"Kurt, you need to get a grip. In fact, you all do! James said, looking around the room. Everyone was miserable, stressed or upset.
Shut up, James! " Kurt said.
James was about to retort, but the syndicate chair line rang. Anastasia appeared on the screen with Theo.
"We have got her and there were no casualties," Anastasia said. There was a sigh of relief in the room.
"How is she?" Kurt asked.
"Unwell, the infection has come back, but she is in good hands. She is sleeping as we speak, "Theo said.
"She is coming home, that is all that counts," Kurt said.
"Yes, she is," Anastasia said in a weird tone.
"Anastasia, please tell me you are bringing her back to China," Chris suddenly said.
"Oh Chris, don't be foolish! Of course, I am not! I am taking my granddaughter back to Moscow, "Anastasia said.
"Anastasia!" Chris growled.
"What? You made your priorities very clear that night. You have your heiresses, and now I have mine, " Anastasia said.
"It is OK Dad, I knew Anastasia would do something like this. That is why I brought the Mad Dogs along. Alannah will be alright, " Theo said.
"You have an open invitation to come and stay whenever you like. Alannah has every right to know all the options that are open to her. You all owe me this for keeping her existence a secret! Consider that debt now paid, " Anastasia said.
"Can I talk to her when she wakes up?" Kurt pleaded.
"Ahh, now we get to the crux of it, don't we? My granddaughter is clearly in love with you. In fact, all she is mumbling about is fighting Akihiko and getting back to you. The only positive is that it is in Russian, "Anastasia said with a sigh.
"Why do I get the feeling that there is a but?" Kurt said.
"Because there is. You have her permission to court her, and I mean court her. She is to have flowers, meals, trips out... in other words, I want to see romance and effort. I want Alannah to be treated like a lady of her station. Maybe then you will fully appreciate the value of a Medvedev woman, "Anastasia said.
"I can do that. I can do anything she wants. I will make arrangements to be in Russia by the end of the week," Kurt said.
"What? I WON'T ALLOW IT! They are all already engaged. " Chris roared. He had enough of these meddling women.
"Won't allow it? Don't make me laugh, Chris! She is my heiress and she will be treated as such! Not kept in a God-forsaken warehouse! She will have all the options laid out for her, including the option of being an Empress, a Queen, or Tsarina! Don't think there will be only those two in the race. I, for one, wish her to marry a good Russian or Australian man, "Anastasia said.
"That is not going to happen! You stated it yourself: she adores me! She has already agreed to marry me! " Kurt said.
"Without my permission, she broke off the engagement. This is my playpen, Kurt. Play by my rules or fuck off out of the game. The choice is yours! " Anastasia said
"I will do what you want, Tsarina," Kurt said.
"Wise choice. I'll let you know when she wakes. "
"One moment, is the invite open to the Nine-Tails as well?" Ethan asked.
Anastasia sighed. I suppose so, but do not test the boundaries of my patience. Understand? Bruce is more than welcome if he is interested in throwing his hat into the ring. "
Stop stirring you old bag, you know I love her as a sister only, "Bruce said, and the Nine-Tails smirked, whilst Kurt growled.
"Now, now Kurt. He is allowed to, as heir to the Australian Syndicate, ask permission to court, my granddaughter, just as much as you are. To be honest, you had your chance. I would have let the engagement stand. But you need to prove you are capable of looking after a Velikaia Knazhna. By all accounts, Bruce has looked after her for a long time. He even pushed Alannah out of the way of a knife and became injured himself, "Anastasia said.
"Anastasia! Stop taunting the poor lad! " Tony said, with an eye roll.
"Why should I? It will do Kurt the world of good to realise he has a lot of making-up and convincing to do! " Anastasia snapped.
"I will be there to oversee the courtship. Don't worry, Kurt," Theo said.
"I expect nothing less," Anastasia said, and the screen went black.
"It looks like we are going to Russia! Better pack some jumpers! " Aiden said, rubbing his hands in excitement.
Alannah had a sore head when she woke up. She looked around and realised she was not in Japan anymore. She was lying on a huge four-poster bed in a massive room. The walls were covered in oak boards that had intricate and ornate carvings. There was a roaring fire at one end of the room, but Alannah shivered as she sat up.
"Are you cold, Miss? Please put this over you, "a young woman with blond hair and blue eyes said. She was just over 5 feet tall and had her hair plated. In her hands was a woollen green shawl.
"Sorry, who are you and where am I?" Alannah said
"My name is Mary, and I am your maid. My family has served this family for generations, and I am so thrilled to finally meet Velikaia Knazhna! " Mary said
"Velikaia Knazhna?" Alannah asked.
"Grand Princess! I have not seen Tsar and Tsaritsa so happy, and that is thanks to you! " Mary said.
"I don't have a clue what you are talking about. When can I go home? " Alannah said, whilst rubbing her forehead. She just wanted to be home, in her room, with Captain Mog. That was not too much to ask, was it?
"Home?" Mary was confused.
"Yes, home to Beijing," Alannah explained.
"No, Velikaia Knazhna home is here now! " Mary said, "You are where you are supposed to be, the home of your ancestors and mother."
"Oh God, please don't tell me I am in Russia! " Alannah moaned, laying back down on her pillow. Alannah was tired, very tired.
"Yes, but that does not matter right now. "You need to sleep now, Velikaia Knazhna," Mary said as she pulled the covers over to cover Alannah.
"I suppose a few more minutes of sleep won't change anything," Alannah said, sighing and closing her eyes.
"Velikaia Knazhna sleeps well," Mary said.
=========================================================================================================
"Kurt, you need to slow down," James complained. They had been back in the UK for 2 days, and Kurt was pulling 18-hour days.
"No, what I need is to get Alannah back!" Kurt snapped. He couldn't sleep, no matter how hard he tried. Alannah's message kept running through his mind: I lent you my heart, but I am taking it back now. He hoped he could persuade her to give her heart to him one last time.
"Dude, you've been like this before with Grace," James said before he realised what he had said. Kurt got up and pinned James against the wall.
"I am going to say this once: nothing about Alannah is like Grace. I love Alannah, to the point that I would willingly throw myself into the fires of hell itself if she was there, "Kurt growled.
"I am sorry, Kurt," James said.
"You will be if you ever compare what I feel for Alannah to that of Grace. It is different! " Kurt said, and James nodded. Kurt released James and got back to work.
"Well, the Jet is ready for tomorrow," James said.
"Good," Kurt said.
"Do you want me to come?" James asked.
"Are you going to actually be helpful or fuck up again?" Kurt said.
"Ouch! You know, I am an excellent wingman and she likes me, "James said.
"What after you called her a whore and unworthy to be my Queen?" says more about her, then don't you think? " Kurt said, not looking away from the screen.
"Oh stop it, Kurt. You are going to have some stiff competition. You need someone to watch your back! " James said.
"I hardly call Akihiko a competition," Kurt retorted.
"Maybe not, but there is Bruce, and he has a major head start," James said.
Kurt sighed and said, "I can handle Bruce. Alannah will be coming home with me." She loves me, even the old bag admits it. "
"Still... I want to come and support you," James said.
"Fine, but don't mess up again." Kurt Kurt Kurt