33. Anastasia
Chapter 33
Anastasia
The robe Bash wraps me in is made of thick white terry cloth. He doesn’t let go of me, which is good because I still don’t have complete control over my legs. Bash washed me from head to toe, refusing to let me do anything while he took care of everything. There’s a feeling of contentment growing inside me that I’ve never experienced before. Like, everything that’s happening right now is exactly how it should be.
There’s a sharp twist under my ribs at the thought of having to let this go. It’s already too late to go back now, so I let Bash guide me to the bed, where he sits me between his legs.
My gaze snaps to him as the loud buzz of a hair dryer turns on. “I can do that.”
“Stasia, just let me. I know I don’t have to, but I want to keep taking care of you.” He’s so uncharacteristically serious that I turn forward and lower my head, giving him access.
There’s a warm, soft emotion expanding in my chest until it’s hard to breathe. The ever-tightening tension that’s been tugging my muscles loosens as he gently dries my hair. The warm air and his soft touch draw me into a blissful state I never want to wake up from.
I’m careful not to examine it too closely as I relax in Bash’s arms.
The hair dryer clicks off. “There’s an Order ceremony tomorrow. I think that’ll be the best time to sneak you back into the Vault.”
That snaps through my daze, bringing me to the present. “Tomorrow?”
I should be happy. Ecstatic even. I’m about to get the tiara and free me of all of this, but there’s a sinking sensation pulling me down. Tomorrow.
“I…I’ll get my brother’s stuff. After that, we’ll be even, right?”
I want him to say no. Tell me some other outlandish plan, but his gaze is hard on me. There’s an edge to it. He looks away. “Once you get the Kokoshnik Tiara, we’ll be even.”
Does that make this our last night?
Bash loosens, the muscles that were tense releasing as he gives me a playful smile. “You know you’ll be miserable without me.”
I hate that he’s right.