Crown of Hate (Soulless Empire)

Chapter 32

32

ALYA

“It’s a boy!” Mikhail’s voice booms across the room as he sweeps me off my feet. He’s beaming with excitement, his blue eyes sparkling with a joy I’ve never seen before. “We’re having a boy!”

I bite back a smile, feigning disappointment. “Looks like I lost the bet.”

It’s been three weeks since Akim Petrov was killed. Boris somehow escaped from the city, and Mikhail has taken his place as the new Pakhan. It took two grueling weeks for things to finally fall into place, but the moment they did, we threw ourselves into planning our baby’s gender reveal.

That’s where we are now, in the lush, elegantly decorated garden behind one of the most extravagant palaces I’ve ever seen. Mikhail said it once belonged to a prince. Now, it belongs to us.

It’s a fairytale I never saw coming. Not like this, at least.

Even Mama is here in Russia now, living it up in her own wing of the property—though she spends most of her time in the main house with Grace, Mikhail, and me.

She’s at the party, beaming with happiness. Kira and Ilya are here too, with Semyon and Alexei due back in a week. Even Viktor is on Mikhail’s payroll now.

All our family and friends are have gathered, except Sophia. A bittersweet pang hits me at the thought of her absence, but I push it aside. I’ll see her soon. I can’t let anything ruin this moment. Looking around, I catch glimpses of everyone’s smiling faces, and warmth spreads through my chest. This—being surrounded by family, celebrating the little miracle growing inside me—this is what happiness feels like.

Mikhail lets me down and pokes my nose with a playful grin. “Told you so.”

“Got any names brewing in that devious mind of yours?”

He nods. “A few. But my lips are sealed until he makes his grand entrance.”

I narrow my eyes, trying and failing to look stern. “It better be a good one, Mr. Zhirkov.”

He wraps his arms around my waist and hauls me closer. “Trust me, Mrs. Zhirkov. It’s a name fit for a future Pakhan.”

I bite my lip and snake my arms around his neck. “How about we make a break for it? Celebrate in our own… special way?”

His grin turns wolfish. “That would be terribly rude, wife.”

“Um. You two might want to look into getting a room,” Kira’s voice cuts through our little bubble.

When I turn around to face her, she’s wincing and shaking her head. “Hey there, newest aunt on the block.”

Her wince morphs into a wide smile. “I still can’t wrap my head around it. Me, an aunt! To a little boy! I’m going to spoil him rotten.”

I don’t doubt her for a second. “With so many people doting on him, I might as well be a birthing machine at this point,” I joke. “You’re all going to want me to push out another one asap.”

Mikhail presses a kiss to my forehead. “Are you jealous?”

I bob my head dramatically.

He grabs my chin with two fingers. “I’ll always have plenty of doting left for you.”

“Congratulations, you two.”

Mikhail and I direct our attention to Mama. She’s gotten up from her chair and made her way over, and she looks absolutely amazing. Radiant, fully recovered and positively glowing.

“Thanks, Mama.

“Thank you, Mrs. Orlov.”

Alexei and Semyon are quick to shuffle over and join in, both of them grinning like kids in a candy store.

“That little man’s going to learn a lot from Uncle Alexei,” Alexei boasts. “I’ll teach him how to fight and hold a gun. Semyon can handle the bicycle lessons.”

Semyon shoots him a glare. “I’ll teach him how to drive, not ride a bike, thank you very much.”

We all burst out laughing.

“I think there’ll be plenty of time to figure out the teaching roster,” I interject. “Chill, you two.”

“I bet his first word will be ‘Aunt Kira,'” Kira says. She thinks for a moment. “Or just ‘Kira.’ I’m not picky.”

“’Ilya’ is way easier to say,” Ilya chimes in. “I’ll make sure that’s what he learns first.”

While the others bicker over who gets to corrupt our child first, I catch sight of Grace whispering something to Mama, who nods and follows her to the cake table.

Grace has been such a blessing since she joined us in Russia, just two days after Akim’s death and the end of the war. She takes diligent care of me, always keeping me company when Mikhail is away. She’s also quickly becoming close with Mama. Seeing her here, part of our family, fills me with gratitude.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t still appreciate a little alone time with my man.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Mikhail and I quietly slip away.

We find a secluded spot behind a tree and collapse in a fit of giggles as we sit and try to catch our breath.

“You think they’ll notice we’re gone?” I ask, peeking around the trunk to check for pursuers.”

“Not a chance. At least, mot anytime soon with how they’re going at it,” Mikhail grins.

I chuckle and rest my head on his shoulder. “Fine by me. More alone time for us.”

We fall into a comfortable silence, listening to the birdsong and the gentle rustle of leaves overhead. It feels so peaceful here that I feel myself drifting to sleep.

I never thought I’d see the day, but I genuinely love it here in Russia. It feels good starting a new life, one so far away from all the bad memories.

And this man beside me? God, I love him more than I ever thought possible.

“Thank you for everything, Alya,” Mikhail whispers, just as I almost fall asleep. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for the happiness you’ve brought into my life, but I swear I’ll spend every breath making sure you’re just as happy.”

I almost laugh. This still feels like some twisted fairytale. Mikhail, the man I once hated so fiercely is now the man who’s given me everything I’ve ever wanted. He’s made me a wife, a mother-to-be, and I know without a doubt he’d give up anything just to see me smile.

How did I get so lucky? I have the most feared man in Russia wrapped around my finger, and I wouldn’t trade him for anything. Even if I had a chance to choose, to go back to before all this madness, I wouldn’t, because my love for him is deeper than I can even put into words.

I feel his gaze on me, but I keep my eyes closed, savoring the moment. “I love you, malyshka,” he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. “I love you so much.”

A smile warms my lips. “I love you too, Moy lyubimy.”

“Moy Iyubimy?” he echoes, clearly stunned by the nickname.

I raise my head and nod. “You call me malyshka, so I figured it was time I gave you a pet name too.”

He brings his face dangerously close to mine. “How about we spice things up a bit? Make this moment even sweeter?”

My tongue darts out, wetting over my lips. “Careful what you wish for, Mr. Zhirkov. I’m a married woman, you know.”

“And I have the most beautiful wife on the planet. That makes us even.”

He pins a finger under my chin and tilts my face. “Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?” he asks with a deep, husky tone.

“Why don’t you show me instead?” I whisper.

“My pleasure.”

His lips capture mine in a kiss so deep, so passionate, I can feel his love coursing through my veins.

I return it with equal fervor, pouring every ounce of my soul into it. Into him.

Into us .