Answering my unspoken question, he said, “My face … the scars…” He ducked his head and I heard someone sniffing lightly from the side.
Studying my brother, broken by his appearance, I reached behind me for Ilya’s hand. It slipped into mine in seconds. Using his strength to hold me up, I turned and displayed my bare back. I heard Valentin hiss.
When Ilya guided me back to face Valentin, I felt him press a soft kiss to the uppermost scar. It warmed my heart. He wanted me regardless.
Valentin’s face was red with rage when I met his gaze again. “Do my scars repulse you?” I asked.
Valentin lost his anger, only to protest, “No. Not at all.”
I nodded slowly, then placing my hand on his cheek once more, said, “Well, then. Understand that you are my brother, scars or not.” Valentin’s eyes closed for a long second. When they reopened, I said, “Our eyes and hair match. Now so do our scars.”
Valentin stared at me, then his lips twitched. I wondered what was happening. Suddenly, a wide, joyful smile spread on his always serious face. He nodded again, then repeated, “We match.”
I laughed aloud. “The proof of our survival.” Ilya’s hand was still in mine and he squeezed it tightly. Pulling on his hand, Ilya stepped beside me. His arm kept me strong. Looking up to the male that had stolen my heart, I then looked to my brother. “Valentin, this is Ilya.” I felt my cheeks blush. “He is in my heart and I am in his.”
Ilya kissed me on the cheek. Valentin watched but didn’t react. “I know,” he replied, and nodded at Ilya. “He is a great warrior. He fought hard to set you free.”
My pulse beat faster in response. Valentin then turned to look at someone behind him. A dark-haired, dark-eyed female came forward. She was beautiful. She was dressed in similar clothes to Maya.
I found myself liking them, too.
I watched in fascination as Valentin hooked his arm around her shoulders. She was smiling at me. A kind honest smile. “Inessa,” Valentin announced, “this is my Zoya.” He looked back to his love and said, “This is my little sister, Inessa.”
Zoya held out her hand, and I placed mine in hers. “Nice to meet you, Inessa,” she said, a hint of relief to her voice.
“Nice to meet you, too,” I replied. Zoya patted Valentin on his chest and said, “You have made your brother the happiest male on the planet. All he wanted was your safe return.”
As I watched Valentin look to his Zoya with nothing but love and faith, I replied, “I doubt that is true. I think that honor belongs to you.”
Zoya blushed, then turned to a large male behind her. “Inessa, this is my brother Zaal.”
And that’s how it went. I met all of the family. My new family. Ilya stayed by my side as I shook hands with each male and female. When all of the introductions had been made, I caught sight of a large set of doors at the rear of the room. The night was dark outside, but … it showed outside.
Turning to Ilya, I asked, “Have you been outside, moy voin?”
Ilya shook his head and held me closer. “I was waiting for you. We once dreamed we would walk outside together. Along with many other things. So I have waited.” I stared up at my male and smiled brightly. He laughed and shook his head. “Would you like to go out now?”
I nodded in excitement. When I looked around the room, I saw the other people watching us. I caught Maya smile. “You will love it … Inessa,” she said timidly. “It is like nothing else. The fresh air…”
I inhaled, steeling my nerves. Ilya led me forward. Valentin moved aside as I approached a door. Ilya opened the handle and pulled it open. Fresh air immediately dusted the hair from my face. I closed my eyes as the cool breeze washed over me, chasing my nerves away.
I felt Ilya tense beside me and knew he was feeling it also. He stepped forward, leading me off a step and down onto a patch of grass. As my bare feet sank into the soft ground, I closed my eyes. It was only for a moment as I told myself it wasn’t a dream. I opened them quickly. I didn’t want to miss a thing.
Ilya looked around us. Trees and fences surrounded us. But best was the coolness of the air in my lungs. The pit was dank. This evening air was a balm to all the pain I had endured. It helped me to forget.
Ilya gasped. When I turned to face him, he was looking at the sky. I followed his mesmerized gaze, and as I did, I lost my breath.
“Stars,” Ilya whispered as we stared at the tiny glittering lights.
Tears filled my eyes and I squeezed his hand tightly. “Ilya,” I murmured, in awe of this new life aboveground.
“I know,” he replied, and lifted his arm to thread over my shoulders. “I know,” he whispered again.
Inhaling deeply, my body infused with this heady feeling. Releasing this breath, I asked, “Ilya, can you feel it?”
“What?” he questioned, the warmth of peace radiating from his worn body.
“Freedom,” I hushed out. “Our freedom … our freedom … at long last.”
Epilogue
ILYA
Three years later …
“Rodian!” Kisa called to her son as he ran over to his little cousin and pushed her to the ground.
Larisa, Talia and Zaal’s daughter, began to scream. Zaal, who was talking to Luka near the barbeque, turned his head and rushed to his daughter’s aid. He scooped her up and brought her to his chest. His little girl wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into his long hair.
“Shh,” Zaal soothed, rubbing the little girl’s back. “It’s okay.”
Talia approached her husband and daughter, and rolled her eyes. “She’s fine, Zaal!” She shook her head. “I swear, that daughter of ours has you wrapped around her little finger.”
Ivan and Vera Tolstoi, Talia and Luka’s parents, walked to Zaal. Ivan folded his arms across his chest. “I remember someone else wrapping her papa around her finger, too.” Talia glared at her papa. Then, bursting into a smile, she threw her arms around his waist and squeezed tight.