Queen

I heard voices around me.

Hot air fanned my skin, almost too hot to handle until I realized how freezing I was inside. I opened my eyes, anticipating harsh bright lights but was met with a dimness that only made me blink a few times to adjust.

My eyes skirted across the hospital room. An IV was inserted into my left arm- a thick red fluid oozing through the line and disappearing into my skin. I looked up at the blood bag, almost empty. About a dozen empty ones hung behind the one and I furrowed my brows. What happened?

I felt something warm tighten its hold on my right arm and I swung my head in the direction. Syn. His arms were folded over mine, our hands clasped in the nook. His soft breaths warmed my hand as he slept and a sad smile passed over my lips. He must've been tired.

Glimpses of memories passed through my head as I looked at him. I remembered Aiden-- the basement...the scream that left my body when I saw Syn's eyes roll to the back of his head. The fear I felt...the anger-- the need to save him completely controlled me yet for some reason my body moved before I could process it. And I trusted in it.

There were black and red blotches in my memory when I thought about exactly what happened afterward. I remembered the pain. I fought Aiden, and he fought back. Hard.

My free hand instinctively landed on my stomach as phantom aches flicked over my skin. I was completely healed.

A beeping went off on the infusion machine beside me and I cringed. Crap. I thought I had done something until I realized that the blood bag was empty.

I looked over at Syn who was stirring beside me. He sniffled, running a hand through his dark hair making his black hoodie fall back. I thought he was tired when I saw him sleeping, but he looked exhausted. So exhausted that he didn't even notice I had woken up. He rose from the chair beside me, a deep yawn leaving his mouth as he walked around the hospital bed.

I watched him. His tired eyes were focused on the machine. He turned off the beeping, grabbing another blood bag from a nearby cooler. It was like his body was moving on instinct. As if he'd done it one hundred times. He was almost sleepwalking.

It was then that I noticed that I hadn't seen any doctors or hospital staff. The blinds were drawn, the door closed-- it was just us. Had he been the only one here? A sinking feeling settled in my gut at the thought. I didn't want to burden him. After everything he had been through, he needed to be in a hospital bed beside me.

Not playing doctor.

He put on gloves as if being unsanitary would do anything at all to me. His fingers moved with a focused precision against the inside of my arm. They were delicate against my skin as he removed the needle and applied pressure for a few seconds.

I watched him discard the needle and open a few drawers. He laid a few things down on the bed beside my hip and once he had everything he needed, he cleaned my arm with an alcohol wipe. It stung the sensitive area and I winced. He froze briefly before shaking his head as if he had heard it yet deferred it to his mind playing tricks.

My head tilted, my brows raising as he opened the new IV set. My eyes landed on the needle and I immediately shook my head. My hand moved to his, stopping him. "N-no, I don't need more blood. I'm fine." I couldn't deal with needles, ironically.

He hesitated, looking at my hand on his before meeting my eyes. The items dropped from his fingers as the tension left his body. Relief flooded his green eyes and they shined with a wetness I never wished to see from him. His shoulders deflated as he leaned into me, cupping my face with his shaky hands.

He swallowed a breath before letting out a small laugh of disbelief. "Are you really awake?" He asked me. A teardrop of his fell onto my face as I nodded. His face split into a grin and I wiped his face with my fingers. A sob he tried to hold back escaped as he dropped his head to my shoulder.

My chest pained at the sight and I sat up, ignoring the ache in my side. I wrapped my arms around his shaking shoulders. Tears spiked my own eyes at his crying and I closed my eyes, resting my chin against his head. I ran my fingers through his hair, kissing the disheveled mess and taking in his scent.

We clung to each other tight, both unwilling to let go until I felt that icy pull inside of me. Beckoning to be satiated by his warmth. And I pulled away. I remembered what happened last time and I refused to cause him any more harm.

He looked up at me, confusion and worry creasing his beautiful face. "What's the matter?"

I held my hands together against me. "I don't want to hurt you."

He let out a soft laugh. "I haven't felt anything for the past eight days. You're more than welcome to hurt me." He pulled my hands away from my chest and I shook my head.

"Syn, I'm serious."

"I'm not as weak as I was before, Princess," he assured me. "And even if I was, I need you to touch me. I'd rather die happy in your arms than die because you refused to touch me..."

A smile tugged at my lips as butterflies floated through my skin.

As soon as I caught my armor slipping, I pressed my lips together. Poetic bastard.

His not caring was endearing, romantic even, but I couldn't take the risk. "That's not funny." I held myself back.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I exaggerated. No matter how much contact you have with me, you can't kill me. It wouldn't do much to me at all unless you intended to kill me. The same goes for every other supernatural creature. I would advise you to be careful with the humans though--"

"Are you sure?" Hope swelled in my stomach.

He blinked a couple of times before tilting his head. "About which part?"

"You'll be okay?" I asked. He nodded. "No matter how long I touch you?"

