They stood there talking for a while. The doctor exited Irlana’s room and informed them that they could see her now. She was conscious and her wound had been properly treated.

"Go talk to her," Xiran patted Rivan’s shoulder with a hint of a smile. He appreciatively nodded at his friend and taking long strides disappeared into Irlana’s room.

Xiran on the other hand called Yurain and informed him about the mission, he also asked him to tighten security regarding Aselia. Yurian assured him that he will take care of everything.

Irlana was sitting on the bed with her back resting against the bedrest, supported by pillows. A large white bandage covered most of her head and forehead. She was staring outside the window, lost in some deep messed-up thoughts.

Her head swivelled as the door to her room opened and Rivan stepped inside, filling her room with his soothing presence. Their eyes instantly locked and her breath hitched in her throat, the tears of joy were ready to take birth and descend to her sunken cheeks.

"Rivan!" she whispered his name ever so slowly and he rushed to her wrapping his arms around her flail structure. All he could feel was bones, she had lost so much weight. Rivan tried to keep a straight face, but his heart was breaking.

Has she been kept hungry? This was the first thing he noticed and it made him extremely mad.

"I am glad to have you back and this time I won’t let you go," he murmured in her ear, his hands stroking her back ever so gently as Irlana placed her face on his shoulder and cried. Her hand crumpled his shirt from the front and her whole frame shook from the sobs that randomly escaped her, depicting and narrating the torment and abuse she had been through.

"Cry as much as you want. Let it all out, because that’s the last time I am letting that bastard make you cry," he wheezed out in disgust and kissed the side of her eyes from where tears were flowing, his lips absorbing emotion-filled salty water.

He lovingly held her in his embrace until she calmed down and her hiccups eased and sobs stopped, the heaving of her chest became steady and tears ceased to escape her. But she still clung to him tightly, not wanting to let go.

Finally, she lifted her ocean-filled eyes to his and Rivan was keenly watching her. The softness of his eyes as his curly brown hair fell in front had her heart hammering. His square jaw was so taut because she had been crying, she reached out and grazed her fingers along it, making it relax automatically.

His well-defined perky lips were ever inviting and she unknowingly dropped her gaze on them, wanting to taste their softness.

Sensing what she wanted, Rivan leaned in and grazed them against her pink ones and she slightly moaned and parted them for him to fully immerse in. The hunger they had for each other soon morphed into a fiery inferno and he fiercely kissed her as she shamelessly whimpered in return. His hands reached inside her soft hair and he pulled her even closer.

Soon they were left breathless and parted so both of them could breathe but they never took their gaze off each other, drinking each other in for the time they had been away.

"I missed you so much," Irlana finally mustered the courage to tell him.

"Me too, that’s why I am going to keep you with me from now onwards," he declared with finality, caressing her face with his right hand.

"My mother?" she questioned, her body going stiff again.

"All the elves from those facilities have been relocated. Injured ones are here in the hospital being treated. What’s her name? We will find her, she will be here," he reassured her.

"Elrine Mawes, she is in her mid-forties," Irlana informed Rivan.

"I will find her, don’t worry and she will live with us too. I won’t let any harm come to you or her," his lips stretched lightly and he found himself smiling at her, his restless heart was at ease for once. From the time she was taken from him, he had not found his heart in a tranquil state.

He had bottled his feelings and shut the lid so tight for he wanted to be strong for his friend, who was suffering beyond words. Rivan had no time to contemplate his emotional state so he never removed that lid until now. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

She was now back in his arms and all those pent-up emotions were resurfacing and making him lose control. But he knew he had to remain strong for her now. She had a long road to recovery in front of her and he will hold her hand all the way through.

Rivan had always been like that, he would hide his emotional state just for the people close to him, being the eldest he believed himself to be responsible for all of them, so he mostly kept his shit together.

"Thank you! Rivan," she closed her eyes and went back to snuggle close to him.

"You must rest, Irlana."

"Brother Xiran is going to be so mad at me. He lost his chance to end him and have Aselia back," she spoke in a small anguished ridden voice, her eyes were downcast, her heart laden with guilt.

"Don’t Irlana, none of this is your fault. And I know Xiran, he will never blame you for it. So rest assured," he stroked her hair trying to calm her remorseful heart. That’s the last thing he wanted, for her to immerse herself in guilt. She had suffered enough.

"I want to talk to him. Can you ask him to visit me?"

"Of course, but now you must rest and eat something first and I will bring Xiran to you in a few hours," he instructed and laid her down on the bed, spreading the blanket over her body he held her gaze for a while.

"Thank you," she murmured before her eyes drooped and she finally went to sleep.