Page 95 of Unholy Tsar

I didn’t really understand just how much they cared about him until I witnessed their collective panic when they realized just how hurt he was.

Rian drove like a madman, racing at the speed of light to get us back to the hotel. By the time we arrived, a doctor and his team were already waiting. They treated Maksim’s wounds, but he’d lost so much blood that he needed a blood transfusion.

Every single person in that room offered their blood—from Rian to Roz—but no one was a match. The rest of the crew volunteered to be tested, too, but still, no luck. I begged them to take mine, but I was no different.

Maksim’s blood type was so rare they had to reach across the country to find someone who could help. That search lasted 24 hours, and every second of that was agony.

But when the blood finally came in, the relief was palpable. Maksim was saved.

So why is he still unconscious?

I sigh, tightening my hold on his hand.

“Don’t worry, Cece. Maksim is tough. He’s just catching up on some sleep. You know, old guys like that need a lot of it,” Roz says with a small smile from across the room.

“You need some sleep yourself,” Rian chimes in beside her. “Uncle Maksim isn’t going to be too happy when he wakes up and sees how worn out you are.”

Sleep? How could I even think of sleep at a time like this. Hell, I don’t think I’ve shut my eyes at all over the past few days. How could I look away from Maksim, knowing I might never see him breathing again?

“I’m fine,” I murmur, brushing off their concerns.

Roz and Rian exchange a glance, then Roz gets up from her seat and walks toward me. I feel her warm hand fall on my shoulder. “At least go soak in the bath for a few minutes. The doctor said Maksim shouldn’t wake up any time soon. Go take care of yourself.”

I look down, noting my disheveled appearance. How am I still wearing the clothes I changed into after we brought Maksim to the hotel? I lift up my hand and give it a sniff. Ugh. “You should’ve just told me I stunk,” I say with a weak chuckle.

Her lips twitch, but she suppresses the urge to smile. “Well, I wasn’t going to say it…” she can’t help but joke. “You’ve been through so much lately. Didn’t want to add to your burdens.”

“No, you’re right.”

Turning my attention back to Maksim, I give him one last lingering look before I finally let go of his hand and stand up. It takes me a second to balance. Rian and Roz both step forward to offer assistance, but I wave them off. “I’m okay,” I insist. “Just please let me know if he shows any signs of waking up.”

“Promise.”

With that, I make my way to the bathroom for a short shower. After drying off, I find a change of clothes in the walk-in: one of Maksim’s shirts, a cozy pair of joggers, and fresh underwear. As I slip them on, his lingering scent wraps around me like a warm embrace. I hold onto myself, cherishing the familiar smell.

When I get back to the bedroom, Tytus and Gabriel have joined Rian and Roz. They all stand around Maksim, their faces etched with concern.

“That was quick,” Roz comments.

“Didn’t feel like being gone too long,” I admit, feeling a sense of comfort settling over me as I return to Maksim’s bedside.

Taking his hand back in mine, we lapse into silence for a few minutes until Gabriel suddenly chuckles. We all turn to stare at him.

“What’s so funny?” Rian asks, slightly annoyed.

Gabriel raises his hands up with a small smile. “It’s nothing… just that it kind of feels like we’ve come full circle, no?”

“What are you talking about?” Tytus asks in a bored tone. He always sounds bored and uninterested. Roz says it's his way of coping; apparently, he misses his wife, Melina. I hear he’s more lively when she’s around.

“This. It just reminds me of all we’ve been through—like the time Bianca and I had our showdown with Krol. We both got hurt pretty bad. When I woke up, I was surrounded by Kilpatricks. They all hated my guts. Maksim will wake up to the same thing. Kilpatricks. But we don’t hate his guts, do we?”

“We love him,” Roz agrees, before adding. “But I’m still not so sure I like getting called a Kilpatrick.”

“How about being called mine,” Rian suggests, arching his brow.

Roz smiles. “That will do just fine.”

“Maksim is surrounded by people who love him,” Tytus confirms, his voice low. “And he always will be.”