Zone Zero: Vengeance (Book 3 of 3)

Epilogue Part 2

Evie's POV

My eyes flutter open slowly and I try to stretch my back as much as I can in such a confined space. I look over to Alex and he gives off a small smile before reaching out and rubbing my knee with his hand.

Alex is driving Annerly and I to our new home. A home that all three of us will share together. Finally.

I turn in my seat and see that Annerly also managed to get some sleep. She is currently curled in a ball on the back seat of Alex's car.

"How long was I asleep for?" I ask turning back the right way.

"An hour or two."

I let out a yawn and rub the small amount of sleep that formed in my eyes before sliding my hand into Alex's.

"Sorry. Must have been boring driving without company."

"Don't be sorry. I've done this drive so many times now." Alex states before bringing my hand up to his lips and kissing my knuckles.

I look out the window and try to gauge where about a we could be but have no idea.

"Where are we?" I ask.

"About 30 minutes from St Petersburg."

I mentally scratch my head. I thought we would have gotten on a plane to take us the vast distance to Corvin Castle in Romania.

"We aren't going to Corvin Castle." Alex answers my mental conversation with myself.

"Why not?"

"That Castle holds memories of our darkest days and I wouldn't have you relive any of them. I figured that a change of scenery was due anyway."

"So, where are we going?" I say all too pleased that we aren't going to live at that castle.

"I've had some people working on restoring the Winter Palace for you."

My eyes grow wide as I look at him. Winter Palace was the home to Russian Monarchs and can only be described as incredible. I have seen photographs in books when I was a child but every human believed that buildings outside of the Zone had succumb to the elements or had simply been destroyed.

"Really? Winter Palace? But that place is huge." I say with excitement.

"I figured Annerly could use the space to run around. I also kind of got her a very large gift. Or two." Alex says with a smile. "Or more."

"We haven't even started our lives all together and you are already spoiling her." I shake my head mockingly with a tsk tsk.

"What can I say, she is the closest thing to a daughter I will ever have and I am going to treat her as such."

After another 30 minutes of driving Alex begins to slow the car just as the palace comes into view. The astonishing building of luxury that has seen many extravagant parties, stands tall against the bleak backdrop that surrounds it. But the thing that truly puts a smile on my face is the people that stand on the front steps waiting to usher us inside.

Imani, Gable and Luther all stand waiting for us along with a few other people I don't recognise.

Alex stops the car and then proceeds to reach over to the backseat and gently rouse the sleeping child.

Annerly rubs her eyes and sits up and within a second she has an astonished look plastered across her small features.

She has barely seen the real world so no doubt this sight must be overwhelming to her.

The Winter Palace is so amazing to behold that even I find myself staring in awe as I step out of the car.