“Not here.” Considering Koschei’s obsession with those who came back, it was too much of a risk to let Vanya recuperate in the lab. After dressing his neck and wrists, I hooked my arms under his armpits and helped him to his feet. “Galechka, follow me.”

Slowly, I guided him across the room, supporting his back. His feet dragged, as if we were walking through quicksand. Galina hurried alongside us.

It took us nearly two minutes to reach the storage room. Once we were safely inside, he sank into a sitting position and leaned against one of the crates. Almost immediately, his breathing grew slow and heavy. When I said his name, he didn’t answer.

I gnawed my lip nervously, resting my hand upon his breastbone. His heartbeat was slow but even. There were so many uncertainties, so many things that could go wrong. I wanted desperately to stay with him until he awoke, but how could I? Time was running out, and I had to make a choice.

“I’ll be back,” I whispered, brushing the hair away from his face.

He didn’t respond. His thick lashes trembled as his eyes flicked beneath their lids.

“Galechka, I need you to watch him for me,” I said, turning to her. “If you hear someone coming, wake him up. And if you can’t wake him up, run. That door leads into caverns down below. Go through them and get to the woods. There are mavki there. They will be able to protect you.”

Her eyes widened. “Wait, you’re leaving? Where are you going?”

“I need to find another friend of ours.” I took her hand and gave it a firm squeeze, something I wouldn’t have dared to do just a few days before. “Stay strong until I get back.”

“Please, don’t go, Toma,” Galina whimpered, wrapping her arms around me. “Let’s just go home. Please, I want to go home.”

It was too late for that. I had already seen and experienced too much of the world to justify leaving now. Galina’s safety was paramount, but Mikhail was still out there, and if I abandoned him, how many others would perish as a result? How many other families would this war tear apart?

“Shh, shh, it’s all right.” I slipped out of her grasp. “I won’t be gone long. Just do everything Vanya says and stay out of sight.”

“But—”

“I love you.” I took a deep breath, leaned down, and kissed the top of her head. As she sniffled, I untied the bead bracelet from around my wrist and showed it to her.

Her eyes widened. “Is that mine?”

“Yes, Galina, it’s all yours.” I tied it around her wrist, knotting it off in a bow. “Once we return home, we’ll find the rest of the beads, all right? We’ll spend all day hunting. But you need to stay hidden now. I’ll be back.”

As I left the storage room, I resolved not to look back. No matter what happened next, there could be no hesitation, no doubt. I retrieved my pistol from the floor and carried it at my side, resting my finger on the trigger guard.