Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Four

Dimitri

The funeral was held in the old church where our parents were buried. The same stone walls that had witnessed their funeral fifteen years ago now bore witness to my brother's. The morning was gray and cold, snow falling in soft sheets that covered everything in white but nothing could hide the truth. My brother was dead. My twin. My other half. Gone.

Mikhail spoke, his voice breaking on every word as he buried the second son he had raised. He stood at the front of the church, his cane in one hand and the other gripping the podium for support.

"Alexei Volkov was...