I woke up in a haze, sleep still tugging at me from all sides. It would have just been easier to fall back into a deep slumber, but I wanted to be awake no matter how much my body ached me not to be.

Batting my lashes, sunlight spilled in all around me, pain rippling through my muscles when I tried to move my arms. My sore body seemed to groan in complaint when I rolled over onto my stomach, resting my head into the other pillow.

Breathing in deeply, the smell was intoxicating, making me feel so awake and drowsy all at the same time. I loved this smell because it was Finn's, and my heart ached for him with more ferocity than my broken body.

I pushed the blankets off me, the air colder than I thought as it made me shiver. Managing to sit up, I blinked, looking around the room. My heartbeat quickened; I was in Finn's bedroom.

Sliding off the bed, my feet hit the carpet. I looked down at my clothes, no longer wearing a torn orange dress but one of Finn's grey t-shirts and sweatpants. I held the hem up to my nose, breathing in. Finn's sweet smell of chocolate and rain filled my nostrils, making me sigh.

The sun's reflection off the bathroom mirror caught my eye, drawing me in like a moth. I flipped on the light, gazing at my appearance. My hair shocked me, my fingers reaching up to touch the dark chocolate waves that rolled off my shoulders.

A bandage rested on my forehead, any blood or grime that had once been there wiped clean. I had a nasty bruise forming across the left side of my face, a memory of Felix punching me coming to mind. A large welt colored black and blue had risen on my neck as well, and I winced remembering the needle. That all felt so long ago...

Turning away, I walked towards the bedroom door which was open as soft voices echoed from down the hallway. Following the navy rug, I moved into the living room. No one was on the couch, but when I peered into the kitchen I nearly did a double take.

Out of all the people who could have been there, none other than Matilda and Malaki were standing at the stove pestering one another as they made spaghetti. He flicked some sauce across her cheek, earning a playful smack on the arm before she rose on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. His arm came around her waist as he whispered something into her ear that made her laugh.

"What daydream did I just walk into?" I asked, making the two of them jump in surprise. The spoon Matilda had been stirring flew out of her grip, soaring across the counter onto the ground. Both pairs of eyes rested on me as my sister leapt to life from her shock.

"Oh, thank Fate, you're awake!" She came towards me, enveloping me in a big hug as she kissed my cheek. "I was worried sick about you, Kate! They took you away in handcuffs!"

"How are you doing? How do you feel?" Malaki was asking me, resting the back of his hand against my forehead. "You don't feel like you have a fever or anything."

"I'm happy to see you both, ecstatic even though I'm very confused." I said, glancing at Malaki. "What are you doing?"

"Shouldn't you feel...?" He paused, unsure what word to use.

"You were struck by lightning!" Matilda said, only squeezing me harder. "You should be dead, but you aren't!"

"She wasn't trying to kill me; she protected me." I replied, stepping back. "How did you get here? I feel like I'm dreaming. You're here in Finn's apartment..."

"Oh shit, Finn!" Matilda said, eyes wide. She looked to Malaki, "break that gem thing he gave me. He wanted to know if she woke up before he was back."

"Got it." Malaki said, walking around the counter. "Do you think if I smash it with the back of this spoon it will do the trick? Rolling pin, maybe?"

"Gem thing?" I said, looking at the crystal Malaki held in his fingers.

"He has the matching one," Matilda explained, "when you break one, the other one glows. In this case, he'll know you're up when his jewel thing starts to shine."

"It's really fascinating actually." Malaki said, looking around in the drawers for something to smash the stone with.

Matilda rubbed her hands along my arms, "after the altercation at home, the guardians took us with them so we'd be protected if any of the other demons showed up to take us too. They didn't want to give that... terror any more leverage over you." Her face saddened, "honey, I'm so sorry that I couldn't... do anything. I'm sorry."

"What could you have done?" I said, shaking my head. "Don't apologize, Matilda, please. I'm ok, really."

This only made her grimace, "you're not. Your face..."

"Got it!" Malaki said, clapping his hands. He looked up to the both of us, holding up some of the gem shards and pointing to the wooden figure of a man on the counter. "Nutcrackers, who knew?"

"How is Finn? Nocen and Cybele? Are the other Bentons here too?" I asked them both.

"The other brothers are here too, probably making Raphael's life twenty times harder." Malaki replied, "he's been in charge lately, especially since Secta lost his shit. The god's recovering though, finally got some sense into him. I haven't heard anything about Cybele, but they took the demon to the infirmary. Finn... he's seen better days."

My heart constricted in my chest, "where is he?"

"He went to check on Cybele." Matilda said softly, "he said that she needed him." She reached up, brushing through a strand of my hair with her fingers. "Dark hair, hm?"

"I'm dying my hair back as soon as I can." I felt my nose wrinkle. "I hate it."

There was a shudder from outside, making me lift my head as the double doors leading out onto Finn's terrace swung open. With his wings still ruffled the guardian walked into the room with authority, wild eyes combing the kitchen before settling on me.

