Ash POV
The nurses finally exited my mate's room and I quickly made my way to his bedside Adam right behind me.
My mate looked terrible he had bandages wrapped around his entire torso, his arm as well as gauze covering the side of his face where he had been clawed.
"How extensive is everything?" I asked a passing nurse. "His right wrist is broken as well as three ribs, there are the deep cuts on his face. He is also very malnourished."
I didn't say anything I just took my mates good hand in my own and held it gently. "He will recover in time your Majesty you mustn't worry about that."
I just nodded to her. Adam brought a chair over to me and I slowly sat down.
2 days later...
I was resting my head against the side of my mate's bed when I felt a movement near my head. I quickly sat up and looked towards my mate.
I could see his eyes fluttering under his eyelids. I looked over and quickly called over a nurse. When I turned back to the bed the first thing I noticed were my mates eyes, they were just like I remembered at the ball.
"How are you feeling?" I asked. My mate just looked at me in confusion. "Where am I?" he asked. "You are in the palace hospital" I told him gently.
My mate looked at me for a few minutes. Then suddenly he flinched back and tried to sit up. I quickly laid a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back on the bed. "What is wrong?" I asked.
"You're, you're the prince."
"Yes I am" I smiled. My mate blushed "May I ask your name?" My mate looked at me not saying anything at first.
"Clay" I smiled at that I finally knew my mates name. "It's nice to meet you Clay, my name is Ash" Clay looked to at me. "You're the prince." he said.
"Yes I am the prince" "Why am I here?" At that question I could feel anger start to boil up inside me. "Those people you were with they were hurting you."
"oh" was all he said. "I brought you straight here." Clay looked at me. "You did?"
"Yes" he smiled and it warmed my heart. "You're going to be alright we're going to take good care of you. You are my mate after all."
Clay POV
Clay had been resting in bed for about a day now and to be honest he was starting to get bored. He wasn't used to doing nothing all day.
The price had treating him very nicely of late. He had been getting meals three to four times a day. His wounds and been checked and rebandaged several times everyday.
There was one time his back started hurting and Ash immediately ordered him on his stomach so he could give him a back massage. He had met the king and queen as well and to say he was nervous was an understatement.
His wounds had started to heal nicely however the mental wounds would always remain. The treatment he had suffered at the hands of his 'family' would always remain deep within his mind.
Clay saw Ash enter his room with his friend Adam in tow. Clay had met Adam when he first woke up and they had soon become good friends. "You doing ok today?" Ash asked me sitting next to me on the bed.
"I'm fine I want to get up though." "Your wish is my command." Ash took a blushing Clay's hand in his own.
Adam went over to the other side and took Clay's other hand. Together they lifted Clay from the bed until he could stay up on his own. Once they had exited the hospital Ash took Clay on small tour of part of the palace.
Since he didn't want to work his mate hard. They then entered a corridor. Lavish white coral decorated the walls. Beautiful paintings and statues lined each wall. "Where are we going now?" Clay asked.
"To our room." Ash replied. Clay couldn't help but blush at those words. Ash led Clay through the double doors to their room. When they entered there was what looked to be a living room, in there room.
Clay just looked around in wonderment. As they made their way through the room Clay took everything in, all the furniture, the paintings, the accessories. Ash opened a door to the side "This is a bathroom and there is another in the actual bedroom."
After that Ash brought Clay to the bedroom. It was gorgeous they bed was king sized obviously. The blankets were a deep navy blue with silver lining.
Clay made his over to bed and gently laid on top of it. The sheets were like silk under his fingers. He was about to get up when he felt a hand on his lower back.
"Do you like it?" "Yes" Clay whispered. He turned around and noticed Ash leaning over him. Clay immediately looked down.
"Don't do that, I want to see your face." With those words Clay looked up. The next thing he noticed were the pair of lips kissing him. At first he didn't do anything, just sat there in shock. But then he finally relaxed letting Ash kiss him.
After a few seconds he started kissing back.
The kiss was sweet and full of love, it didn't have to be passionate for the two mermen to show just how much they loved each other.
And for the first time in Clay's life he was truly happy, maybe now things will be better for the both of them.
