It has been two full days since they had rescued Simon and he still hadn't opened his eyes.

Yibo had not left his side since then. Right now also he was holding his son as he sat beside his bed. He felt some movement and can tell that someone sat beside him as well.

"You need to get rest," Zhan said.

"I am okay."

Zhan said nothing. He gently grabbed Yibo's neck and put his head on his shoulder, "Sleep like this, I am right here." he said as he grabbed Yibo's hand.

Yibo felt relaxed and gently closed his eyes as he lay on Zhan's shoulder.

Yibo has never been so relaxed these days. It was like he was in bliss after having his son by his side. The nationwide manhunt that has been going on does not scare him anymore.

He entwined his fingers with that of Zhan and spoke, "I feel like I can finally focus on something else now.

My son is here and there is nothing I have to be worried about."

Zhan smiled and kissed his forehead, "You are right there is nothing to be worried about we are all ready."

Yibo smiled and before he knew he fell asleep on his husband's shoulder.

~~~~

It was heavily raining outside when Cheng and Zhehan arrived, Yanli quickly hugged her brother tightly.

"Where is Simon?" it was the first thing that he asked, and Zhehan also looked at them carefully.

Yanli replied, "Inside his father and Zhan are also there."

Cheng nodded, " Is he okay?"

Yanli pressed her lips together, "His wounds are healing very fast but I cannot say anything about the mental scars."

Cheng nodded, "I understand." he spoke before he informed Yanli, "Haoxuan is with king Orion, and they have gathered the allies the date for the attack is set."

Yanli nodded.

~~~~~~~~

The rain poured heavily outside, it was dark outside with the heavy wind blowing trees bending with the will of the wind. The thunder roared in the sky.

In the small cottage Eva a lit a candle and kept it on the table everybody sat around it except Zhan, Yibo, and Simon.

Discussing and planning.

While Yibo had woken up from his slumber and as promised Zhan was still beside him, their hands still entwined, Yibo looked at his son and found him sleeping peacefully.

He gently moved forwards and opened his left eye to see that it was completely healed.

The thunder strikes again this time so loudly so ferociously that a tree situated in the backyard was burned the noise was heard and it was so loud that Simon woke up with a jolt.

He was breathing heavily, his forehead covered with sweat before he finally realized that he was lying down and not tied to the cold walls.

He saw the wooden ceiling in front of him and not the rod bars of the dungeon's door. He felt that his hands were not tied they were free.

He was free.

He looked that this room had a window and someone was gently calling out his name but he did not listen he had not seen outside for such a long time that when he saw an open window he couldn't take his eyes off the outside nature.

It was heavily raining and it was dark but this was so much better than that cell.

"Simon?" The voice that was calling him became more and more clear and he felt someone touch his bare skin making him jolt and quickly look at the person with terrified eyes.

But one look at the face of his father and his fears vanished, with trembling hands he grabbed his father's hand as he looked at Yibo, who was looking back at him with a smile gently caressing his face, "You are up?"

Simon wanted to say something but no voice came out of his mouth and his throat ached like a bitch, he opened his mouth and couldn't say anything, finally, Yibo hugged him firmly yet gently making sure that his wounds would not get hurt.

Simon was shocked for a moment but eventually, he raised his shivering hands and hugged Yibo as well he couldn't speak but the sound of his silent sobbing and sniffling filled the room.

And his shaking shoulders and body against that of Yibo made Yibo's eyes wet as well, "It's okay, everything is okay now, you are back, you are not alone you are safe now. Your father is here."

Simon closed his eyes and cried harder, he never thought that he would see him again, it felt so safe and warm to be by his father's side he hugged Yibo so tightly because he was scared that it was a dream, he was scared that this was his imagination.

He gulped and gently opened his eyes and through a blurry vision, he can see that there was someone else in the room, he blinked twice, before he saw Zhan clearly behind Yibo looking at him with a smile but red and tear-filled eyes.

Simon gently raised his hand and Zhan grabbed it before kissing him on his head and hugging both of them.

~~~~~~

Everyone rejoiced once they heard that Simon was awake and they rushed to the room to see him sitting on the bed.

They sat surrounding him, and he felt better after having everyone around him, he was not alone anymore.

Zhan also gave him his book, and Simon took it with a faint smile.

Simon also saw Aurelia coming in, his smile vanished and his face became stone-cold Aurelia smiled faintly and went near him she raised her hand to touch his head but he moved his head away, avoiding her not even looking at her and the wat he was holding his book so tightly that Aurelia retracted her hand.

Simon's hate was normal, and she accepted it with her whole heart.

Everyone noticed that but no one said anything, Cheng finally tapped his head and Simon smiled at him, Simon can actually relate to Cheng now, just like him Cheng was also tortured, maybe not as physically as he was because unlike him Cheng can't heal so fast.

In this entire room after Zhan and Yibo, Cheng was the only person he felt safe with and connected with, "You made all of our work to bone brat, don't get cocky next time."

Simon nodded, Cheng added, "All you have to do is rest, no ned to worry about anything or anyone, all you have to do is lay back get back in perfect health."

Yibo spoke, "Now that everything is back on track it's time that we take action, Cheng has already told us the date for the attack and we are going with full force, we are not going to give her a chance to recover."

Yibo said before he added, "And Miles" his voice became cold and his eyes became deadly, "I want you to send the message to Aval and Alice and tell them to convey this to others as well."

Yibo added with a firm and cold voice and determined voice, his demeanor changed and now he looked like a beast ready to rip apart his enemy,

"I want Cassandra. Alive."

Author's note: Ho, ho, ho Cassandra's countdown starts now!