PROLOGUE

MOSCOW, RUSSIA.

—ALZNA

The thin ray of sunlight streaming through the crack in the wall was the only way I could tell night from day.

My breath was shallow due to starvation, at least the best they could do was….

The iron gate groaned open, interrupting my thoughts. My second-eldest brother, Kirill, stepped in, his polished shoes clicked against the cold floor as he approached.

“Alzna,” he drawled, his voice laced with mockery. “You still wear that defiant look, don’t you? Stubborn to the bitter end.”

I refused to look at him. My gaze remained fixed on the far wall, but he wasn’t one to be ignored. He crouched in front of me and gripped my jaw tightly as he forced my face toward his.

“Don’t look away from me, little sister,” he sneered.

I spat in his face, the only act of rebellion left to me. “You think this is the end for me? You’ve murdered innocents and betrayed our blood, and you think you’ll walk away untouched? You’re a fool, Kirill.”

His eyes shot daggers and his face was filled with rage. The slap came fast and sharp, snapping my head to the side. My ears rang from the impact, but I didn’t flinch. I wouldn’t give him that.

“You still waste your thoughts on those pathetic lives,” he hissed, wiping my spit from his cheek. “And for the record, I don’t kill the innocent,” he said in an unapologetic tone. “They chose to defy me, and that choice sealed their fate.”

I scoffed, “Chose to defy you? Mamochka begged you, Kirill! You killed your own mother, our mother!” I yelled as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I swiftly blinked them away, refusing to show weakness.

“Ohhh, there we go again.” he sighed deeply.

He whistled sharply, and the gate opened again. A man dressed in black entered, carrying a briefcase. He walked briskly toward me. He placed the briefcase down and opened it to reveal a syringe and a small vial of some clear liquid.

“What are you doing, you fucking bastard?” My voice betrayed nothing, but my chains rattled as I pulled against them. “What is that?”

Kirill’s smirk deepened, and his eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure. He picked up the syringe, drawing the liquid into it.

What does it look like, dear sister?” He replied in a mocking tone. “I’m tying up loose ends. That’s what family does, isn’t it? Protects its legacy. We’ve wiped every trace of your existence—no name, no records, no past. To the world, you don’t exist. Why keep you alive, when you are invisible to the world?” His lips curled into a cold smirk. “You should’ve begged. Maybe then, I’d have let you live. But no, you had to be you and you’ve left me with no choice”

My blood turned cold, but I refused to let him see the fear creeping up my spine. I straightened my shoulders, keeping my gaze locked on his. “You’re a coward, Kirill,” I spat, “Hiding behind your poisons and chains. You couldn’t even finish me off face-to-face.”

His face darkened. “Brave words for someone who’s at my mercy,” he replied coolly, “Don’t mistake survival for strength, Alzna,” he clicked his tongue. “Don't think I’m the only one who wants you gone. Our brothers and everyone agreed about this. Father’s favorite little girl—look at you now. Worthless. Weak. Unwanted.”

I should’ve been scared, but Father had taught me better than that. He’d taught me not to cry, not to falter, even in the face of death.

“Beg,” Kirill said, his grip tightening painfully on my jaw. “Beg, and I’ll think about sparing you.”

I forced a grin, even as my vision blurred with unshed tears. “I’d rather rot in hell than beg you, Kirill.”

His smirk faltered, replaced by something darker, angrier. Without another word, he plunged the needle into my arm. The sharp sting made me gasp, my struggles became slow as the content coursed through my veins.

I fought to stay upright, to keep my head high, but my limbs grew heavy, my strength draining fast.

“Father's princess doesn't cry,” I whispered to myself as tears streamed down my eyes, the words my father used to say. They’d kept me strong for months, but now, they rang hollow.

Kirill’s laughter was the last thing I heard, a cruel, mocking sound that followed me into the dark.