*Two hours later*

Anna’s arms were close to falling off. The ward was filled with a thick, fragrant yellow mist. By her instruction, Azul waited outside while Bella left to rest. Initially she refused to, but Anna had to force her.

Two hours of steady yellow spores. Anna didn’t know how she was able to do it. Not with the exhausting eating her bones alive. Or with how she was still slightly trembling from Leon’s violent reaction to the divorce she kept going.

Till her spores ceased to flow.

She watched Ray’s form. He’d been tossing and turning the past few minutes, his face contorted in pain, then relaxing, only to squeeze up in pain again.

Please. Please. Please.

Anna chanted a prayer on repeat in her head. Over and over again. Even as she couldn’t lift her arms anymore.

Suddenly, Ray’s eyes moved behind his closed lids.

Anna perked up in her chair, leaning in closer. "Ray?"

He made a low "hmm," sound. And Anna nearly screamed for joy.

His eyes opened. Unfocused at first, staring blankly at the ceiling. Then his head turned to Anna. His inky black eyes widened a bit, still filled with exhaustion though. He was pale, his breathing slow and labored. But he was very much alive.

"Ray!" Anna gasped, tears gushing from her eyes. She threw herself into his arms, mindful of his chest which was still very tender. "You’re awake...you’re finally awake..." she couldn’t hold back her sobs anymore, crying openly into the crook of his uninjured shoukder. His wings moved, giving her plenty of room to wrap her arms around him. "Thank goodness. I was so w-worried!"

Ray sat up with mild difficulty. His head felt stuffed with wet sand, like he was still asleep, plunged into a dreamless and restless slumber.

Anna’s arms around him felt real. Her scent was real. The warmth of her body was real. Her tears soaking his shoulder was real.

"A-Anna..." he said, his voice hoarse due to lack of use.

"Ray," she sobbed.

His arms came up. Slowly. They weighed a ton, and lifting them made him wince. But he tried. With one hand, he held the back of her head. Then he it the other, he wrapped around her tightly. He’d never hugged anyone this close before. It felt like he hadn’t seen her for decades and finally, finally, he saw her again. Ray hugged her like he didn’t want to let her go. Like he was trying to merge their bodies into one.

"R-Ray! Your injuries...your chest is still—" Anna tried to protest, worried for how tightly he was holding her. He made a small noise at the back of his throat. A pleading whimper.

The pain shot through his body. But he didn’t care. Nothing else mattered as long as Anna was holding him. As long as she was here, with him.

"Are you hurt?" He whispered, his voice cracking at the end. "Leon...did he hurt you?"

Anna sobbed even harder, her fingers grasping at his back. She tried to speak but couldn’t find the words. Ray had sounded so soft, so broken so worried for her wellbeing when in fact he was the one with his chest sliced open.

She pulled back, her face slicked with tears and her eyes bloodshot. It felt like she was looking at Ray for the first time in forever. She noticed his eyes, their depth, the way the black was totally, soul consuming, black. And his lashes...they were long and silky, much more luxurious than hers. His normally warm and rich tan skin was pale, but that only gave him a more ethereal beauty. Like a fallen angel.

He smiled, and Anna’s heart snagged in two directions. Without words, he raised his shaky hands to her face and cupped her cheeks. His touch was rough and gentle at the same time, and Anna leaned into him, her tears streaming even faster.

He looks so soft...so pure.

His thumbs flicked her tears away, his movements slow and reverent.

"I was so worried," Anna cried, holding onto his wrists. "I thought you’d...I thought..."

Ray laughed softly. It was more of an exhale than a chuckle. "It was just a light scratch."

Anna smacked his wrist lightly, laughing through her tears. "A light scratch? Really."

"Yes," he agreed, his thumb rubbing small circles into her cheek.

Anna had so much she wanted to say. So much she couldn’t find the right words for. So much she wasn’t even sure if she should say at all.

I can’t believe I’ve been ignoring him all this while.

I feel so bad I could cry. And then toss myself off the cliff.

