04• “Is it really you?”

HARPER PETROVSKY

My breath falters for a moment as the tip of his thumb slowly traces along my lower lip. The sensation is intoxicating—and for a moment, my whole body responds to him in a way I don’t want to admit. It almost makes me forget how angry I am.

“Don’t touch me,” I whisper, keeping my voice steady. There’s a tremor in it, though, betraying just how much he affects me—and I hate that.

“Why not?” Viktor murmurs, his voice soft against my face. He leans in closer, and the faint scent of his cologne wraps around me. “Do you really want me to stop?”

My mind screams yes, but my body hesitates—and it’s in that split second that he takes advantage, leaning in even more, his lips hovering so close to mine I can feel the warmth of his breath brushing against my mouth.

“You belong to me,” he whispers, the words like a ghost of a touch against my lips, teasing me in a way that makes my whole body tense. “And no matter how much you resist, Harper, you know it… Don’t you, little brother?”

With all the strength I can muster, I turn my head to the side, breaking eye contact, pulling my face away from his. My heart is pounding, and I feel my control slipping, but I won’t—can’t—give in to him. He wants to confuse me, to mess with my head using those words.

Before I can even fully process what Viktor just said, he takes a step toward Alexander—and a jolt of shock runs through me. Viktor’s relaxed, provocative demeanor vanishes, replaced by a tension radiating off him like heat.

He grabs Alexander’s arm firmly. The look Viktor gives his brother is bold, demanding—like he wants answers he hasn’t been given.

“How did you know she was here?” Viktor asks, his voice low, making me hold my breath.

Alexander turns slowly, his face unreadable—but his eyes, sharp and merciless, lock on Viktor. He doesn’t pull his arm back—he doesn’t need to. Just standing there, coldly observing his brother, is enough to leave Viktor momentarily speechless.

“Because,” Alexander begins, his voice sharp as a blade, “while you were getting distracted in your little club, she managed to escape Philip.

Viktor narrows his eyes, clearly affected by his brother’s words. His fists clench, and the anger in his icy blue eyes is unmistakable—but something else flickers there too. Something he’s trying to hide.

He avoids looking at me, his gaze shifting away as if I’m not even there.

“I forgot… she was supposed to arrive today,” Viktor mutters to his brother, sounding genuinely thrown off. What are they hiding from me? I can feel it—there’s something here, something I need to know.

Before I can demand answers, I feel Alexander’s firm hand clamp around my arm. The grip is cold, strong, devoid of any gentleness. He pulls me away with surprising force, dragging me through the still-dancing crowd, completely unaware—or uncaring—of the scene he’s causing.

“Hey! Let go!” I try to yank my arm back, but his grip is far stronger than mine. It’s as if he doesn’t even realize he’s hurting me—or worse, as if he doesn’t care.

The anger that had already been simmering inside me now erupts into a silent fury. Every step Alexander forces me to take away from Viktor only deepens my discomfort. I try to free my arm again, but his hand only tightens, as if to reinforce the idea that I have no say in this.

“I said let me go, Alexander!” My voice comes out louder this time, the rage finally breaking through. But he doesn’t stop. Don’t look at me. Doesn’t acknowledge my demand. He just keeps walking, dragging me along like some wild animal—though even animals deserve more dignity than this.

I cast one last look back at Viktor—hoping, no, needing him to do something. To say anything that might give me a clue about what the hell is going on. But he just stands there, motionless, his eyes fixed on something far beyond me, locked in an internal war that seems just as fierce as the one raging inside me.

Whatever is happening between these two brothers, I’m caught right in the middle of it. And that terrifies me just as much as it infuriates me.

“You can’t just drag me around like this!” I protest again, my voice thick with frustration.

He doesn’t stop, but when he responds, his voice is sharp and gravelly: “Looks like you’ve turned into a spoiled little rebel, haven’t you?”

His words hit me like a slap to the face. Spoiled little girl? Who does he think he is? I suck in as much air as I can, but before I can fire back, he continues, his voice dropping even lower as he leans in to meet me at eye level, locking his gaze into mine.

I’m standing in front of a man who doesn’t need to shout to be heard, doesn’t need brute force to dominate. He’s the kind of person who commands power with just a look—with words sharpened to cut deep.

“You like to test limits, don’t you?” Alexander presses on, taking a step closer, cornering me against the cold wall of the secluded hallway we’ve stopped in. His presence is suffocating, but he doesn’t touch me. The proximity alone is enough to send my heart racing—but not from desire, like it was with Viktor. This is pure rage, tangled with fear.

“I do what I believe is right,” I shoot back, trying to sound firm—but my voice wavers slightly. I know he catches it, but he doesn’t react—not like Viktor would. No, Alexander is different. Always has been. He’s ice to Viktor’s fire, and that terrifies me even more.

“And what you thought was right nearly got someone killed,” he says, each word slow and deliberate, making me flinch. “You think you can challenge the world, Harper? You think you can walk in here without understanding the rules?”

“I understand enough,” I snap, anger mixing with fear. What does he mean—someone almost died? Did Philip… was he hurt? My heart stutters, and my mouth goes dry.

“No, you don’t.” Alexander takes another step forward, and I feel the cold wall pressing harder against my back. He’s so close now I can feel the chill radiating off him. “If you did, you’d know I’m not the one you should be afraid of—but your own inability to recognize when you’re completely out of your depth. This isn’t your boarding school.”

“I don’t need your lectures,” I say, but my voice lacks the conviction it had just moments ago.

Alexander tilts his head slightly, narrowing his eyes like he’s studying me, weighing my words. He knows he affects me—he’s always known, ever since we were kids, even with the age gap between us.

“Maybe not. But you’ll learn—my way. You’ll follow my rules.” He places his hand on the wall, right above my head, leaning in until he’s just inches from my face. “Viktor might be blind enough to toy with your fragility—but I don’t make the same mistakes, Harper.”

I swallow hard, lifting my chin and locking eyes with him—his are a darker shade of blue than Viktor’s, more shadow than light.

“And what are you going to do?” I ask, my voice low but defiant, even though I know I don’t have many options.

Alexander doesn’t smile. He doesn’t move. He just holds my gaze, making every word land like a blow. “Whatever it takes to make sure everything stays in order.”

Suddenly, slow, steady footsteps echo down the hall, breaking my focus from Alexander and heightening all my senses. A familiar scent drifts through the air, triggering long-buried memories.

“Harper?” The voice is deep and hoarse, calling out my name—and it sends a chill down my spine. “Is it really you?”