Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 63

Ria's POV:
I woke up with a jolt, my heart hammering against my ribcage, the darkness of the room pressing in on me like a suffocating blanket. My body was drenched in sweat, my breathing ragged as I tried to disentangle myself from the sheets that felt like they were strangling me. For a moment, I was back there, in that house, in that room, with those hands... Kyle.

But then I felt him-Nikolai's arms wrapped around me, his warmth seeping into my skin. His hand was already gently stroking my hair, and I could hear his soft voice murmuring soothing words I couldn't quite make out. The panic slowly began to ebb away, replaced by the comforting presence of the man lying beside me.

"Shh, it's okay, Vic," he whispered, his voice a calming anchor in the storm of my thoughts. "I've got you. You're safe."

I focused on his voice, on the feel of his arms around me, and gradually, the terror receded, leaving only a dull ache in its wake. My breath steadied, though my heart still raced as if trying to outrun the memories that had clawed their way back to the surface.

Nikolai's hand continued its soothing rhythm in my hair, his thumb brushing my temple in gentle circles. "What were you dreaming about?" he asked quietly, his voice careful, as if he were treading on fragile ground.

I hesitated, my eyes staring blankly at the wall in front of me. I didn't want to talk about it, didn't want to drag the horrors of my past into the light. But at the same time, I knew that keeping it inside, letting it fester, wouldn't do me any good. And if there was one person I trusted to handle this truth, it was him.

So I took a deep breath, swallowing down the lump in my throat, and forced the words out. "It was about my step-uncle."

Nikolai's body went rigid behind me, but he didn't say anything, waiting for me to continue. I could feel the tension in his muscles, the way his breathing had stilled, but his hand never stopped stroking my hair, grounding me.

"He hurt me," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "When I was eleven. He... he sexually assaulted me."

Nikolai's breath caught, and I could feel the shift in the air between us-his quiet rage, the barely contained fury that simmered just below the surface. But he didn't interrupt, didn't push me to say more than I was ready to. He just held me, letting me know I wasn't alone.

"It wasn't as bad as with Vlad, but it wasn't exactly pleasant either. And he got away with it," I continued, my voice shaking with the weight of the words. "My mom barely believed me, I didn't talk for a week straight. It was kinda like my body shut off or something. He walked away, unscathed, while I... I..."

The tears I had been holding back slipped down my cheeks, and I quickly wiped them away, angry at myself for showing this weakness, even though I knew Nik wouldn't judge me. He was quiet for a long moment, his hand still in my hair, his other arm wrapped securely around my waist.

"That's why Vlad's case hit me so hard," I admitted, my voice trembling. "When he won, it felt like everything was happening all over again. Like no matter what I did, the monsters would always win, and I'd always be the one left hurting."

Nikolai's grip tightened around me, and I turned my head slightly to look at him. His eyes were dark with anger, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle twitching. But there was also something else in his gaze-something fierce and protective that made my heart ache.

"If I ever see that asshole..." Nikolai's voice was low, dangerous, barely restrained. "He'll regret ever being born."

His words should have frightened me, but instead, they comforted me. I knew he meant every word, that he would do anything to make me feel safe, to make sure no one ever hurt me again. I reached up, my fingers brushing against his stubbled cheek, trying to calm the storm I could see brewing in his eyes.