"I love whom I love," Prince Lir repeated firmly. "You have no power over anything that matters."?
―Peter S. Beagle,?The Last Unicorn
Rurik held Charlotte's hand as they stood in his apartment in Moscow, facing down his brothers. Charlotte had been brave when they'd flown back with Grigori and Madelyn, but she'd said little. But now she had to officially tell his brothers the truth and explain everything.
The more difficult task would be having them believe her.
She trembled hard enough that he could feel it through her hand. The gold lighting from the modern chandeliers cast shadows between them, accentuating the distance between him and his brothers. He had put his body slightly in front of hers, just in case his brothers didn't believe her and decided to treat Charlotte like a possible threat.