“It's fine, Lilibeth,” Agafon says with a shrug, pulling away his hand. “Your brother is right to be protective.”
Lion tilts his head at Agafon. “I wasn't at the wedding to give the traditional warning, so let me do it now.” His smile is pleasant, but his eyes are steel. “Hurt my sister, and I'll kill you. Slowly.”
An awkward laugh escapes me. “God, Lion, really? Here?”
But Agafon just nods, respect flickering across his features. “I would expect nothing less from an Orlov.” He looks at me then, and something in his expression shifts, softens perhaps. “Your sister is safe with me.”
The words sting given what I overheard, but I keep my face neutral. This isn't the place for confrontation.
Lion studies Agafon for another long moment before seemingly making a decision. “Good. Besides, I think my cousins must have troubled you enough with these empty threats.”
Agafon snorts at the same time I do, and Lion breaks into a grin. “Come,” he motions at Agafon and me. “I need a drink after the flight, and I want to hear everything about your new life together.”
We move toward the bar, and Lion slings his arm around my shoulder. We catch up all night long, and Lion and I have so much to talk about that we keep cutting each other off. It’s funny. It’s sweet. It’s what makes our relationship so precious. Sometimes, when Agafon speaks, I’m once again reminded of his words, but I cast them aside, not wanting to ruin precious seconds with my brother.
Hours later, as the crowd begins to thin, Agafon makes a suggestion. “We should head home,” he says to me, then nods to Lion. “You're welcome to stay with us, of course.”
I’m touched by the kind offer, though I can’t bring myself to let it show on my face. Once again, confusion sweeps over me. Why would Agafon make such an offer if he wasn’t soft for me? He knows Lion has cousins all over the city, doesn’t he? I want to groan and shake the truth out of Agafon, to be honest. But not here. Not now.
Lion shakes his head. “I had my apartment set up before I arrived. I have business to attend to first thing.” He kisses my cheek. “I'll see you soon, Lilushka. We have a lot to catch up on.”
Lion leaves, and I'm left alone with Agafon as we walk to his car. He decided to drive himself tonight, though the convoy follows.
Agafon opens the passenger door for me, his hand brushing my lower back as I slide in. The simple touch ignites something I'm trying hard to ignore.
We drive in silence for several minutes. I stare out the window, lost in thoughts of how our marriage means “nothing.”
“Your brother seems protective,” Agafon finally says and breaks the silence.
I turn to look at him, deciding that talking about my brother is definitely better than discussing what I heard. I’m not in the mood for that conversation quite yet. “He always has been. All my brothers are.”
“Yeah?” he asks casually, taking a turn. “Where are Benedikt, Sergey, and Samuil by the way?”
“Still out of the country,” I shrug.
“Surprising how none of them were at our wedding.”
I frown, wondering what he’s implying.
“They couldn't be,” I say, a defensive edge creeping into my voice. “They were busy, and we got married so fast.”
Agafon scowls. “Is work important enough to miss their only sister's wedding?”
Something inside me snaps. “Don't you dare judge them. You have no idea what they've sacrificed for me.” I turn fully in my seat to face him. “We're not from the prominent side of the family like you Letvins. My brothers have had to work twice as hard to prove themselves, especially to the elders.”
Agafon glances at me, surprise flickering across his features at my outburst.
“Lion did his best to support us after our parents died,” I continue, the words tumbling out now. “He made sure we had food on the table, that we were protected. And my cousins—they fought to get me out of Russia when I was still a child, to keep me safe from the troubles my brothers had to handle.”
My voice catches. “Do you know what it's like to be separated from your family at thirteen years old? To grow up knowing your brothers are in danger and there's nothing you can do about it?”
The car slows, and Agafon pulls over to the side of the road. He turns off the engine and shifts to face me, his expression compassionate in the dim light.
“No,” he says quietly. “I don't know what that's like.”
I look down at my hands, twisted in my lap. “I love my family. All of them. They've sacrificed everything to give me chances they never had.” I look up, meeting his gaze directly. “I will always be grateful to them for that.”
Agafon reaches out, his fingertips grazing my cheek so lightly that I might have imagined it. “You are loyal,” he says, and I swear I hear admiration in his voice.
