Everyone was gathered in the main dining hall the next morning for a formal meeting.
Even Mikhail had finally removed the stone from his door and come down with Natalie, hand in hand.
“You’re looking refreshed.” Vince said to Natalie.
“I feel refreshed, thank you.” Natalie said with a smile as she squeezed Mikhail’s hand and smiled at him.
Mikhail looked down at Vince like a vulture until Vince turned away with a sigh.
As Mikhail sat down at the head of the table, Natalie broke away from him and made her way over to Carlos and Rex and greeted them with affectionate hugs. As she walked back up the line of chairs to her own, next to Mikhail, she reached out and scruffed the top of Vlad’s head playfully. He turned with surprise and grabbed her wrist but then smiled when he saw it was her
