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I climb into bed beside him, curling up around him.

“I can’t see a life without you, Xander,” I continue whispering. “I don’t want to see a life without you. I want forever with you.”

I know he won’t be able to hear me, but if there’s any chance that he might not wake up…

“Did you really think I’d leave you? My soul would’ve haunted you in the afterlife, Angel.”

I snap upright.

His eyes are open.

“You’re awake?” I ask as I touch his face and grab his hands, not believing this is real, needing to make sure this is real.

“I’m awake,” he whispers.

“Oh my god,” I cry, bringing my lips to his and kissing him with everything I have in me. “I love you,” I say between kisses. “I love you, I love you, I love you.” He grunts in pain, and I peel myself away, not wanting to hurt him. “Is this real?”

“It’s real.”

Relief floods through me as sobs rack my body.

“Motherfucker,” Jac laughs, dropping the ready-made sandwiches on the floor in the doorway, his eyes already brimming with tears.

“Hello, brother,” Xander sighs, lips quirking up with a smile.

Jacques’ tears drip down onto Xander’s hospital gown as he grips his hand. “Never do that again.”

“Xander, welcome back.” Estella strolls into the room, dressed in scrubs this time, relief washing over her face.

“Estella?” Xander’s eyes widen.

“That bullet got you pretty good,” she smiles, pressing a few buttons on the machines.

“What the fuck?” he laughs, glancing at Jacques.

Jacques tenses.

“Take it easy. I don’t want to spoil the happy moment, but I really need to check him,” she says, and we both slide off to the side, gripping each other's hands, Jacques holding me a little tighter than I am.

“What were you thinking, Xander?” she sighs, pressing the stethoscope to his chest.

“I found someone worth falling into an obsessive spiral for.” Xander’s eyes find me, and he gives me a crooked smile. My cheeks ache from how much I’m smiling, my body itching to be close to his.

Xander’s own eyes start welling up as we all soak in this moment. The reality that Xander is with us.

Chapter 59

Xander - 2 months later

Frost has settled over the brimming country hills as I sit at the wicker table, dragging a green pencil down the smooth paper to finish colouring the landscape. I grab a white pencil, carefully beginning to add frost to the drawing.

Sweet vanilla floats from behind me, and I smile as Camila’s arms wrap around me, her warm lips pressing into my cheek.

“What are you drawing?” she murmurs.

I flick a page back, revealing a drawing of her in a broken doll position on the pole. I look up into her bright green eyes as she takes in the drawing.

“That’s beautiful,” she whispers, running her finger over the charcoal. She tuts when she remembers her finger is now sporting a black spot. I chuckle, grabbing the damp cloth and wiping it clean.