Shattered Allegiance

OLAI'S

could feel the serenity of dawn around me. The dim gli

and the lingering scent of smoke fl

he battle with the Ivanovas had le

s she came out onto the balcony, her presence a reassur

in playing at the edges of my lips.

flected in her eyes. "We've all been going through a tough moment," she r

couragement. "I'm still in shock that you

After I healed, I wanted to return right away, but uncontrollably,

ted by one other's presence, a

n't know if it's because of your return or the

arrying a note of melancholy. "He became the man he is now bec

to effect change. He frequently lacked

ought about them. "Mum, I want to change things.

. "Nikolai, you're a wonderful man at heart. You'll manage to restor

in. There appeared to be a sign of a new era in the

LANA'S

of the hall tables, my mind racing. Still feeling uneasy,

er end of the table, his presence at once reassuring and unne

from him. "It's hard to find peace when

ook my hand in his. "You matter to

at him in shock. I withdrew my hand from him gradually as I became m

efore I could fully withdraw. "I mean it, Svetlana," he said. "I

se, but when his hands settled over mine

yes. "And I'll do everything in my power to en

orm at the corner of my mouth. However, it was blocked as soon as

om his, got to my fee

tlan

looked back at him and spoke out.

n the hall until I was certa

with a pounding headache. I struggled to cling to my memories a

every attempt to remember, and

ed out, tears starting to

liss we shared playing out right before my eyes, but then

this hap

ice resounded down the corridor as he yelled out. Wear

d to stand and felt my legs tr

re. "You don't have time to be w

. "I'm okay, Father." I lied and tried

t. "Is this how you plan to disgrace me? Displaying vulnera

scarcely raising my

" he roared as he inched towards me. "T

ound. "Your wedding is scheduled for two weeks from now as well. You won

icks, and I could feel the last bit

instructions. Our family's futur

t last remark, leaving me al

d as my eyes began to