Chapter 50
CHAPTER
FIFTY
SOFIYA
I’m starfished on our bed, staring at the ceiling, exhaustion tugging at my eyelids. I’m clean, warm, and fed, yet the events of the last twelve hours cling to me like a shadow. Nikolai hasn’t left my side since we returned to the estate. I finally convinced him I could manage five minutes alone while he showers.
Earlier, I had a good cry, releasing some of the pent-up emotion. Now, lying here in the quiet, the weight of it all creeps back in. The only solace is that it’s over, and I’m back with Niko. Somehow, this harrowing ordeal brought Nikolai and Roman together—the start of a fragile peace.
The bathroom door opens, and Niko steps into the room wearing only a robe. He looks exhausted, his face roughened with stubble. His eyes soften when they find me.
“Why don’t you get into some cozy pajamas and join me,” I suggest, patting the spot beside me in bed.
“I don’t have cozy pajamas. I sleep naked, remember?”
“Oh, I remember,” I say, smirking. “But don’t knock it until you try it. And for the record, I fully intend to buy us matching flannel Christmas PJs.”
He gives me a faint smile. “For you, I’ll make an exception to my no-clothes in bed rule. But only on special occasions.”
When I stifle a yawn, he crosses the room, turns off the lamp, and pulls me into his arms. His warmth surrounds me, and I breathe him in, letting the steady rhythm of his heart calm me.
“Sofiya…” he says, with a note of hesitation. “Do you want to talk about what happened tonight?”
Dr. Safin asked me the same question, but the truth is, I’m not ready. “I need to forget about it for a while and process it on my own. Dr. Safin said she’d recommend a professional I can reach out to when I’m ready to talk.”
“I understand, but I’m here for you. Anytime it gets to be too much.”
“Are you okay?” I murmur, tilting my head to look at him in the low light. It must have been just as traumatic for him.
He lets out a soft breath, his fingers tangling in my hair. “That was terrifying. I didn’t know fear like this until you. If I ever lost you…” He shakes his head and presses his lips to my temple. “Life wouldn’t be worth living.”
Tears prick my eyes. “I feel the same way. I love you.”
“I love you too,” he breathes. “More than I’ve ever loved anyone. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I promise you’ll never be in danger again.”
He blames himself for what happened, and I wish he didn’t. I don’t blame him. It was something out of his control, but no matter what I say, my abduction still weighs heavily on him.
I prop myself up on my elbows so I can look into his eyes. “I know you’ll do your best, but that’s an impossible promise. No matter what, living life by your side will always be worth it.”
He holds my face and kisses me softly. It’s the best feeling in the world.
“I wish it didn’t have to be that way. If walking away from this world is what I need to do to keep you safe, you know I’ll do it.”
I shake my head. “We’re married—that means accepting everything you are. I’m not looking for you to change.”
He huffs a laugh. “You didn’t choose to marry me the first time, but I’m going to give you a choice now.” His hand coasts over my hair, stroking me gently. “Will you marry me, moya sladost? I’ll give you the world, even your freedom.”
“Yes, Niko. A thousand times yes. There’s no one else for me.” I cup his face, my smile breaking through the tears.
He clears his throat. “If you still want to move to Berlin and dance, I’ll come with you.”
“I’ve thought about it, and it feels like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, with the person I’m supposed to be with. But I’d like to open another school in Berlin.”
“Another school?”
“I hope to make the school self-sufficient, separate from your funding. I can fundraise and bring in donors, maybe even host events. Eventually, I’d like to expand and open other schools.”
“Why?” he grumbles. “I’ll give you all the money you need to expand.”
I smile at his grumpy tone. “It’s important to me that I make this work on its own—expanding when the time is right.” I brace myself on my forearm to look at him. “I want to live here, at the estate full-time, and travel as needed. How does that sound?”
He’s quiet for a moment, wrapping a strand of my hair around his fingers. “If that’s what you want, moya sladost. You know I’ll never deny you a thing.”
I lay back down and cuddle into him. We stay like that for a while, wrapped in each other, until a thought occurs to me. “Can I see Roman before he leaves?”
He brushes a thumb across my cheek. “Roman and Pavel are staying a few days. Liza’s coming, too. She’ll be here tomorrow.”
“Liza? Really?”
“Of course. She wants to be here for you.”
Happiness unfurls inside me. It hasn’t been that long since we’ve been apart, but I miss Liza like crazy. Then, another thought strikes me. “Can I call Daria and Alex? You know, my two friends that you threatened to kill if I didn’t cooperate.”
He stifles a laugh. “Of course.”
How did you end up working with Roman and Pavel anyway? Did you call them for help when you realized I was missing?”
He makes an amused noise in the back of his throat. “That phone call you made to your sister. The stolen phone…”
I wince. “About that… I was going to tell you after the party.”
“Yeah, well, it’s lucky you did call them because they showed up here to talk and ended up helping to find you instead. The timing worked in our favor.”
“You’re not mad?”
“How could I be? You had every right to try and escape. I’m just glad you didn’t manage to.” His fingers draw lazy designs on my thigh. “Roman filled me in on all your phone calls and the clues you managed to piece together to help him figure out where we were.”
“So, are you guys friends now or what?”
He strokes his chin. “We’re not enemies. Not sure we’re going to be drinking buddies anytime soon. I’m grateful, though. We couldn’t have pulled this off without his help. Although, there’s still plenty of work ahead of us.”
I’m nearly drifting off. His touch more comforting than a warm blanket. A final thought flits through my mind. “Emil,” I mumble. “Please don’t kill him.”
I feel Niko stiffen beside me. “He betrayed me. He’s the reason Igor was able to get to you.”
“I know, but he also saved me. Igor had his hands wrapped around my neck when Emil shot him. He made the right choice in the end.”
Niko clears his throat. “I’ll take that into consideration.”
I pat his arm, already halfway asleep. “Don’t be a dick,” I murmur before drifting off with his arms around me, soothing away every lingering fear.