Elara’s POV
I’d always hungered for love. When the apocalypse hit, I was just a child. My parents died shortly after. In that kind of world, friendship was a luxury no one could afford. Survival ant building walls around your heart.
But soone actually loved now.
My mind buzzed with a thousand racing thoughts, though my body had stayed motionless for so long. This ti, I wanted to move toward sothing instead of away.
Alistair wasn’t really a monster—his beast form just looked terrifying. I lifted my hand and brushed the robot’s tallic cheek. "That salary of mine. You set that up, didn’t you?"
Alistair went rigid. I’d figured it all out.
"Not just ," he admitted. "All of us."
They were trapped in their wards, so cash was their only way to look after . If they hadn’t worried about triggering system alerts, they would’ve deposited even more.
I let out a quiet breath.
My husbands really were my good luck charms.
I tugged the blanket higher, glanced down at myself, and sighed twice. Then I looked at Alistair, whose optical sensors were literally glowing with heart shapes. "You got a full view, didn’t you?"
My clothes were fresh—a cropped tank top with baggy pants underneath.
Alistair rushed to clarify, "I swear I didn’t look. I reprogramd the butler bot to dress you, then completely erased its mory banks. I’d never touch you without asking first."
"I know," I smiled.
Only he would think to cool soone’s fever by dabbing just their neck and underarms.
"Help sit up." The pain was too intense for to manage alone. Alistair kept his expression neutral, but I could tell he was burning up inside. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him guide against the headboard.
"Hungry?" Alistair asked gently.
I shook my head. "Draw the curtains. This light’s killing ."
My strength hadn’t returned yet. Even talking drained the color from my face. Alistair didn’t waste ti on sympathy—he rushed to block out the brightness.
Once the room darkened, I tapped into my wood-based ability. Alistair watched in stunned silence as I closed my eyes.
Brilliant green energy enveloped my entire body. The massive chest wound sealed itself right in front of him, healing faster than Silas’s dications ever could, leaving behind unmarked skin.
Alistair looked absolutely floored.
I could see the realization in his eyes—he couldn’t believe the sheer strength of my wood power.
"How long was I out?" I asked, breaking through his amazent.
"Over a week," Alistair replied.
"Commander Alistair, I’m starving." Now that my injuries had nded, my playful mood returned.
That simple request made his whole fra practically vibrate with joy. He cleared his throat to steady his voice. "Dr. Pendragon recomnded soft foods when you woke up."
My eyes sharpened. "Silas knows about this too?"
Alistair nodded. "Yes. He’s been extrely concerned about you."
Part of him clearly wanted to keep quiet about it. But he understood Silas was also my husband.
Alistair hesitated, then gestured toward the dications and handwritten instructions covering the nightstand. "He left all of that. He worried I might screw up taking care of you, so he wrote out detailed directions. Since he couldn’t diagnose your condition, he brought every drug you might possibly need."
I followed his gaze. The table held period pain relievers and heating pads as well.
Warmth flooded my chest, and I couldn’t stop grinning.
Alistair placed a bowl of butternut squash soup before , along with crackers and honey on the side.
He kept starting to speak, then stopping, while I ate. I caught his hesitation from my peripheral vision—he wanted to know what had happened. I put down my spoon and shared everything without holding back.
I described encountering the insect swarm, which weapons I’d deployed, and how the battle unfolded.
Alistair asked, "So you eliminated the final two B-level males using Kaelen’s Dragonfire Blaster, sliced through half the horde with Barrett’s Moonshadow Blade, and destroyed the remainder with Julian’s Fishbone Blade?"
"Exactly," I confird. "And let tell you—Julian pulled that trick deliberately. His blade generates ice, and he never ntioned it! Do you realize how much power I wasted? I couldn’t even access my healing abilities."
With food in my stomach and energy restored, I felt like myself again.
Alistair pressed his lips tight and offered a napkin. I accepted it and continued griping about Julian.
I tucked my legs under against the headboard, recounting the fight like it was nothing special. But I could see every word sent waves of horror through Alistair.
Insectoids attacked in massive groups. No surprise I’d returned so badly wounded.
I grinned at him. "Lighten up. I’m not so delicate little flower. You have no clue how thrilled I was that night—every single bug ant money in my pocket."
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