Holding the key, I edged closer. Inhaling sharply, I whispered, “Valentin?”

A soft moan drifted from Valentin’s mouth at the sound of my voice. I saw his fingers flinch. The coil in my chest began to unwind as he fought to lift his head.

I unlocked the cuff on his right hand. As soon as the cuff parted, his body lurched forward. Valentin’s large body now hung on the strength of one arm.

I tried to push him up, but his huge frame and height defeated me. I moved to the other cuff and unlocked it. As soon as the metal cuff came apart, Valentin fell facedown on the hard stone floor.

I had to glance away to regain my composure. He was naked. Every inch of his body was bruised, bloodied, or swollen. Zaal had punished him severely.

Half of me was angry at my brother, but the other half understood. I had been unconscious for days, unable to understand or articulate what this Russian man had come to mean to me.

Everything, I thought. This man had become my everything.

Spurred back to action, I bent down. I shucked off the coat Talia had given me, ignoring the severe cold in this dank sparse space. Valentin wasn’t moving. He lay in a heap on the floor, his arms twisted in the awkward position in which he had fallen.

Rubbing my hands together to generate some heat, I placed them on his side and pushed his body until he lay on his back.

A low stuttered groan came from Valentin’s bruised lips. I winced at the sight of his body. My breathing paused when I caught his eyes moving behind swollen eyelids.

“Valentin,” I whispered. “Are you okay?”

Valentin tried to move, tried to put his hands on the floor, but when his hands found purchase he was too weak to move.

“No, don’t,” I soothed, and inched closer. Valentin seemed to relax, his body calming and his breathing evening out. His fingers twitched. When I saw his hand twitch, I realized he was trying to hold my hand. My stomach turned, as I was reassured that he wanted me to hold him.

After everything Valentin still wanted me close.

I carefully laid my palm against his, my fingers featherlight against his. I didn’t want to hurt him.

I ran my free hand over his forehead and brought my face close to his. “It’s okay, Valentin. I’m here now.”

At my words, Valentin squeezed my hand. It was light, barely a squeeze at all, but I could feel his relief that I was here, that he was no longer alone.

My heart ached at the thought of him in this cell, being tortured. I knew this was a strange thought, considering what he’d done to me, but I felt it all the same. He wasn’t Valentin then; he was desperately trying to be the hero to his sister—which made him every inch a hero to me.

My eyes roved down his injured body. Unable to suppress the sentiment on the tip of my tongue, I whispered, “I love you.”

Valentin’s hand tightened on mine. I stared at his bruised hand and how it looked against my skin. Shivers ran over my body at the feel of someone watching me. I glanced up. Staring at me, tired but bright, were Valentin’s crystal blue eyes. His dark eyebrows made him appear as severe as always, as did his many facial scars. But those eyes were as soft as a cloud as they gazed upon me.

“Hey,” I said, and moved to hover over his face. His hand kept hold of mine. As I felt the warmth from his broken body, my eyes began to fill with tears. His eyes searched mine.

They moved down to search my body. I assured, “I am fine.” I knew he was checking that I was okay. His eyebrows pulled down slightly, letting me know he didn’t believe me.

Swallowing, I explained, “She drugged me, Valentin. I have been sick for days, but I have no memory. I didn’t even remember you until my mind cleared and your eyes flashed in my mind.” Tears built, but I blinked them away. “I am so sorry that you’re hurt. What Zaal has done to you…,” I trailed off.

My head lowered until I laid my cheek against his chest.

“Was … deserved.”

I stilled when he croaked out his response. I moved to look up but felt his hand gently press my head, and I melted farther into his chest at his touch.

I pressed a kiss to his skin and confessed, “Even though I don’t remember anything, I feel that I have missed you.”

“Zoya,” Valentin rasped, and I heard his heart beat louder in his chest.

Zaal’s warning about my closeness to Valentin sprang to mind. Coldness filled my body at the thought that I wanted Valentin simply because he had been my captor.

“What?” Valentin asked.

Raising my head to look down at him, I hesitated, then eventually admitted, “Zaal doesn’t understand how I can want you. He thinks it’s wrong”—I paused and swallowed—“because you hurt me.”

Valentin closed his eyes. When they reopened, they were radiating regret. “He’s right,” Valentin confirmed after a long silence.

I shook my head. He squeezed my hand. “No,” I argued. “I’m not some victim who has a strange obsession with their abuser. You are not evil. You were doing what you could to save your sister.” I pointed to Valentin’s broken body. “Zaal has just done the same.” I huffed out a single humorless laugh. “It is gallant in a way. It was cruelty born from the duty of love.”

I had run my hand over Valentin’s head when his watery gaze looked up at me. He licked across his spilt lips and whispered, “Mistress sent her away.”

I froze, then blew out a deep exhale. “I know, baby.”

Valentin’s eyes squeezed shut, and I could see him fighting for control of his emotions. His entire life had been about saving his sister—his childhood, his teens, his adult life. And he believed he had failed.

Seeing him so upset provided another facet to this kaleidoscope of a man. I had seen him vicious. I had seen him cruel and cold, and I had seen him loving and kind. Now I was seeing him crushed and broken.

I was witnessing him feeling completely alone.

Gripping him tighter, I promised, “We’ll get her back, Valentin. Somehow, we’ll get her back.”

He watched me and confessed, “I don’t know what to do.”

My heart broke for how lost and young he sounded. “I know,” I rasped. “But there will be a way. We will work something out.”

He deserved to hear it would all work out, even though deep down I wasn’t sure.

Valentin stared after that. He stared at me like I was an angel. Smoothing the back of my hand down his troubled face, I said, “You have me, Valentin. I am not going anywhere. I’m here for you, with you … in love with you.”