Page 118 of Unveiled

I can’t imagine how a questioning would go.

I find Zoya in the kitchen, scrolling through her phone. “Hey, beautiful,” she says with a bright smile. “You look like hell.”

“Thanks?” My voice is hoarse. I lean against the counter, the weight in my chest making it hard to plaster on a smile. “Stefan get off to school alright?”

“Yup. Yana took him today since he overslept and missed the bus.” She sobers. “We didn’t mention anything to him about Eli. We wanted to leave that up to you.”

I give her a small smile. I look to the doorway at the sound of three footsteps—Grandfather, plus his cane. He hobbles in, his gnarled hand on top of the cane, dressed in the same pressed pants and button-down uniform he always wears.

“My, my, if it isn’t the loveliest ladies in the house,” he says with a wink. “I already saw Yana this morning and said the same thing, so don’t think I’m playing favorites.”

Zoya shakes her head and smiles at him as she turns to put the kettle on.

“You’ve had a rough few days, I hear,” Grandfather says, pulling out a seat.

I get the teabags while Zoya puts out a simple breakfast ofkasha,a warm porridge served with butter and honey. My mouth waters.

We talk about simple things, but no one mentions the elephant in the room.

My phone buzzes with a text. I stare at my phone as if it would bite me.

“Are you alright?” Zoya asks with concern. “First you looked like you might pass out again, and now you look like you want to toss your phone out the window.”

I give her a wan smile. “I’m alright. I just need to eat.”

The door swings open, and Matvei steps in.

“Hey.” He makes himself a cup of tea and sits next to Grandfather. “Anya, you know where Semyon is?”

I blow out a shaky breath. “He’s with Eli.”

Matvei’s brows shoot up, which doesn’t exactly make me feel any better. “Ah. Right.”

He chats with Grandfather about a game he watched while I focus on eating my breakfast and ignoring the buzzing texts on my phone. Just as I push my plate away, the door opens, and Semyon steps inside with Eli.

Zoya draws in a sharp breath. “You two lookterrible,” she says, shaking her head. Matvei narrows his eyes on Eli, likely not convinced he should be in our presence without handcuffs, but Grandfather just sips his tea, his eyes dancing with amusement.

Eli greets everyone with a smile. “Yeah, would love a shower, Zoya.”

Semyon, as always, is an unreadable force. “We’ll put him up in the guest room on the second floor, the one furthest down the hall.” Interesting. The one furthest away fromus,most likely.

Zoya nods. “I can help, Semyon.” She steps over to Eli. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room. There’s an en suite shower you can use.” She throws Semyon a glance. “His… status?”

Semyon blows out a breath and puts his hands in his pockets. “He’s a guest, Zoya.”

Oh my god. Was she about to lock him up or call a team of guards?

Yes. Yes, she was.

Semyon sits down next to me, and I give his hand a quick squeeze. “I need to talk to you.”

His brows lower as he makes a cup of tea. “In a few minutes, of course.”

I clear my throat. “Now.”

His expression doesn’t change, but a flicker of something unreadable passes across his face. “Fine.”

Semyon walks me to the pantry and places his hand on my lower back. I melt a little, leaning into him.

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