My eyelids flutter, and I see Georgiy standing over me, his gaze intent on mine.
“Bane,” he whispers, his voice cracking. “Bane.”
His lips gingerly hit my forehead as he holds my hand tightly.
“You’re awake.”
“I met her,” I manage to say, my voice hoarse and dry.
He lets go of me and brings a cup of water with a straw to my mouth, and I take a long sip.
“Who?”
“My mom.”
I know he doesn’t believe me, but he just nods all the same, hope in his gaze.
“She was beautiful. She told me to go home. That someone needs me.”
“That was me. I need you,” Georgiy says softly and then kisses my forehead again, his lips lingering against my skin. “I need to tell the others. They’ve all been so anxious for you to wake up.”
“How long have I been out?”
“Two weeks. I was…” he clears his throat. “…I was concerned you might never wake up. The trauma to your body, the blood loss…”
As he says that, I feel it—the pain in my back, my legs, my chest.
“Don’t move. You need to save your strength. Everyone wants to say hello.”
“Wait,” I say, reaching out with a wince. “Wait. Just…can we just sit for a minute, you and I?”
Georgiy hesitates and then settles into the seat next to my bed. It’s then that I really take him in. He’s disheveled, a new beard on his face, his eyes tired and red-rimmed. He’s never looked more beautiful.
My mom was right. He does need me. And I him.
My mind flickers, and I remember Georgiy bent over my dad, ripping his chest apart with his bare hands.
He’s never been more impressive. If I weren’t already obsessed, I would be now.
“What do you need?” he asks, taking in my silent, contemplative state.
“I was just thinking how you murdered my dad.”
He blinks at me, no emotion on his face. “He deserved it.”
“He did.”
He waits a minute and then sighs. “I have something to tell you…it’s about your mother…”
“I already know. He told me.”
Georgiy scrubs a hand down his face and shakes his head. “I had no idea who she was or that she was even connected to you. I swear it.”
“I know.”
He turns away and swallows, the click loud in the room. It takes him a minute to compose himself, and then he turns to face me.
“I promise never to hurt you again. I vow on my life.”
