Episode 36

The air in the dimly lit study was thick with unspoken anxieties. Sunlight, a pale imitation of its summer glory, slanted through the tall windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the stillness. Anya, wrapped in a cashmere shawl, sat by the fireplace, her gaze fixed on the flickering flames. The ordeal had left its mark, a subtle hollowness in her eyes that even Dmitri’s presence couldn’t entirely fill. He sat opposite her, his usual boisterous energy subdued, a worried frown etched between his brows. Nickola, ever the steady anchor, poured them both small glasses of dark, potent tea, the clinking of the porcelain a small, comforting sound.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this, Anya?” Dmitri asked, his voice gentle. “We don’t have to… rehash it all if you don’t want to.”

Anya took a slow sip of the tea, the warmth spreading through her. “I need to, Dmitri,” she said, her voice still a little fragile, like a bird’s wing. “For us. For… for justice.” She looked at Nickola, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. “And for you, Nickola. You both risked so much.”