He hesitates. Then he says, “I’ve been with Phoenix through thick and thin. I’ve known the man through his best moments, but when things are going smoothly, it’s easy to be around for that. It’s the bad times that really make you understand a person. And Phoenix… after he lost Aurora and Yuri, he became a shadow of the man he was. Until he met you.”
I try to sit perfectly still. I don’t know what to do with the torrent of emotions buzzing through me at Matvei’s words. There’s so much he’s implying that I can’t even begin to process it. Not yet, at least. And maybe not for a long, long time.
“What I’m saying is, do not die in there,” Matvei concludes. “Because if you do, he will murder me.”
I smile and pat the back of his hand. “I’m not planning on dying today. Or anytime soon, for that
