Free A Shade of Kiev 2 by Bella Forrest Page B

not permission. Blessing. They’re my siblings. I’ve just found them after hundreds of years. I can’t do this behind their backs.”
    “But—”
    “Celice,” I said, gripping her arm and glaring at her. “I will take you away from here. I promise you that. I just need some time. I’ll speak to them as soon as they wake.”
    She glared back at me, then reluctantly nodded.
    She turned to leave, but just before she did, she looked back at me and said, “You’d better keep that promise, Kiev.”
    Now that’s two promises I’ve made.
    I have to do this.
    As soon as she left, I too left the room. I headed upstairs to see if I could hear any noises coming from either my sister’s or my brother’s rooms. As it turned out, Helina’s door was ajar.
    I knocked.
    “Who is it?” she called.
    “Kiev.”
    She swung the door wide open and pulled me inside. She stood in her dressing gown as she shut the door behind us.
    “Take a seat.”
    I didn’t sit. Instead I paced up and down the lounge. She looked at me, hands on her hips, frowning.
    “What’s wrong?”
    I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
    “Is Erik awake yet?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Can you bring him here?”
    “All right, but what is the matter?”
    “Just bring him here.”
    She hurried out of the room and returned a few minutes later with my brother, who was also sporting a black velvet dressing gown. He sat on the sofa in front of me. Helina sat beside him.
    “I lied to you about what brought me to this island,” I said, sighing.
    They both raised their eyebrows in surprise.
    “I came to steal away a witch from you. Celice has already agreed to come with me.”
    Helina’s eyes widened. Erik leaned forward in his chair.
    “Why?” Helina asked.
    “I’m in alliance with Matteo Borgia. He took me in after I escaped from Aviary. I came because I needed a witch to protect that island. They suffer every day from not having a protective spell over them, and I promised Matteo that I would do all within my power to help him… I, I owe him more than I can ever repay in so many different ways…”
    I trailed off, thoughts of the night I’d murdered Natalie flashing through my mind’s eye. That too was an episode of my life that I had avoided including in my story to them.
    I had also omitted Mona from the story, for I saw no relevance. And it was—if truth be told—painful to talk about her.
    Silence took over the room for several moments.
    “Can I have a private word with Helina?” Erik asked.
    I was taken aback by their request for privacy. I was their older brother. What couldn’t they discuss in front of me? Still, I nodded.
    They got up and left the room. They must have gone far away, because although I tried to pick up on their conversation, I couldn’t hear any of it.
    They returned several minutes later and resumed their seats.
    “Matteo’s clan and our coven have been enemies for a while. Honestly, we can’t stand him. But of course, if Celice wants to go with you, we’re not going to stop you taking her. We understand.” Erik placed a hand on my shoulder.
    “But Kiev,” Helina interjected. “What on earth makes you think you can keep her there even if she does agree to go? She’s a fickle little thing. You say you told her you’ll be with her…”
    “I know. I’m not sure that I’ll be able to stand her for more than a few days. But I owe Matteo this. I’ll stay there with Celice and figure out a way to wean her onto someone else. There are plenty of vampires and werewolves on that island who would happily keep her busy. More importantly, she’d be the only witch there. Independent of her sisters. She’d have free rein to be with whomever she wanted to be. Hell, we’d make her queen if it meant getting her protection. Matteo would do anything to get her to stay.”
    Erik and Helina looked dubiously at each other, as though they doubted even that could keep Celice from fidgeting.
    “Look,” I said, “Even if she