After helping the two, Zhane crouched in front of Hera with a playful glint in his eyes. "I've done what my lady asked… don't I deserve a reward? Hmm?" he teased, his tone unusually light. It was rare for Zhane to act this way, and the hint of mirth in his gaze made Hera's heart soften.
He was always the dependable one, the mature man who looked after everyone like an older brother, seldom asking for anything in return. Seeing him playful like this stirred an urge in Hera to pamper him. If only she weren't injured, she would have pounced on him herself, maybe even teased him back just to see how he'd react.
Instead, with her uninjured arm, Hera reached out to touch Zhane's face, gently sliding his gold-rimmed glasses away to reveal the brilliance of his emerald eyes. Without the barrier of the lenses, those bright orbs shone even clearer, and his usually soft, gentle features shifted into something wilder.
