Everything had grown exponentially more complicated. There had always been another child in play in Arequipa. It was at once unbelievable and all too easily acknowledged. That’s what Joseph did—he played games.
Dmitry ran a hand down his face and she stepped to him, turning into his body and holding him. He was shaking as if the truth could not be borne. His pain reached for her and she could do no more than meet it.
He inhaled deeply and glanced at every person in the room before his gaze settled on Bone. She gave him everything she was with a single look.
“I had two sisters,” he said gruffly. “Ninka was a twin.”
Epilogue
She woke to his mouth on her spine. He had not taken her since he had told the truth of his siblings. He had told her of his encounter in the forest the night he’d rescued Bone.
Dmitry was positive though it was Ninka. Only Ninka had ever called him nesti.
Bone wasn’t quite so sure. Ninka had died in a clearing in the mountains of Arequipa. He could not understand why his other sister would lie about her name. Bone reminded him they had all been trained by Joseph and the first lesson had been trust no one. It had taken time and mutual pain to grow the bond with her sisters. Everyone else had been subject to immediate suspicion.
She sighed and he bit her neck, licking over the tiny hurt and soothing it as quickly as he delivered it.
Bone had contacted Grant and not heard back. Rand, Adam, and Dmitry now hunted the hunter. And Blade was still out there, searching for the boy. The boy did not belong to Nameless. He belonged to First Team.
“In the midst of all of this, I have found the one truth that matters, Togarmah Ramler,” he said in her ear.
It seemed the man was always seeking to undo her. Her given name meant nothing to her except when he said it. Then it was a blessing from a God she thought never heard her prayers.
She rolled over and gazed up at him knowing she’d been wrong. He had heard her and when the time was right he’d delivered her salvation. Salvation’s name was Dmitry Asinimov.
“What is this truth, Asinimov. I would hear it before you take my body and make my breath break.”
“You are my truth.”
And she knew that until her time ended on earth he would be her truth as well.
“Zeh mah shevesh,” she whispered at his lips.
“And it is enough,” he answered.
She watched him love her and loved him back with everything in her. There was more strife headed their way. The game was in full swing, only a few moves left before the end came upon Joseph and First Team with the force of a tsunami. Death was calling.
But here and now with Dmitry Asinimov, in his arms, his body inside hers and their hearts beating together it was most definitely enough.
Translation Glossary
—Note—
It is always tough to get translations exactly correct. I have relied on Google Translate for most of my previous works, especially the Spanish, Japanese, French, and Irish Gaelic. I was unable to rely on Google Translate for the Hebrew in this work. Hebrew is most especially difficult to literally translate so please understand, any mistakes are absolutely my own. The Russian translations are absolutely spot on because of a very lovely woman who took her time and effort to help me get them accurate.
So again, any mistakes are mine.
—In order of appearance though some appear more than once—
Aba (Hebrew) – Father
A kind’s treren reissen himlen (Hebrew) – a child’s tear reach the Heavens rakad shel mavet (Hebrew) – dance of death Ima (Hebrew) – Mother
Kar li (Hebrew) – I feel the cold
Poupon (French) – little baby
Etz haChayim (Hebrew) – Tree of Life Ibadti et haderekh sheli (Hebrew) – I am lost Shavur (Hebrew) – broken
Achot (Hebrew) – sister, pl. sisters Baruch dayan emet, aval n’kamah hayah mokesh. Shalom, achot. (Hebrew) – Blessed is the True Judge, but vengeance is mine. Peace, sister.
Kostolomochka (Russian) – Little Bone Breaker Bratva – Russian Mafia aka Brotherhood Ubiytsa (Russian) – Killer
Etzem (Hebrew) – Bone
Da (Russian) – Yes
Kostolomochka moja (Russian) – My little Bone Breaker Zeh mah sheyesh (Hebrew) – this is what there is; there is no more Syn (Russian) – Son Sicariorum (Latin) – Assassins
Esli ja popadu v ad, ja vozjmu tebja s soboj. (Russian) – If I go to hell, I’m taking you with me.
Poshel ti na huj (Russian) – Fuck you Spasibo (Russian) – Thank you
Pozhalujsta (Russian) – You’re welcome Hashem (Hebrew) – Literally means “the name”; God Coma! Coma! Es bueno para tu alma, peque?a. (Spanish) – Eat! Eat! It is good for your soul, little one.
No tengo alma, vieja. (Spanish) – I have no soul, old woman.
U tebya hrupkie kostochki. Sogneshjsja ti ili slomaeshjsja? (Russian) – Your bones are fragile—will you bend or break?
Za kazhdij tvoj vzdoh ja otdam tebe chastichku serdtza. (Russian) – For every sigh I will give you a piece of my heart.
Serdtse mojo (Russian) – My heart
Ljubovj - velichajshaja bitva. (Russian) – Love is the greatest battle of all.
Moye (Russian) – Mine