"Yes."

"No matter where?" I teased.

He considered it for a moment as a smile tugged at his lips. I was happy to see the lightheartedness fill his eyes for a moment, even if it was brief. "We can test that..." he said. I raised a curious brow and a serious look replaced his expression. "Later."

I frowned as he straightened. His eyes gazed over my figure in the bed. "How are you feeling? Does anything hurt? I can call a doctor if something is bother--"

"I'm okay, Syn..." I promised him as I pushed myself onto the bed. Oof. I groaned and he reached out to me, making me stop my movements. "I'm just sitting up. My ass hurts." I shifted.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I've been repositioning you every couple of hours, but I may have missed the last one." He glanced at his watch before looking at me, worried. "Are you alright?"

"Syn," I started, assuring him with a smile. "I am fine."

My butt was just a little asleep, but it was fine the moment I sat up. Repositioning me every two hours was a bit excessive in my eyes, but he was concerned. I understood that.

His mention of eight days passing since I'd been here made me uncomfortable. How did I look? Did I smell? Because I sure as hell wasn't able to shower. And I'm on my-- was on my period. The last day of it or so. It was probably over now but all I wore was this hospital gown and a pair of cotton panties.

I was horrified.

Syn must've seen my unease because he sat down on the bed, conscious of where my legs were. "What is it?"

He watched me smell my own breath. Minty. I dipped my head into the hospital gown, doing a sniff check. I expected to be met with something-- just hit by something dank. Instead, I smelled like Syn's body wash and lotion. A hint of his cologne filled my senses and my stomach fluttered.

I smelled great.

"Queen," he called out and I brought my attention back to him.

"Did someone clean me?" I whispered as if someone else was in the room with us.

He gave me a simple nod. "Yes."

I tensed a bit at the revelation. The idea of a stranger's hands on me while I was unconscious. It didn't make me feel good, in fact, it did the opposite.

I nodded at his answer, forcing an appreciative smile on my face. "Oh. Okay."

He eyed me carefully before crossing his arms and replying, "It was me. I was the one who cleaned you, Queen. Do you think I'd let anyone else see or touch you? Besides Cleo passing me a few things here and there...there was no one else."

He knew me too well.

I pushed aside the blanket and threw myself into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face into the crook of his neck. His hand slithered around my back, holding me, yet careful not to hurt me. He still didn't believe that I was completely fine. He touched me like I was glass. Like if he applied just a bit of pressure I'd shatter when the truth was if he didn't cling onto me with everything, I'd explode.

I lifted my head. "Syn, I swear I'm okay. I'm not going to die if you hug me."

He looked at me blankly, his jaw clenching at my choice of words as he sighed. "Do you remember what happened? With you and Aiden?"

I sat back on my heels, unwrapping myself from him. The sudden energy shift was concerning.

"Umm, we fought," I offered. "And then..." I tried to piece together the rest of the details when a thought crossed my mind. "He is dead, right?"

"Yes, he is."

Relief flooded through me at my words like I had been waiting for those words for some strange reason. My body reacted like I was waiting for that ton-sized ball to drop.

"Is that all you remember?" He asked and I nodded slowly. "If that's all, then I need you to think very hard, Princess."

I frowned. His seriousness made me uneasy as I took a relaxing breath. I stared down at my fingers, toying with them in thought as I searched my mind. A sudden coolness flushing through my body brought me back to that night. Images of Syn chained up, all the blood, the carvings on his side...his screams...

I swallowed a nervous breath as the picture in my mind began to fill itself in.

We did fight.

I remembered that, but it was like my body was on autopilot. I was in complete control of myself, but another instinct guided my movements.

I looked down at my wrists, keenly remembering those black inky lines...but they were gone-- replaced with a hospital band. My eyes trailed their way up to my fingers. No black claws...

My hand flew to my back- nothing.

Syn watched me, curiosity pooling in his eyes as he watched me touch various parts of my body. He was letting me fill the holes in my memory alone and a part of me was glad for it. I didn't like not remembering stuff and I'd feel impotent if he had to tell me himself.

When I put two and two together, a shiver shot down my spine and a grin spread across my lips. "Woah. That's so fucking cool!" I raised my brows and his eyes narrowed. "Did I look good? I was hot, right?"

If I looked anything like the version of me I saw in my head, then I was definitely hot. He pressed his lips together to hold back a smile but I could see it in his thoughts.

So not hot-- downright sexy. I was willing to take that.

He finally let out a soft laugh before running a hand through his hair and then down his face. He looked weary. His hand gripped my jaw gently, a serious gaze cast at me. "That's not the important part," he said, dropping his hand. "What's the last thing you remember then?"

Ahh. I nodded, contemplating his words.

After a few moments, dread began to seep into my skin.

Dark memories of my hand in Aiden's chest-- his dark eyes looking up at me as his bloody face split into a crooked smile.

