I finally let go of the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. She wasn’t banishing me. “Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Please, call me Mother Dear. It’s what the children call me.”

“Thank you, Mother Dear,” I said. The term of affection felt strange on my tongue, but I was relieved that I was not going to be an enemy after all.

39

It did not take long for me to settle in. The only belongings I had with me were the sword and the Talisman of Isis. I kept both of them close. I was given a new scabbard to replace the one I’d lost on the battlefield. The sword remained at my side and the talisman remained around my neck. I was making a list of the dresses for Maman to send over when she and Papa arrived.

“Katiya!” Maman’s face was covered in tears as she flung her arms around me. “We’ve been worried sick about you! Your father told me you were safe, but I know he was worried too!”

I put my arms around my father. “Everything will be fine now, Papa.”

“Are you certain?” he said, his eyes twinkling. He seemed thinner than when I’d seen him last. And was there more gray in his hair? “Your mother just found out she’s been denied a wedding.” He was teasing me, but I could tell by the lines in his face I’d given them both a terrible fright by disappearing. Or perhaps it had just been the strain from the battle. It had taken its toll on all of us.

“I’m sorry, Maman. You will have to be satisfied with Petya’s wedding one day.”

“But that’s not the same. My only daughter!” She pulled her handkerchief out and dabbed at her eyes. “We must plan a ball for you! As a belated wedding reception!” Her eyes took on a new animation.

I put my hands on hers. “Let’s wait until George gets better, Maman. He is very ill right now.”

Papa looked troubled. “Anything we can do for him at the Institute?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think this is something modern medicine can cure.”

“Does Dr. Badmaev know?” he asked.

“The empress will not let the Dark Court doctor attend him.”

“It seems to me that the grand duke’s wife may have something to say about that,” Papa murmured.

I squeezed his hand. “If there’s any way, you know I will send for him.”

Maman touched my cheek gently, her eyes now brimming with tears. “Katiya, do you know how proud we are of you? You have fierce Romanov blood in your veins. You were so brave to stand up to Konstantin.”

I had to blink back my own tears as I glanced from her to Papa. “As were both of you,” I said. “I saw how each of you defended the tsar.” I had not seen much of the battlefield upon my return with George, but the grounds around the palace looked wrecked. It had only been a day since the fighting, and they were still removing bodies. “Is Petya safe?” I asked, suddenly ashamed that I hadn’t asked sooner.

“He’s fine,” Papa said. “He and his friend Prince Kotchoubey are back at Vorontsov Palace guarding the wounded.”

“Did we lose many on our side?” I asked. There had been so much blood.

My father shook his head. “Most of the casualties were the blood drinkers who followed Konstantin. Your little aunt is a vicious fighter.”

He meant Militza. I was happy she had fought with us. But one day, I feared, she would come after my mother. “Maman was rather magnificent as well,” I said, squeezing her hands.

Papa’s face paled. “Your mother almost gave me a heart attack with her antics. Let’s hope the striga’s services are not required again anytime soon.”

As I laughed, Maman made a face. “Oh, I hope not too. That boy’s blood tasted horrible.”


Before the night was over, I had more visitors at the palace: the two members of the Grigori who had accompanied me and Danilo to Egypt. “Your Imperial Highness,” the elder one said, bowing. “The Grigori await your next orders.”