When I pulled back, I asked, “Is Valentin…?”

Ilya kissed my cheeks, then said, “He is downstairs. They all are.”

“All?”

“Our new family,” he explained.

My stomach flipped at his words. “New family?”

Ilya nodded, and a small smile pulled on his lips. “Yes. Valentin has found love with Zoya. He is part of a wider family now. They were the ones who helped to free us.”

“I want to see him,” I said, heart racing. I saw his scarred face and collared neck in my mind and shook my head. “I cannot believe he is 194. He was before me this whole time and I didn’t believe it was him.”

“It’s okay,” Ilya said, and moved me gently to the bed. “I’ll go and get him.”

As he reached the door, I said, “No. I’ll walk to see him.”

Ilya’s face hardened. “But your back—”

“I won’t be confined anymore. My back is painful, but I can take it.”

Ilya’s head tipped to the side, and a loving expression set on his face. “I know you can, moy prekrasnyy. You are strong and fierce.”

Reaching out my hand, I said, “Please help me up.” Ilya came to me and gently pulled me to my feet. I held in my hiss of pain. Ilya took hold of my arms and guided me to the door.

As we walked out into a hallway, a beautiful light hallway, I felt nerves accost me. With every step we took, I felt my body shaking.

As we turned a corner to some steps, I heard the low voices from before become clearer.

“Are you okay?” Ilya asked.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded my head. “Yes.”

Ilya smiled at me in pride. The journey down the stairs was slow, but I made it to the bottom. I was breathless and in considerable pain, but I kept my head high. I wanted to see my brother. I wanted to meet the males who had helped him gain our freedom.

There was a short hallway between us and the voices. Ilya leaned in and kissed my forehead. “You ready?” he asked. I nodded in silent reply.

Ilya began helping me to walk to the room. When we reached the end, I held my breath as we turned the corner. A large room came into view … a room filled with many people.

The voices that had been loud grew quiet. Ilya partially blocked them from my view as he faced me and searched my expression. He raised his eyebrow at me. I knew this was him asking me if he should move. If I was ready.

I was more than ready.

Keeping hold of my arms to help me stand, Ilya moved to my side and allowed the people in the room to come into view. My eyes tracked over seven people. Three couples and … “Maya,” I whispered when I saw the young female sitting on the couch. She looked so different. Her long black hair was down her back and she was dressed in such different clothes than in the pit. I liked them.

“Miss Inessa!” she cried out, and leapt to her feet. Maya ran toward me. She stopped at my feet and I held out a hand. Maya took it in hers. Her hand was shaking. Mine was, too.

“You look beautiful,” I said proudly.

Maya dipped her head. “They said they can get me help for my face.” She shook her head. “This world, miss. It is so different.”

“You are no longer a slave,” I said, and Maya nodded her head. “Then no more ‘Miss.’” Maya laughed even through her tears.

Someone stood behind Maya across the room.

Maya saw me looking and stepped aside. I hadn’t thought about how this reunion would go. I hadn’t had the luxury, or the curse, to think of my brother every day. The male who held me close as a little girl, the boy who fought so hard to save my life. The male who endured years of slavery to ensure I kept my life. I knew that he had never ever given up.

As Valentin stood before me, I could see the fear in his blue eyes. I stared at his ruined face and huge body. He was no longer the young boy from my memories but the male from my shattered adulthood.

Yet I loved him now as much as I had then. Time hadn’t changed anything. I had my big brother back. My vision blurred as I whispered, “Valentin.”

Ilya guided me slowly forward, but Valentin rushed to me in an instant and wrapped me in his thick arms. He was careful not to touch my back. But I didn’t care if he did. I had my brother back. I had my savior back. He was my family.

“Inessa,” he hushed out as he held me to his broad chest. I closed my eyes. An image of him cradling me in his arms as I lay in a cell sprang to mind. Leaning back, I met his blue eyes—replicas of my own—and said, “I remember this.” Valentin watched me carefully. Smiling, I lifted my hand to touch his face. Valentin flinched. I frowned, wondering why.

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…”