll never forget it. But you don’t have to stay.”
“River—”
“That was a very kind offer, but I’m sure you have places to be.”
Unbroken people to be with.
Those clouds descended further. Heavy and dark and suffocatingly oppressive, they pushed down on River. With each passing second, they pressed harder and harder, until she was certain that one day, they would be the cause of her destruction.
Silence stretched between them, and River was certain that Nikhail would leave any moment now. He’d go, and she’d be alone.
And that…
That stung, but it was what she deserved.
She waited and waited for him to get up and go. For the door to shut behind him. For her heart to break one last time.
Then the darkness inside her would destroy every last part of her.
“No.” The word echoed through the room, and it was so unexpected that River opened her eyes.
“No?” she repeated, disbelief coursing through her.
Nikhail took her hands in his. Engulfed them, really.
“I know you believe that you’re cursed?—”