And just like that, he’s gone, the door closing softly behind him—leaving us all in the thick silence of aftermath and everything that still lingers unspoken.
21 ONE FOR ALL
The antiseptic tang of the recovery wing clings to the back of my throat as I step inside. Everything is too white. Too sterile. Too quiet. Except for the steady beep of machines.
Luca looks smaller in the hospital bed.
Pale. Hooked up to wires and monitors, a thick bandage wrapped around his side, stained faintly where they went in. His curls are a tousled mess on the pillow, darker than usual against his sickly skin.
But he’s breathing. Alive.
Tex is sitting near the bed, arms crossed but eyes soft. Noah perched at the windowsill with his ever-present tablet, typing something out—but even he looks up as I walk in. Both nod at me in silent greeting.
Jace stands at the far wall. His eyes meet mine for a single second before flicking away like I’m nothing more than dirt under his shoe.
The frost is back. The cold prince taking up his mantle once again. The kindness he showed after the convoy mission has iced over.
No one says a word. I move toward the side of the bed and look down at Luca. “Hey,” I whisper, voice rough. “You didn’t die. Good.”
His lips twitch. Barely. But it was there.
“You sound disappointed,” he murmurs, voice hoarse and weak, butlaced with that same lazy charm. “Was hoping to collect on my dramatic death speech?”
Tex snorts, and even Noah cracks a smile.
I sit on the edge of the chair beside him, trying not to let my emotions show. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“Didn’t mean to.” He coughs, wincing. “But… thanks. For not letting me bleed out on top of a moving truck.”
Jace shifts by the window, the scrape of his boot on the tile loud in the quiet room. He doesn’t look at me but I can feel the chill coming off him.
Whatever fragile understanding we built has shattered. Again. He sees me as a pest. A problem he needs to solve. And currently I’m invading his space with his friends.
Tex stands, giving Luca’s ankle a light pat. “We’ll give you two a minute,” he says, nodding to me then Noah before nudging Jace toward the door.
Jace doesn’t move. Not until Noah gives him a look.
“Let’s go. He doesn’t need your scowling to interrupt his flirting.” Noah pulls at him again.
Jace doesn’t move. Noah tugs hard and he follows. The door clicking softly behind them, and just like that, we are alone.
For a moment, we just sit in the silence. The monitors beep, steady and slow, a reminder that time hasn’t stopped even if it feels like it should have. I fold my arms across my stomach, not knowing what to do with my hands. Luca watches me with tired eyes, half-lidded but still sharp underneath.
“You’ve been quiet.”
I shrug. “Just… processing.”
“They told me they told you, about Daniel.”
I don’t respond. I’m not sure I can.
Luca shifts slightly, sucking in a sharp breath when the movement no doubt tugs at his stitches. “You don’t have to sit here, you know. I’m not going to die now. Boring part’s over.”
“I want to,” I say.
“You saved my life.” He smiles.
“Don’t get used to it.” I sit back in the chair.