I couldn't breath for a moment, staring at his blue eyes. I'd missed them so much, so used to only ever seeing Nocen and his jade colored eyes. For days I'd been wishing that the demon was actually the angel; now finally he was here, the shock of it all hitting me square in the chest and taking the air from lungs.

"Too many stairs." Finn said softly, explaining his leap through the terrace doors. I couldn't fight the smile spreading across my cheeks.

In seconds we were both rushing towards the other, my heart hammering as I demanded to touch him as though it were what I needed to breath. Reaching out, our hands grazed the other, running along our forearms while both my hands found their way around his neck fitting right where they belonged. The warmth of his arms holding my waist was dream-like as he lifted me clean off my feet, spinning me up higher into his hold and wrapping his wings around us.

I tucked my head against his chest, one of his hands moving from my waist to bury in my hair as he held me against him. I felt his nose skim across my skin as he kissed the top of my head before resting his forehead there. Breathing him in, I nearly began to cry, all my emotions flooding together just being there with him.

Finn set me back on my feet, both hands digging into my hair as he gently tilted my head back to look me in the eyes. I ran my fingers along his chest and arms, feeling his quick heartbeat under my palm.

My voice escaped me for a few moments as I struggled with what to say, but in the end, I didn't have to. Finn's lips crashed against mine with a force that could move mountains and shake oceans, my hands slipping up his chest to hold his face. His lips on mine were enough to make me feel weak in the knees, the tender yet passionate nature of his kiss filling me up with a love and need for him so fierce that I forgot where we even were. When we pulled apart, I could only rest my head against his chest, closing my eyes as I took a deep breath.

"I love you," Finn said softly, leaning his head down to whisper into my ear, "I love you. I love you. I'm never letting anyone take you again. Never." 

"I love you too." I opened my eyes, looking up to him. "I missed you."

"Fates, you're alive and never have I been more scared in my life to think that maybe you might..."

"I'm here." I whispered, running my fingers along his jaw. "I'm not going anywhere."

He rested his forehead against mine, closing his eyes as he took a breath. When he opened them, their astonishing blue hue looked even more lovely. He lifted his head, running his fingers along my lips.

I swallowed, "how is Nocen? I want to see him."

"He isn't great," Finn warned me, "but he's still alive. I've been to see him a few times, but... there's still a part of me that hasn't forgiven him yet."

My hand ran up his arm, and the doors to the terrace snapped open again, this time Samaria rushing towards me with Raphael in her wake. She took my hands in her's, pulling me past Finn towards her.

"Oh my, what did that fucker do to your face?" Samaria hissed under her breath. "Oh, when I'm combat-approved, that pixie won't know what storm's coming for him."

"I think I have that under control now." I replied, giving her a smile. My gaze shifted over her shoulder, meeting Raphael's stoney eyes. "Well, look who came to visit me."

He scoffed, "I came to see how well our combat training payed off, which from your face doesn't appear fruitful."

"Raphael," Finn snarled, their eyes locking before the dark haired guardian looked back to me.

"You were brave, Stratton. The level of fortitude you demonstrated was acceptable."

"You're an ass." Matilda said through her teeth.

I, on the other hand, was nearly over the moon. "When did you become so soft? Raphael, I'm tearing up."

This made his face harden, "don't you dare cry on me. And while you're at it, don't get yourself captured again either, understand?"

So many insults were stirring inside my head, one side of me particularly wanting to remind him that he was the one who was supposed to have been watching me. In the end none of it mattered as I grinned. "You got it, Raph."

I saw his lip twitch, the nickname hanging in the air between us. He clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth before ultimately letting my comment slide. I turned my head to hide my smug grin.

"Secta wants to talk to you sometime soon." Raphael said, making me bite my lip. I looked to him again, Samaria leaned against his side with one of his arms around her waist.

"Not a chance." Finn snarled.

"Not today." I corrected, shaking my head. "I don't have the strength for that right now."

"He should be on his knees begging for her apology." Matilda said under her breath, making Samaria laugh.

"The damn truth! I like you!"

My meraki stirred inside me, painfully constricting my chest. I was sore, the impact of all the past events making my body ache. When I felt my eyes begin to glow, a prod of pain stole through my brain, making me wince. I'd overdone myself, or in fact, Fate had.

"She needs to rest." Malaki said just as Finn took one of my hands in his.

"Kate, let's go back to bed."

"No, I'm..."

"You aren't fine." Samaria finished for me. "Put your ass in bed now."

"Don't make me force you." Matilda added, "I'll be a whole lot meaner than your boyfriend."

Samaria nodded her head, pointing her thumb at Matilda as though she'd said the words herself.

"I'll walk you to your room." Raphael said, nodding to Malaki and Matilda to follow his lead. They left the room, Samaria scampering after them as the door swung closed.

Finn's blue eyes settled on me. "Bed. Now." And damn well I listened.