A day later, the imperial hospital wing settled into a brittle kind of quiet. Marin entered without ceremony, flipping through the last page of Gabriel's chart as if reviewing an overdue report, not the aftermath of a nearly catastrophic ether collapse.
"You've survived worse," he muttered, pen tapping against the edge of the clipboard. "But I wouldn't recommend doing it again. Your mate's already unbearable as it is."
Gabriel, propped against a mountain of pillows and very much done with lying still, lifted a brow. "Then clear me."
Marin sighed like he had been personally insulted. "Fine. You can be moved. But under strict supervision. No ether manipulation, no standing for too long, no locking yourself in the library, and definitely no spontaneous divine interventions. Edward has already been briefed."
The door creaked open as if summoned by the name alone. Edward stepped in like a curse returned to life, arms folded and expression far too smug for Gabriel's taste.
