that's what the papers called it. The title was fitting, just like his broken bones and bruised face, the sight alone giving a certain troubled glimmer to Alan's eyes. She knew it wasn't because he loved his father that he felt bad, but letting go of the strict values that had been repeated his entire life wasn't easy, especially when they were beaten into him with more than just words.

She looked at where he was sitting opposite her in the limo, his posture tense and breathing fast. They were in front of the hospital, but Alan hadn't made a move to step out in the entire five minutes they had been parked here. It wasn't that surprising; there weren't many people who would be eager to walk right into the flurry of paparazzi waiting in front of the entrance, all ready to jump at him as soon as he was spotted. Still, that was why she had come, to support him in a way - and more importantly, to show to the world that even though his father might have gone insane, the Nawars still backed his son.

"I don't know if I can go in," Alan murmured, eyes fixated on his hands.

"You don't have to," she said, leaning back and glancing out of the tinted windows," you know this is just a bonus, them seeing you here to be by that man's side when he's down. You're the new head of the company either way."

Alan laughed, though there was no humor in his voice. "It's not like you to try to be nice, Jas. We both know this isn't a bonus in any way. I need to go in to show my father's business associates that I'm a compassionate son who is level-headed and reliable, not some eighteen year old who abandones his parents in a time of need."

"You're right," she said, leaning her cheek on her hand as she locked gazes with him," but you also have lived in this world your entire life. Manipulating a few old men surely isn't too hard."

"No, it won't be," Alan agreed, a certain fatigue wearing at his usual arrogance," but you've already set up this entire plan, I might as well just do my part."

She didn't stop him as he opened the door, instead applying her lipstick as he stepped out. He waited by the door, offering her his elbow, and she followed gracefully, smiling at the reporters. They swarmed around them immediately, like piranhas to blood, but the bodyguards that had been waiting outside the limo kept them away before they practically tackled Alan. Their questions fired at them all at once, each one shouting above the other as they hurried to follow her and Alan to the entrance.

"What do you both have to say about CEO Lewis' display last night?"

"Alan! Alan, look over here!"

"Is it true he had something stronger than wine that night?"

"Are you taking your father's position, Alan?"

Jasmina leaned in to Alan, pretending to give him a kiss on the cheek as she whispered to him. "Go on, I'll handle this. Wait for me in the hallway, you don't actually have to see him."

"I have to," Alan murmured back.

She didn't protest, Alan continuing to walk to the entrance alone. He only took two steps before he stopped, causing her to raise an eyebrow at him in a silent question. In the fluorescent hospital lights he was a mirage of the guy he used to be, so high up that he couldn't even see the clouds, but when he smiled at her he looked sincerely happy, relief washing over him like sun rays.

"You've always been my best friend, Jas," he said," I'm glad we can talk again."

Her gaze remained on his, interlaced with memories and golden days.

"Me too."

He beamed at her and she turned back to the crowd, knowing she didn't need to go in anymore now he was visiting his father. Alan never was the type to like company in his dark moments and the conversation he was going to have was one he needed to have alone. Even without him saying that she knew, because for a long while she had known him better than anyone else and not even her now dulled anger could take away from that.

Forgiveness, she didn't realize she had it in her. It didn't feel as relieving as everyone always told her, but she supposed she didn't mind. No one was worth the time and emotions her anger took up, not when she could spend all that energy on herself instead. Right now, she had to turn it towards the reporters though, all of them saying her name like she was a god they were praying to.

"I hope you'll all excuse Alan's swift departure," she smiled, folding her hands in front of her," he is dearly worried about his father and hasn't slept all night."

"Is he taking over the company?" one of them shouted.

"CEO Lewis is a bit... troubled," Jasmina said," but Alan and my family will give him the help he needs. In the meantime Alan will be under my father's guidance as he succeeds the company, until he has learned everything necessary."

"Does your family supporting him mean you're back together again?" another yelled.

"No," she began," I'm not dating Alan -"

Before she could even continue someone slid his arm around her waist, shadows immediately dancing around in his presence as he smiled. She almost rolled her eyes at how quickly Azriel had arrived by her side, though she didn't mind. Even if she burned this whole world down he would join her with a bucket of gasoline and crown her queen of the ashes without any hesitation, as she would for him. He glanced at her with warm eyes, before they froze over again as he looked at the reporters.

"She's with me," he said confidently," so no, she isn't dating Alan."

The paparazzi went wild, all of them yelling an array of questions at them, but Azriel gave one signal and the bodyguards blocked them out of view. He offered Jasmina his hand as she took it, watching him amusedly as he raised it to his lips.

"I missed you, my queen," he murmured," I'm glad to have you all to myself again."

"I enjoyed working together with you, Az," she replied," you do live up to your reputation."

He looked pleased at that, pulling her in and letting the whole world spin after. She blinked and they were in her living room, the sins all laughing and going wild again, a sight she had gotten all too used to these days. Still, it was one of the last times she would see them all together for a long time, especially now they were going to travel, a thought which surprisingly gave her a bit of nostalgia. Somewhere she had gotten used to them, to the mix of haunting grief and reckless confidence they balanced so terribly.

"Jasmina! There you are!"

Daichi practically jumped on her, stopping in time when he remembered she didn't like that. He stood still in front of her with open arms, waiting like a puppy, and she hugged him briefly. Once she had done so he beamed at her and ran off again to Ira, who was shouting at him about some arm wrestling match. She glanced up at Azriel, who didn't seem to mind, smiling as he took two flutes of silver liquid from Lucy.

"I trust you," he said before she even asked the question," and besides, I know the affection my sins need isn't of the romantic kind. Gula especially has no bad intentions towards you."

"What if he had?" she commented as she accepted the drink from him.

"Let's hope we don't find out," Azriel murmured, taking a sip from his glass.

She knew trusting her was a step forward for him already, so she didn't press the issue. As long as Azriel believed everything he had could be taken away by a wave of his father's hand, she doubted anything could truly be resolved, but for her it also didn't need to be at this moment. The issue with Alan had tested him enough for her, to see whether how far his jealousy would go. Now it had only remained in the cute stage that promised much good for the future at least and for that and him, she was glad.

"I adore you as well, Az," she said, pecking him on the cheek," I'll go talk to the others now."

"Have fun, my queen," he smiled," I know you care for them, so I hope you'll have a good night."

"Who knew the devil was this cute?" Lucy laughed, shaking her long waves back and beckoning Ari to come closer," are you up to a game of a new human game we discovered, boss? It's called Monopoly, I believe, and Avaritia is surprisingly good at it."

"Everything concerning money gets me going," Ari nodded.

"It's all about who closes the best deals as well," Lucy added.

Azriel was immediately interested and she walked away, almost chuckling at how cute he was. To her right Ira had roped Victor into an arm wrestling match, Daichi cheering them both on as the referee. On her left Gio repeated Hindi words Priyanka taught him, bubbly blue clouds forming the words around his head every time he did so. Though Jasmina had seen Priyanka get angry often, she seemed softer now, laughing gently at Gio's attempt to form a sentence.

If someone had asked her in the beginning of the year if she had expected her life to change so drastically in the span of a few months, she would have said no. She still was as far from a saint as she could be, but at least that now went coupled with a crown and a devil, both of whom she had started to cherish surprisingly much.

"Jasmina! What are you doing, come see this!"

She turned to the voice, a smile on her face.

"I'm coming."

💕