Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“His father is still alive, but he disowned Sven as soon as he was born. His mother died in childbirth,” Vasilios explained.
“Does that mean he was in the mine since he was a baby?” My stomach tightened in sympathy, and Sven wasn’t someone I ever thought I could empathise with. But now that he’d gifted me that damn toothbrush and toothpaste as a birthday gift, there was something so simple and heartwarming about it I just couldn’t hate him anymore. I saw his humanity, and though he’d done terrible things, I found myself looking past them.
“He was placed in an orphanage until the age of four. After that, he was sent to the mine. When I first met him, he was entirely feral. He had no parents or guardian to guide or care for him. I was two years older and basically became his parent for a while. He taught me how to survive there, and I taught him how to care for himself. He still has some rough edges that will probably never be smoothed, but he’s come a long way from the boy he was.”
“So, you’re more like brothers than friends?”
“We’d sacrifice anything for one another,” Vasilios said before motioning to his face. “How do you think I got this scar?”
“What happened?” Being so close to him, I could examine the scar in detail. I couldn’t imagine how painful it must’ve been when it happened.
“When I was twelve and Sven was ten, we’d been through a particularly gruelling winter, and we were both on the verge of starvation. One morning, it got to the point where we were so hungry we barely had the energy to work, so Sven went out and stole some dairy rolls from the market. They’re these buttered breadcakes with melted cheese inside. To this day, it’s still the best thing I’ve ever eaten. Anyway, long story short, the stall owner discovered Sven had stolen the rolls and reported him to Red Armand. A permanent scarring was punishment for theft, as it was for many offences in the mine, and Sven was terrified when Red Armand’s men came looking for him. He was so young, and I couldn’t stand to see him in such terror, so I told the men I was the thief.”
I didn’t know what to say. To suffer in someone else’s place like that, especially at such a young age, was an incredibly selfless act. “You must’ve been just as terrified,” I said at last.
“I was, but knowing I was suffering in place of someone I cared about gave me courage. I’m not sure I could make such a sacrifice if the situation were different.”
“You could,” I said. “You were going to take my punishment from Mack tonight. And at Sarasin’s Midnight, you offered to take the Curse instead of me if I was chosen.”
“Yes, but I …” he trailed off as a strong gust of wind swept into the room. I huddled closer, my hands hovering at my sides.
“But what?”
His eyes shifted to a spot above my head. “I care about you.”
Air got trapped in my lungs as I stared at his chin. “I thought you stopped caring about me after I helped in your capture?”
“I did, but since you’ve been here, I’ve found myself … caring for you once more.”
“Oh,” I breathed, lost for words.
His arms on my waist tightened. “Will you relax and lean into me? You’re as stiff as a board.”
I awkwardly placed my hands on his shoulders and leaned on him the tiniest bit. Vasilios let out a gruff sound of impatience. “Like this.” He grabbed my hands and pulled them around his neck. One of his hands shifted to my lower back, pushing my chest to his. “Much better,” he hummed approvingly.
I was frozen in place. It was such an intimate pose, and though it really was the safest and most practical way for us to stand without falling to our deaths, it was also … pleasant? There was a comfort to being in his arms, and I tried not to let guilt seep in and swallow me whole. I had a boyfriend at home, and being that close to Vasilios, my breasts pressed flush to his body, felt like a betrayal to Peter. Sure, it was mainly about survival, about not falling into the sea, but I couldn’t deny it felt good. And that was where the guilt came in. I shouldn’t enjoy being that close to a man who wasn’t my boyfriend.
Sensing his attention, I looked up to see Vasilios staring at me, his blue eyes taking me in.
“What?” I whispered.
The tips of his ears reddened. Was he embarrassed about being caught looking at me?
“Nothing,” he said and cast his gaze elsewhere. A heat bloomed deep in my stomach, and it wouldn’t let up. The wind whipped at us again, and I pressed closer into him, my arms tightening around his neck.