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worked.”
    My stomach rolled at his blunt, cold demeanor.
    “You think I’m callous about her demise?” He turned his head, watching me.
    “Yes.” I swallowed, knowing the truth was probably written on my face. “Sera was one of us. A seer. You created her.”
    “And you don’t think I care if she lives or dies?”
    “I’m not sure.”
    “I do. Very much. But death is something I had to grow accustomed to at an incredibly young age. I’ve experienced loss you could not even fathom.” He looked back on Sera’s form. “I grew up near the Soviet Union in the slums. Death, disease, and starvation was a daily struggle. Detachment was the only way we could survive. I lost my mother and an infant sister in a bombing. My mother used her body to cover us. But the baby didn’t live. I survived under my mother’s corpse for three days before they could dig me out of the wreckage. My brother was born disfigured and was killed because of it. Another brother died of disease.”
    He paused, sliding his hands in his coat pockets. “Even then, my father was a true believer in Stalin and moved us north, to the heart of the Soviet Union. Stalin was dead, but my father was devoted to his beliefs and got a job as a janitor for the government. I was put to work at eight. My father’s position allowed me to attend school. But it was there I acquired the most knowledge. I learned about the existence of fae. The government was aware of them. I uncovered dozens of files containing truths most would never know, but I did. They started wars to feed off our suffering, greed, and violence. They caused the war which killed my mother and sister.” Rapava’s brow furrowed, his words sharp and angry.
    I stood stock-still, taking in every word. I was not sure why he was telling me this, but it was more than I ever knew about him. He was an exceedingly private person. Showing emotion was rare for him, and it captured my attention like I was under a spell.
    “My father’s iron fist pushed me to achieve greatness. To be the next Stalin. I ran away when I could from his grasp, but I vowed I would do something with my studies and awareness of the fae. Use them, like they use us. Help people like my brothers.” His neck whipped back to me, his eyes narrowing in like an eagle sighting its prey. “And I have. I have achieved more than my father’s small brain could ever dream of. I will keep going till I have accomplished my goals. Sera’s death will be merely another causality in this war. But the research means everything to me and the human race. Leaders have to look at the bigger picture. Not one life, but thousands.”
    Oh. Wow.
    Frightening as his speech was Rapava made more sense to me now with his past and how and why he became the man he was today. The harsh world he lived in, all the death and sadness, pushed so far down, he no longer felt it.
    Someone cleared their throat at the door, and I spun around to see Liam filling the doorway.
    Rapava straightened, shaking off his past, and returning to the composed doctor. “Come in, Liam. Spend some time with her.” He indicated the empty seat next to Sera.
    Liam nodded, heading for her bedside. “Thank you, sir.”
    “Come, Zoey. There is something else I would like you to see.” Rapava grabbed my bicep, clapping down with ownership. Fury burned through my limbs at his touch. And I wiggled free of his grip. No matter his past, he still had become rotten to the soul. He could convince himself he was doing good things, but he was no longer doing what he set out to do. He had lost his way a long time ago.
    He turned for the door, his distinct steps ramming in my ears. I swallowed, about to turn and follow him, when Sera’s fingers wrapped around mine. Startled, I jerked my head to look back at her. She was frail, but her gaze drilled into me. Her eyes were filled with desperation and unspoken words.
    I didn’t know what she was trying to tell me, but it seemed important. Whatever it