Several hours later. Midnight.

Ray laid awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling and counting each crack in the plaster. So far, he’d counted two dozen

His mind raced far and wide, filled with so many thoughts and contemplations. Most of which revolved around Anna. Just a while ago, he had to physically beg her to get some rest. Seeing her looking worried and exhausted over him was not something he liked to see. When she finally agreed to leave and come back at the crack of dawn, Ray was happy.

Not because he didn’t like her presence.

And now, he was starting to regret what he did.

Maybe he should have just let her stay. Now he was missing her, looking at the door and wishing she’d walk right through. He wanted to hold her again. Breathe in her fresh scent and maybe...maybe finally bridge the space between them and just—

His face turned bright red and he groaned. "Stop that." He scolded himself.

Yet he couldn’t get the image of her soft pink lips out of his mind. Why didn’t he just do it? Why couldn’t he be more assertive? Like Kai?

For a while, Ray thought about Kai. That shark never hesitated about anything. He went after what he wanted. And Ray was reminded of the inn, Kai’s words to him. He had been able to stop thinking about it for a while, but now they just came rushing back.

How hard would it be to just ask? Can I kiss you, Anna?

"No. I must not call her by her name." He chastised himself.

Can I kiss you, your highness?

That’s even worse!

Ray sighed for the fifth time in two minutes, his chest stinging softly in pain. Slowly, he touched the bandages, more heat making its way to his cheeks as he recalled how Anna hugged him.

She likes me...

Maybe she’d have said yes if I asked to kiss her?

But he immediately shut down the thought. Just because she was nice to him and she cried for him and she healed his injuries didn’t mean that she automatically liked him. No. Even Ray would do that for people he didn’t like. Like Leon?

His expression turned dark and he hissed. No. Leon was the okay exception to his kindness.

Besides, Anna liked Kai more.

Ray pretended as if that thought didn’t make his heart ache even further in pain.

He gave another, weary sigh.

He recalled seeing Kai kiss Anna. And she kissed him back. Multiple times . Ray knew he shouldn’t be so angry and jealous about it, after all she was married to Kai too. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

But he wished he was the one kissing her and not Kai. Why did Kai get to always be the one kissing her?

Ray already knew the answer to that question.

Should I just ask Kai for some tips and tricks?

He frowned, shaking his head. "That’s stupid." He sighed.

"What’s the matter?" A smooth voice asked from the door way.

Ray didn’t move. He already knew who it was. Instead, he sighed again. "Nothing serious."

Drax breezed into the room, his white robes swapped out for a darker blue one. He took the chair beside Ray’s bed and sat down. Ray sat up, tucking his wings behind him and leaning forward, excited to see him.

"You surprised me, puppy." Ray said with a fond smile.

Drax chuckled. A strand of hair slicked over his shoulder which he gently tucked behind his ear. "You still remember that nickname?"

"How can I not? Sure it’s been years, but I’ll still call you that."

"It’s childish."

"I know."

Drax met his eyes, slowly shaking his head. "I should just go back to that place."

That made Ray laugh out loud. But then he got serious again. "You came out."

Drax leaned back, turning his gaze to the window. A sorrowful look filled his eyes, one that was quickly replaced by coldness. "I had to make sure of something."

Ray’s heart dropped. He had a good feeling what Drax wanted to know.

But he still asked "what is it?"

Drax turned and their eyes met. "You’ve broken your vow, haven’t you?"

Ray bit his inner cheek. His vow, the one he made shortly after he and Drax made their way out of the west. The vow to not read minds anymore. The moment Ray met Princess Orchid, he knew that vow would not last long. And his suspicions were right.

"I have," he admitted.

"Noctis," Drax whispered, his voice dropping to a breathless, fragile tone.

Ray’s jaw clenched upon hearing that name. His old name. One he made sure to bury alongside every memory of his bloody past. It was on the tip of his tongue to caution Drax against calling him that, but his words vanished the moment Drax moved.

"Tell me," Drax pleaded, sitting on the edge of the bed, reaching out and holding Ray’s hands in his. "You’ve heard her thoughts. Don’t lie to me, I know you have."

"Drax..." Ray said, uncertainty lacing his voice. He turned his head to the side, but Drax reached out and grabbed his chin, turning his head towards him. "Tell me, please," he demanded softly, his dual toned eyes wild, searching Ray’s face frantically for a shred of a lie.

"What?" Ray replied, swallowing hard. Drax’s fingers were cold but firm against his chin. And he was so close Ray could see the hues of colors dancing in his eyes.

"Tell me my wife is still in there. Tell me she’s playing one of her games. She’s hiding, isn’t she? She’s punishing me for staying in that wretched place for so long."

Ray’s chest tightened hearing how heartbroken Drax sounded.

"Tell me my chaos is waiting for me to beg, please."

Ray remained completely silent.

He just couldn’t. He couldn’t look Drax in the eye and lie to him. Tell him exactly what he wanted to hear? The words were too heavy to speak out loud.

He stared at his old friend, his expression twisted into pity. The silence between them was deafening.

She’s gone, Drax. Your chaos is gone.

"No...no, Noctis, don’t say that..."

"Drax, I’m sorry."

"She can’t...she won’t—"

Drax’s eyes widened and filled with horror. The last anchor, the last thread to his past, the brilliant and wicked girl he’d loved since they were sixteen, was gone. The realization hit him, he never got to see her again. While he was locked up in that place, waiting for her to come, she was gone.

A choked, ragged sound escaped Drax’s throat.

He completely collapsed. His head dropped into Ray’s united shoulder, his long dark hair cascading over Ray’s chest. His broad shoulders shook violently as the first tear slipped down his face, soaking the fabric of Ray’s shirt. He didn’t sob out loud. Not a sound could be heard from him, aside the heavy, shuddering breaths he took. Grief wracked through his entire body as he clung onto Ray, his hands fisted tightly into the mattress.

Ray’s heart broke too.

A mix of grief and sadness settled jnto his chest.

He hadn’t stopped for once to think about Drax. He knew that Drax loved the real Princess Orchid. A love so intense Ray often got scared for his life. It was possessive and very passionate. Back then, Ray couldn’t fathom how anyone would love a woman as wicked as Princess Orchid.

But Drax did. With all his heart. So much so that he willingly stayed locked up for three years.

Guilt threatened to eat Ray’s heart alive. He rejoiced when he found out Princess Orchid was gone, but now, feeling his dear friend’s tears soak into his shirt, Ray felt bad.

I’m sorry, puppy.

Even as pain coursed through his body from Drax’s body weight, Ray didn’t care. Slowly and carefully, he lifted his arms and wrapped them around Drax, pulling him closer, resting his chin on top of Drax’s silky crown.

It had been years since they were last this close. Back then, the difference in their ages was more prominent, with Ray being the protector. But now, things were different. Now they were married to the same woman, and no one at a mere glance would be able to pinpoint their previous relationship.

For a few seconds, the rest of the world melted away. Nothing else mattered. Not the politics of the East. Not even the fact that anyone would come in and may misinterpret.

Nothing mattered.

Drax moved closer, his body pressed against Ray’s front, his hands leaving the mattress to come and tangle up in Ray’s shirt. His tears kept flowing. Silently. Never ending. Soaking Ray’s shirt and forming a wet patch.

Ray held him. Gently rubbing his hand up and down his broad back, as he used to do when they were younger and Drax was upset.

"I’ve got you, puppy," he whispered, his eyes drifting shut as tears pricked his eyes too, his voice thick with emotion. "I’m so sorry."