Fuck. And after all I vowed to myself, saying I’ll never be like Orchid. I went ahead and became worse than her.

At least with her, Ray didn’t have a massive slash in his chest!

Her thoughts caused fresh tears to fill her eyes. Rays brows furrowed tightly.

"Why are you crying, Anna?"

She shook her head. "I’m just...I’m just so glad you’re alive!"

"That’s no reason to cry. And not for me either," his voice was without malice or manipulation. He said it like he actually believed he was unworthy of her tears.

Anna looked down at his chest wrapped in bandages. Slowly, she lifted her hand and traced the outline of the sterile cloth. She could only imagine what the scars underneath looked like. How bad they must have been for his heart to be taken out and then stitched back into his body.

"I’m sorry..." was all she could manage to say.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Anna, has sorry ever truly helped anyone?

Ray caught her hand, making her glance up at him. "It wasn’t your fault," he smiled. "If we’re throwing blames, throw all of them at Leon."

That pulled a laugh out of her. "Yeah. Let’s do that instead," she said, like her heart wasn’t riddled with guilt and she was close to full on wailing.

For a brief second, she thought about Leon. About the madness in his eyes. And she immediately focused her attention back on Ray.

He pulled her up, making her sit on the bed. She eagerly complied, taking his hand and holding it tightly in hers.

"Does it hurt much?" She asked.

He shook his head. "I may not look like it, and I don’t say this to brag, but I’ve handled worse."

Anna rolled her eyes with a scoff. "You’re not fooling anyone, Ray. And I know, you don’t want me to worry, but please. You’re my husband too. I’m supposed to worry about you."

Rays eyes widened. A low "click" sound came from his throat, startling Anna. "Y-your husband?"

Anna blinked. "Yes. You’re my husband too,"

A soft pink hue dusted over his cheeks and the tips of his ears. He ducked his head to the side, his wings folding around his middle. "I...I like that," he confessed, his voice so low Anna almost missed it.

She leaned closer, a small teasing smile making its way to her lips. "You like it when I call you my husband?"

She heard that sound again. Then he said "yes, I like it."

He’s so cute! Oh my goodness! Anna squealed internally.

"So..." she leaned even closer, something inside her wanting to get more of his flustered reaction. "What if I call you hubby?"

The red in his eyes deepened.

"Or...darling?"

"You would call me that?"

"Yes. Why not?"

He lifted his head and met her eyes.

Anna’s heart skipped. Skipped again. Then started racing.

Oh my fucking hell he has gorgeous bottom eyes.

"Ray..." she whispered, heat crawling over her neck and settling in her cheeks. "Stop looking at me with those eyes..."

He blinked, his eyes misty. "What eyes?"

Now it was Anna’s turn to get flustered. She coughed, turning her head to the side, trying to cool her rapidly heating cheeks.

Eyes like you’re trying to seduce me! You just woke up from a semi coma, for heavens sake! You should rest.

I should rest too.

But fuck....

She couldn’t help stealing another glance at him. He was watching her with curious and heated eyes, like he was trying to understand her. Or unravel her.

And then, a traitorous thought wormed its way into her mind.

I wish he’ll kiss me right now.

Just then, the door slammed open, and a chilly presence filled the air.

Ray moved fast, his wing shooting out and shielding Anna. "Oh," he breathed, then slowly lowered it.

Anna’s eyes turned to the door.

"What?" She gasped out loud.

Leaning against the door frame, was Drax.

Tall, pale as snow, extremely handsome, with silky black hair that flowed down his body like rivers of ink. His dual colored eyes scanned over Anna, before lazily drifting to Ray. His robes, stark white, silken, wrapped around his body like water and contrasted his hair and skin and made him look like a celestial being.

Maybe it was the shadows, but now that Anna was seeing him in the light, she was startled at how young he looked.

He’s so beautiful it’s so...wrong.

Anna swallowed hard, all thoughts evaporating from her head.

Drax walked into the room and calmly, way too calm for how he’d walked in, closed the door.