Clair paused behind the door for a few moments, forcing several smiles to dispel the negativity from her expression. After taking a deep breath, she opened the door gently. Inside, she found Zach asleep in his bed, and her natural smile emerged effortlessly. She approached him quietly and sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to wake him. Despite the faint light streaming in through the window, she could see the signs of his distress - evidence of sleepless nights, weight loss, and visible worry etched into his face. Sadness returned, but she pushed it aside, focusing instead on cherishing his presence. Gently, she pulled the blanket over him and lay down beside him. Draping her arm across his torso, she leaned into him. Deep in his dreams, he didn't wake, but he instinctively drew her closer.
Early in the morning, Zach awoke to find Clair asleep beside him, her hand nestled inside his shirt and resting against his waist. Although surprised, he chose to remain still, not wanting to disturb her rest. He assumed she might be worn out. Despite the unexpected situation, a deep sense of happiness filled him, reassured that she was all right. Gently, he turned to face her, carefully sliding his arm under her neck and pulling her into a tender embrace. She responded by hugging him back.
"Did you miss me?" she whispered.
"You said we'd start living once you came back," he replied softly.
She hesitated before replying, "Just one more job. After that, we'll leave everything behind, I promise."
He sighed. "You're not good at keeping promises."
She smiled ruefully. "That's why I keep my ring on. It's my constant reminder of that promise."
He pulled her closer. "It's chilly out... wanna share a hot bath with me?" he suggested.
"That sounds perfect," she replied with a smile.
In the bathtub, Zach relaxed at one end while Clair nestled against his chest. He noticed the loose bandage on her right hand and gently held it. "Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Just a bit, but nothing serious," she replied, trying to reassure him.
He gently peeled back the bandage, revealing the still-bruised skin on the side of her palm near the little finger.
"Do you have any other injuries?" he asked, his voice soft and troubled.
"None," she said, offering a reassuring smile to calm his worry.
"What exactly do you do?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
"We take on the bad guys," she replied nonchalantly.
"I know it's more complicated than that," he said, his tone serious.
She laughed softly, a hint of guilt in her eyes. "We're stronger for a reason. Our mission is to serve the greater good." She paused, then added with a wry smile, "Do I sound like a hero?"
"Yeah, way cooler than Wonder Woman," he replied with a grin.
She giggled softly.
"I'll get a fresh bandage for you later," he said, gently releasing her injured hand. Lowering his voice, he added, "Averith came by to see me. I'm worried I might have left her with a negative impression."
She chuckled softly. "I made her angry too. But don't worry - she's like a mother to us all. Strict, but she's great at what she does."
"I was so nervous talking to her, I almost wet my pants," he admitted.
She laughed more heartily. "By the way, Per mentioned you didn't go to school. Don't you want to see your friends... your grandparents?" Her voice grew softer.
YOU ARE READING
Divine & Wicked: The Trapped Memories (Book2)
Fantasy(Fantasy•Romance) COMPLETED Zach woke up with an addled mind and empty heart a few days after his surgery. He seemed to feel that his life had begun again. As he continued with what he thought was his normal life, fragments of his lost past slowly b...
