"Hmm, it's fine. Don't worry, my consort, I won't forget to reward you with gold bars too…" Hera teased Rafael, her lips curling into a playful smile.
Zhane and Rafael couldn't help but laugh, not because they cared about her promise of gold bars, but because seeing Hera so relaxed lifted a weight off their hearts. The truth was, they had been deeply shaken by her accident.
They still remembered the helplessness of watching it unfold live on the TV screen, unable to reach her, unable to protect her or even support her broken body. So now, every little smile, every hint of her ease, was a comfort they cherished.
They felt even more helpless than Xavier had back then. At least he had been at the scene, but they were far away, forced to watch on a screen as their beloved's life hung in the balance.
