Page 55

"So do we have plans for executioners?" I curiously asked as I took a brief sip from the water bottle Sevan had handed me.

I had officially been in this hospital another night.

Technically when I overdosed, that was my first night at the hospital.

Luckily, I should be getting cleared to leave today.

Thank god.

It is nice here, sure—but I miss my freedom.

I miss my cold room and perfect dogs.

I also miss chess with Ivan and breakfast with Arina.

Also, Yuri—who always makes sure I have water.

"We?" Sevan repeated my previous statement almost in clarification, "I'll handle it, Zi."

I furrowed my brows, swallowing the sip of water I took, "I want to handle it with you," I said almost bluntly, handing her the bottle of water back.

Which Sevan immediately sat on the mahogany nightstand by the hospital bed.

"And I want you to focus on your recovery," Sevan countered back, easily twisting my words back to me, "Maybe for you to get back to handling business as usual."

I immediately shook my head, "We are in this together—we handle it together," I said, refusing to give in on this one.

Sevan let out a deep sigh as she settled back down in the hospital bed beside me, "There's nothing to handle right now," she assured me, gently pulling me closer to her body, "Ettore hasn't mentioned anything so as of right now, we can only sit and wait."

I furrowed my brows, "And this Ettore—"

"He has more influence than the rest of the executioners," Sevan immediately explained as she began playing with my hair, "He's had his position for over fifteen years."

I immediately tilted my head up, locking eyes with Sevan who already seemed to be staring down at me, "Do they not rotate people out?" I asked her almost in confusion, recalling what Nikolai had told me about them.

"As I said, Ettore has more influence," Sevan explained, now tracing the edge of my jawline, "And he's never stepped out of line—if anything he's ensured that everything has a balance."

I pursed my lips, "Even you," I whispered, holding her dark eyes.

Sevan hummed, "Even me," she whispered back to me, briefly pressing a kiss to my forehead.

I let out a deep sigh, "That annual gala approaches," I suddenly said, mostly just spewing my thoughts aloud for once, "We could gather votes there?"

Sevan tilted her head, clearly thinking about the idea for a moment.

Until she ultimately shook her head.

"It's more complex than that," she suddenly determined, leaning down to rest her head in the crook of my neck.

Which she seemed to enjoy doing a lot.

I think I enjoy it just as much as her.

"They're going to assume you have an unfair advantage over them," Sevan added to her previous statement, "You know how competitive this world is."

I lazily raised my brows, "They are so hungry for money and influence," I mumbled in disapproval.

"Are you any different?" Sevan countered back, pulling away from my neck slightly to meet my stare.

I lazily shrugged, "I am hungry for something different now," I murmured, tilting my head as I held her stare.

Very odd.

This warmth in my chest is very odd.

Or it used to be.

Now I know she is the only possible cause of it.

"I am too," Sevan said in agreement, briefly glancing down to my lips.

Before she leaned in and kissed me.

And I didn't hesitate to kiss her back.

Even as she pulled away slightly—I made sure to close the small gap between us and softly kiss her lips again.

"We figure it out," I determined, deciding not to worry about the topic.

Sevan hummed in acknowledgment, "We will," she assured me, nuzzling back down into my neck.

I smiled slightly, "Although I do not know what your mom will say," I added almost in amusement.

I probably would have chosen my words differently if I had known of this outcome with Sevan.

"She likes you," Sevan said, which left me a little taken aback, to say the least, "She just can't approve because of my role and my family's role."

I pursed my lips, "So we find a way to make this okay and—"

"Everything will work out," Sevan gently cut me short, pressing a soft kiss to the side of my neck.

I let out a deep sigh, nodding a few times to myself as I let my eyes fall closed for a moment.

Mostly given how heavy my eyelids felt.

But I swear I slept over twelve hours last night.

I am unsure of how I can possibly be tired right now.

So I decided to rest my eyes.

Just for thirty minutes.

Sevan is just so warm and she also plays with my hair, which feels very nice.

It also makes me fall asleep easier than I would like to admit.

Before I realized it, I was waking up after a three-hour nap.

There were unfamiliar voices around me among Sevan's voice, which naturally helped ground me as I slowly grew more conscious.

Until my eyes slowly fluttered open, sighing as I tried to wake up better.

All I could really make out was a doctor and a couple of nurses who spoke to my girlfriend.

And she seemed to be conversing right back with them.

At least until they all noticed I was awake.

"You're cleared to leave baby," Sevan said, instinctively walking over to the bed I slowly sat up from.

"Good," I breathed out, rubbing under my eyes as I slowly woke up further.

And luckily the doctors and nurses respectfully backed out of the room, leaving me with Sevan who sat down beside me.

"We can leave when you're ready," Sevan murmured, keeping her tone lowered as she gently tucked the stray hairs away from my face.

I nodded silently, letting out a deep sigh as I blinked a few times.

"We pick Arina up from school on the way," I suddenly whispered, furrowing my brows when I felt the dryness of my throat.

Which inevitably made me clear my throat a few times, glancing over when I noticed Sevan grabbing one of the water bottles from the nightstand.

"We'll pick her up," Sevan said, opening the water bottle and handing it to me.

I nodded a few times, taking a long sip from the water bottle.

