Konstantin took me to the balcony, hanging over yet another railing made of gold, his body to the edge of the building. The air was crisp, the smell of pollution and literally every scent of the world blowing against my face. He spread his arms wide and his expression lightens as if, despite everything, he knows this is his home and, in some way, he loves it just like any of us loving our homes. “Welcome to the city pack.”
Purely for my pride, I don’t allow myself to enjoy any of it. “I’m not here on holiday, Konstantin.”
“A shame, because if you look past the fact that millions d i e d for this one part of my balcony, our lands— not the riches— but the land itself is actually beautiful.” He sucks in a breath, eyes fluttering close. “You can see the ocean on that side and the woods on
