Tatiana's POV
Five whole months! That was absolutely insane. How could anyone sleep for that long and still come back looking like he hadn't missed a beat? And that heroic act he pulled… I still didn't know whether to feel sad, angry, or just completely overwhelmed. He had me worked up in ways I couldn't even describe, even during my re-instatement ceremony I found it hard to focus properly. My mind kept drifting back to him lying there, motionless. Normally, I should have been over the moon with joy. After all, I finally had what I had always wanted — real, tangible power. It wasn't some fleeting feeling that would disappear with the wind; it was something solid, something deep and lasting. But strangely, there was no real pleasure in it. My enemies were still out there, lurking silently in the shadows… patiently waiting for the perfect moment to strike when I least expected it.
And then, finally, he said those three simple words. The ones that made everything else fade away until I could think of nothing else but him. The ones that reminded me he had sparked a fire inside my soul that I could no longer contain or control. "I love you." In that breathtaking moment, I knew without a doubt it was time to start our life together as a truly happy couple. Without even thinking twice, the words tumbled out of my mouth in response… "I love you." Indeed, I can't remember the last time I had felt such deep, genuine, soul-soothing peace. Everything else that happened that day came as one big emotional blur. I was sitting quietly on the wooden bench outside his hospital ward, lost in a sea of thoughts and worries, when I suddenly heard a soft voice calling out, "My daughter."
My head turned sharply in the direction of the voice, my heart skipping a beat. I swear on my grave, I was completely shocked by the strange similarities we shared. The same piercing eyes, the same determined jawline… it was almost eerie, like looking into a distorted mirror of my own face.
"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice coming out sharper and more defensive than I intended. He didn't speak at first. Instead, tears welled up in his eyes and he broke down completely. "I've looked for you for what feels like forever. Where is your brother?"
My hair stood on end, a cold shiver running down my spine. "I don't have a brother," I replied quickly, hoping desperately that it wasn't what I was secretly fearing. In that exact same moment, Derek stepped out of his room and froze the second he saw the man. "Dad… how are you still alive?"
I froze completely, my body going rigid. Did he just say "dad"? My heart pounded wildly in my chest like a drum, confusion and fear mixing into one overwhelming wave.
I jolted awake suddenly, panting heavily, my body covered in a light sweat as I tried to make sense of what this dream truly meant. He was already awake, staring intently into my eyes with that familiar, intense gaze that always seemed to see straight through me. "Did we just have the same dream?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. Without waiting for an answer, I stood up on shaky legs, walked straight to his bedside, and without any warning at all, I kissed him. I didn't fully understand what this moment stood for, but deep down in my heart I knew it was necessary — like something cosmic was pulling us together. The air around us suddenly stilled, becoming thick and charged with energy. The lights in the room started flickering wildly, as if struggling against an unseen force. The temperature dropped below zero in an instant, sending goosebumps across my skin, and just then, we were both engulfed in an invisible blaze. I felt the intense heat, but strangely, it only made me feel warm, protected, and alive. I looked at him, my lips parting to speak, but before I could say a single word, he locked me in a passionate kiss that almost knocked the breath right out of me. I wasn't ready to let go. Not yet. Not ever.
But just then, we heard a mysterious, ancient voice echo softly around us: "Your history is intertwined, but only you two can make your future one. Our phoenix rulers, we welcome you back to the world of the living." The words were spoken in ancient Greek, the language rolling off like a sacred chant and sending powerful chills racing down my spine.
I didn't know what to say or even think in that moment. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions. But as usual, Derek always had the perfect remark — he simply smiled that confident, reassuring, heart-melting smile of his. Looking at him, all my scattered thoughts disappeared completely. Thinking straight was no longer an option. My mind wandered back to how we first kissed; it was definitely hilarious, that chaotic car scene. Even if I had been brainwashed at the time, those wonderful memories remained crystal clear and untouched.
Everything slowly returned to normal. The lights stopped their wild flickering, the temperature stabilized, and the heavy energy in the room lifted. I felt good to go, stronger somehow. I looked around carefully and noticed we were the only ones left in the space. Suddenly, a different kind of nervousness washed over me. Now that we were truly and completely alone, what could possibly happen next? Heat rushed back to my face in a fierce blush. I won't lie — part of me was genuinely curious about what it would feel like to be that close to him without any interruptions. But as usual, he dispelled those dangerous thoughts before they could even breathe properly.
He smelt like a skunk. No way was he touching me in that state, heroic phoenix ruler or not.
"Go and bath, you embarrassing toddler," I teased, trying hard to hide my own embarrassment behind sarcasm.
He gave me the cutest face while pouting dramatically, and I think I heard a soft, playful "Yes, madam." He definitely wanted to turn me into his permanent enemy with that kind of attitude, that's for sure.
I don't know what on earth took him so long in the bathroom, but I was growing more and more impatient by the second. My foot tapped restlessly against the floor as I waited. Finally… he stepped out. He looked like a Greek god brought to life. At this age, I swear he had somehow cheated nature itself. I was gawking — literally staring with my mouth slightly open. Was it my eyes playing tricks on me, or was his handsomeness simply inhumane and otherworldly? I couldn't explain or describe such raw beauty. I quickly snapped out of my trance before he caught me staring like a lovesick fool.
"During your long slumber, a lot of things have been going on behind the scenes," I said, trying to sound as serious and composed as possible. "Some of them need your immediate attention and action, so let's go home."
The drive back was quiet, almost too quiet, as if we were both too nervous to speak around each other. The tension in the air was weird and electric, thick enough to cut with a knife. I kept stealing secret glances at him, my heart racing every time our eyes almost met.