And then another.

And another.

Until I was practically gulping the water down.

Which tasted immaculate.

"I am sure she is worried or perhaps mad at me for my absence," I said with a deep sigh as I lowered the water bottle from my lips.

Sevan shook her head, "Everyone was well informed that you had unexpected business," she emphasized, gently taking the water bottle from my hand to set back over on the nightstand.

"Good—very good actually," I determined, pulling the covers back so I could stand from the hospital bed.

Which Sevan helped me do, even if I refused her help.

She also grabbed a pair of black sweatpants and a matching sweatshirt for me to pull on after my shower.

Which wasn't anywhere as nice as my glass shower at home.

But I made it work—just like the lack of skincare.

I really only brushed my teeth and applied the face lotion Sevan had remembered I used.

I didn't bother wetting my hair knowing I would be outside in the cold and I didn't necessarily feel like blow drying my hair without the right products.

So I planned to take another shower when I got back to my compound, knowing it would be much nicer.

Either way, I already felt a hundred times better, especially as I exited the dull hospital—walking out into the crisp cold air.

My nose naturally grew red and the air fogged up with each breath I took as I walked with Sevan to the running SUV.

Which was toasty warm inside—contrasting the harsh winter air.

All I could do was feel content as I leaned into Sevan's side, draping my legs across her lap as I stared out of the tinted window.

Meanwhile, she seemed to be catching up on emails on her phone.

But somehow she still found a way to remain present with me.

Whether it was lightly caressing her hand up and down my legs—or occasionally pressing a fleeting kiss to my cheek.

It was very odd to be the source of her attention even when it was placed somewhere else.

But I liked it very much.

I glanced over when the backdoor suddenly opened, noticing Arina sliding into the backseat with us as the driver carefully closed the door behind her.

She was bundled up in an oversized black puffer jacket, wearing black leggings under her plaid school skirt.

"Via," Arina said with a small smile growing on her lips, slipping off her book bag as she glanced past me.

And almost immediately her smile visibly faded.

"Sevan," Arina mumbled distastefully, causing Sevan to purse her lips in amusement.

I quickly shook my head, "Nyet, Sevan has been promoted," I said, feeling beyond excited to share our news.

Arina raised a brow as she glanced back to me, "Promoted?" she emphasized, clearly wanting more of an explanation.

I nodded happily, "She is... my girlfriend," I said, hesitating over the unusual words.

I have girlfriend.

I am someone's girlfriend.

And it feels really fucking amazing.

I can not believe I was ever satisfied with being alone.

That feels very miserable now that I think about it.

An empty bed.

No one to rant about things to.

You are just alone.

Very lonely too.

Sad life.

"Girlfriend?" Arina clarified, her eyes visibly widening at the news.

I nodded a few times, "My girlfriend," I whispered to her almost in excitement, nudging Arina's arm playfully.

And as soon as my smile began peaking through, Arina seemed to reciprocate it—almost amused by the state I am currently in.

"Then I am... happy for you?" Arina said, furrowing her brows almost in confusion even with the small smile on her lips, "She just is not that great to me," she added honestly.

Sevan scoffed jokingly, "Not that great?" she repeated back to her in fake offense, which naturally earned a laugh from me.

And that sound alone puzzled Arina to say the least.

I suppose laughing is considered rare for me.

"She grows on you very much," I assured Arina as I leaned back into Sevan's side.

"Today—I'm going to grow on you today," Sevan suddenly determined, which naturally made me tilt my head.

"What do you—"

"I'm taking you both shopping—then dinner and a dessert," Sevan cut me short in determination, sliding her phone into her pocket.

I hummed, not minding my new plans for tonight.

Arina however, looked as if it might possibly be the end of her world.

"I-I am not hungry—I honestly have a lot of homework to do," Arina quickly said, clearly lying as she faked a smile for Sevan who I knew saw right through her, "You are... great, Sevan," she added to make up for her previous words.

But I knew it was much too late for Sevan.

"You'll be hungry after shopping," Sevan determined, not backing down as I expected, "And you can do homework at dinner—Zinovia and I will help you."

"We will?"

"You will?"

Sevan pursed her lips into a smile, openly glancing between us for a moment.

A very long moment.

It felt like there was almost some unspoken admiration present on my girlfriend's features.

"Yes, we will," Sevan suddenly said, pulling me closer to her by my waist, "We just need to head back so everyone can get changed—I'll have someone drop something off for me," she added, glancing back down to her phone.

"Da, I can not wear this in public," I determined.

Arina laughed, "It is very bad, Via," she said, taking in the abnormally large sweats I wore.

I shook my head with another laugh, "Hideous," I said in agreement.

"They're my clothes by the way," Sevan added, which seemed to make me and Arina purse our lips together awkwardly.

But as soon as we locked eyes again—we were laughing uncontrollably.

Practically wheezing with each laugh that fell from our lips.

"I buy you new clothes malyshka," I determined breathlessly as I tried to fight through my laughter for the sake of my girlfriend.

But I swear I could not stop.

Sevan only hummed, trying her hardest to be mad when I could tell she was nothing but amused by us.

Even I was amused by us, unable to contain my laughter when Arina began poking at the sweatshirt I wore.

This is much better than boring hospital.