"How are you here? I thought Darek would have chained you to the bed by now."
I didn't wait. I put my arms around him and pulled him close like I'd always used to as a rankless back at the periphery.
Even though he looked fine, I could still feel the slight weakness as he stiffened slightly beneath my arms, but his warmth remained the same. Slowly and carefully, he finally lifted his arms and enveloped me with them until I buried my head in the crook of his neck.
I inhaled him in, the familiar scent of freshness and early rain calming my mind. Three years hadn't dulled anything. He still smelled the same as before and I yearned to go back to that time. When things were less complicated.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, voice low and rough, the weakness still bothering him.
"You think I care?" I whispered, refusing to move and tightening my hold on him.
I felt his chest tremble, but I wasn't sure if it was from laughter or a shudder from fear for me.
"Maeve, Darek will–"