If you won't love me. You'll die with me.

I could hear it echoing in my ears-- his words an unwelcome intrusion. A painful ache followed it. A piercing through my chest that shattered my ribs and grabbed my heart. I felt him squeeze. Not just once as the sadistic prick smiled. The moment I felt the tension in his fingers...I pulled.

The last thing I heard was Syn screaming out for me.

The memory passed and when I came to, my hand was on my chest. There was no wound...there was nothing. Where a heart used to beat against my touch was now nothing.

I blinked, my eyes flicking to Syn. He took my expression in apprehensively, a shadow of an apology lingering in his eyes. "Am I dead?"

He swallowed. His hand reached for the one in my chest and he looked at me deeply. "Am I dead to you?" He asked me.

I shook my head no.

"You're as alive to me as I am to you, Princess."

I nodded. I understood him. He didn't have a heartbeat, but he was as alive as everything else. It was just so...jarring, that was all. My silence, however, must've concerned him because he became deflated as he watched me process it.

"I know it's not ideal," he said. "You weren't fully human before but a part of you was. I understand that it will be an adjustment, but I swear to you it's not so bad." He let out a bitter laugh. "I don't know what else to say. Not many people would be excited to belong to the Underworld."

When he said that, I realized how much I truly lost. Everything in me that needed a heart to survive died. I was no longer part human-- no longer connected to Heaven from my father.

But I wasn't upset.

I belonged to the Underworld the moment he tricked me into falling on him.

Falling for him.

That night he kissed me, offering a taste of everything he was, and I kissed him back. I accepted it.

Ten years in Heaven didn't compare to one touch from him.

We'd been through a lot, from then until now. But I wouldn't take a single thing back.

I chose him then and I chose him now. I'd keep doing so forever.

He looked sorry. As if he'd taken that option from me, but I was more positive as a smile slowly spread across my lips. "I guess it was better to get it over with now rather than later."

"You're happy..."

I nodded. "All things considered, yes."

He took a deep breath. "You should know," he started. "Now that there is no human aspect between us...I can't give you children." I didn't think about that part. "I can't get you pregnant. A human man could, but I will never be able to. Ever."

I nodded slowly as I thought. A thought passed my mind and I looked at him. He seemed torn. "Does that upset you?"

"It does," he nodded and a brick slammed against my chest. It hurt, but at least he was honest. "Not because we won't have more children. But because I want to be able to give you everything you want-- now and forever. I will be your husband and I can't give you the most--"

"I just want you," I blurted out. He looked at me, surprised and I smiled at him. I took his hand into my lap, nodding. My mind was set. "I will be happy with just you. And you could easily find another woman if you wanted. You're not the only one at a--"

His lips cut me off. Soft as he pressed a kiss against my mouth and pulled away. "I never want to hear something like that from you again. There is no one and there will never be anyone else but you."

"The same goes for me," I assured him before averting my eyes and clearing my throat. "You've always talked about a big family though."

He considered my words. "I still want us to have one," he said. "And when we are ready...there are plenty of children in the world who need a home."

I smiled. That was true. "Okay."

He stood up and I watched him in question. "You must be hungry," he said. "You don't have to eat anymore, but it helps a lot of you do."

I nodded and pushed myself up from the bed. He was right- I wasn't necessarily hungry but then again, when did I eat when I was truly hungry? I just liked food.

I swung my legs off the side of the bed and immediately Syn clicked his tongue and placed a hand on my thigh. "What are you doing?"

"I thought we were going to eat..."

"No, I am going to get you something to eat. You are not leaving this bed until the doctors check you out."

"I feel fine," I pressed once more, but he refused to let up.

"Get back in the bed." He lifted the covers and waited. I could tell from his expression alone that there was no use fighting him on this. With that, I sighed and got back into the bed. "That's a good girl."

I sent a glare his way but I couldn't help the way tingles floated through my body at his words. He noticed it, as per usual, and gave me a knowing smile. "Do you want anything in particular?"

"Mhmm." I nodded.

"What?"

"For you to stay."

"Oh." He crossed his arms. "So when you thought you were coming with me it was okay for me to leave?"

I thought for a moment before nodding. "Yes. Precisely."

He laughed a bit, but it didn't fully reach his eyes. He didn't want to go either. "You should eat something at least."

"I will eat later." A yawn escaped my lips as I moved over on the bed and pat the small, empty space. "For you."

"We can't both fit on that. You won't be comfortable." I was disheartened by his answer and my shoulders slumped. He was right. It was a twin, if that. But I could be comfortable if we both slept on a pizza box. I just wanted him closer. He eyed my expression before blowing out a slow breath. "Get up."

꧁꧂

Author's Note
*Ugly cackles*
Y'all thought I did it again, huh?😩

^^For whoever doubted me or cussed me out in the last chapter. ^^
Let's move on bbs🤭