Ch 37: Inheritance of Steel
Elena sat on the edge of the bed in her nightgown, hair still damp against her shoulders. The lavender scent from the bath lingered.
She ran her fingers over the calluses on her palms, replaying the day's events. The adrenaline from the shooting range had faded hours ago, leaving behind a bone-deep numbness that made her limbs feel like they belonged to someone else. Her shoulders still ached from the recoil. Her palms were raw. But beneath the exhaustion, she felt steady.
Kazimir, she thought. I wish you could have seen it.
The ache of his absence was sharper tonight than it had been in days. She could picture him so clearly. The way his mouth would have curved, just slightly, when she hit her first center mass. But he hadn't been there, and that loss sat in her chest like a stone—heavy and cold, even beneath the warmth of her victory.
Knocking from the door pulled her from her thoughts. Three sharp raps—confident, impatient. Not Greta or Anna.
Elena crossed the room and opened the door a crack.
Valentina stood in the hallway. She looked different tonight. Her hair was loose, not pinned. Her face wasn't the cold mask Elena remembered.
"May I come in?"
The question was quiet, civil. Utterly unlike anything Valentina had ever said.
Elena studied her for a moment, then stepped aside.
Valentina crossed the threshold slowly, her eyes moving around the room with an expression Elena couldn't read. She took in the space—the rumpled bed, the chair by the window, the small table. Her gaze lingered on Kazimir's jacket, draped over the armchair.
Then she turned back to Elena. "I came to deliver news. Kazimir sent word."
Elena's wariness vanished. Her hands flew up before she could stop them, signing urgently as she mouthed: ‘Is he safe? Is he hurt?’
Valentina pulled a folded paper from her pocket. "It came through an hour ago."
Elena crossed the distance in three quick steps. Her hands shook as she took the paper, her fingers fumbling at the fold as she opened it to read.
Safe. Stranded due to weather. Delay of several days. Will return when able. Watch over her for me. —K
She read it twice, then pressed it to her chest. Safe. He's safe and coming back. The seven days of waiting finally released its grip.
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Valentina watched her. "He's delayed, but safe. Weather has grounded everything on the coast. He won't be back for a few more days."
Elena nodded.
Valentina looked away, crossing to the window and staring out at the darkness beyond the glass. The rain streaked the window in silver lines, fracturing and distorting Valentina's reflection in the glass.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Valentina spoke. "Nikolai came to find me after," she said, still with her back turned. "He told me everything."
Elena lifted a brow. She didn't know Valentina and Nikolai were that close.
"He said you outshot him in front of everyone.” Valentina's lips curved slightly. “Nikolai's an arrogant bastard, but he's honest. If he ran to me to praise you, it means you did well."
Is she praising me indirectly? Elena was baffled. She didn't know what to say.
There was another moment of silence before Valentina turned, leaning against the windowsill. "But that's not all. My father is making moves again. He's been asking questions about you."
Leverage, Elena realized.
Valentina seemed to read her mind. "He's looking for leverage against Kazimir. And he's decided you're the place to find it."
She studied Elena for a moment longer. Then she reached into her pocket and withdrew something wrapped in soft leather. She held it out.
"This is yours. Temporarily."
Elena looked at the object in Valentina's palm. Then at Valentina's face. Then back at the object. Suspicion warred with curiosity. But she saw no malice in her eyes. Elena reached out and opened the pouch.
Inside was a retractable dagger. It was small, made for a woman's hand. The hilt fit perfectly in her palm. The blade was dark metal, honed to an edge that caught the lamplight. Tiny vines were etched along the guard.
Valentina's arms crossed. "It was Nadia’s. Kazimir's grandmother—and mine."
Elena ran her thumb along the hilt. The weight of its legacy pressed against her palm. If this was meant as an apology, it was too much, too heavy with things Elena wasn’t ready to forgive, let alone carry.
She looked up and mouthed: ‘I can't take this. It's yours.’
Valentina's expression hardened. "I said temporarily. Don't get sentimental. You need it right now. When this is over, you give it back."
Elena looked at the taller woman—the rigid shoulders, the lifted chin. A faint smile touched Elena's lips.
Of course, she thought. This is how you say it. In Valentina's world, a transaction was the only language she trusted—the closest thing to an apology. Was this what tonight was for? Coming to acknowledge her?
Valentina's eyes narrowed. "Are you laughing at me?"
Elena shook her head, but didn’t try to explain.
For a long moment, they simply looked at each other—destruction and endurance, standing face to face. Everything that had passed between them sat there, unspoken.
Then Valentina stepped back first, her cold mask sliding back into place.
"Be careful. Dante's people are watching. Don't go anywhere alone. Don't trust anyone new." She turned toward the door, her back to Elena again. "If you lose it, you don't have to wait for Dante. I'll kill you first myself."
Valentina was halfway through the door when Elena moved—her hand catching Valentina’s wrist.
Valentina stilled as if struck. Slowly, she turned, her gaze dropping to Elena’s hand with a look that could have frozen fire.
Elena didn’t let go. She met Valentina's eyes and mouthed: ‘Thank you. For warning me. For coming yourself.’
Valentina stared at her for a heartbeat. Something flickered across her face—gone almost immediately.
"Don't mention it. Ever. To anyone." She yanked her wrist free and stalked out, the door closing behind her.
Elena stood alone in the lamplight's warm glow. She looked at the dagger, then at the door. She crossed to the chair where Kazimir's jacket hung, wrapped it around her shoulders, and tucked the dagger into the pocket.
Come home soon. I have so much to tell you.
She pressed her hand to the pocket and felt the weight of steel.
Last edited by Feiya Phia 5/11/26