Azure's POV

I shuddered in my seep, and my eyes opened groggily. The morning light filtered down though the thin curtains, and I shivered again.

"Here." I jumped as Bow spoke.

He was sitting at the edge of my bed. I was in Bright Moon; it had all really happened. Bow changed my blanket to a warmer one and sat next to me again. His hand hesitantly reached for my face, and he caressed my cheek tentatively. I put my hand on his, savoring the warmth his contact gave me. Though my peripheral vision I saw Faust sleeping on the couch.

Petra was folded into Noah's embrace, and a book was beside them, pages bent.

"What happened?" I asked, and Bow looked down.

"The Princess Alliance broke up; everyone is back home." Bow said, and my brows furrowed.

"Broke up? Like a band? Like the Beatles?" I asked, and he chuckled.

"Yeah." He confirmed. I sat up and bit my lip as a gasp of pain slipped through my chapped lips.

"Careful." He said, and I looked down at my stomach, wrapped is gaze, slightly damp with blood, and puss.

"I have to see it." I said and Bow gingerly helped me off the bed.

I limped slowly towards the standing, floor length mirror. I stood with Bow behind me, and I gently unwrapped the gauze with his help. I shuddered when I saw it. The cut was from my ribs to my bellybutton. It had a rushed stitch job and was bumpy like a centipede. I looked horrible. Pale, and sickly, dark circles eroded the space under my eyes. My Blood Text was faint, and my bloody was bruised, from my arms to my sides. The sides of my head, and my ears were turning green, and yellow from the earpiece. Grief, vain vanity, and anguish flooded me, and I voiced my thoughts blatantly.

"Who could ever love something like me?"

Bow's face turned to one of shock, and I met his gaze though the mirror.

"Who would ever want to hold me, but be so afraid to hurt me? Who could ever look at me, and think that I'm the face they want to wake next to every morning from the moment we say I do?" I listed off quietly, but it was too much for Bow.

He stepped in front of the mirror and held my arms.

"Look in my eyes Azure. You know what I see?" He asked, and I shook my head.

"I see the strongest girl I know. You are selfless, you throw yourself in front of the gun for anyone. Azure you might find someone you want more than others, but you need to know that I think whoever gets you in the end will never, for one moment think that you're less than beautiful." Bow said grabbing my hands.

"I could love something like you." I could not breathe, and my cheeks blazed.

Never had any man said that to me, he was the first to love me like this.

It all happened so fast, but Bow leaned down, and kissed me... my eyes closed in bliss as I f his soft lips against mine, his hands placed loosely at my waist, and I gingerly placed my hands around his neck. People say your first kiss is like fireworks, that it explodes inside you, but I found that it might be different for everyone. I felt warm, like I was sitting beside a soft campfire, and I smelled rain in the trees, my head was empty of all thoughts that were not concerning him. I felt at home. Once we pulled away, he breathed a small chuckle, and I absentmindedly caressed the back of his neck.

There was a grunt from behind us, and I turned to see Faust, arms crossed, and giving us a knowing look. We moved away from the embrace of each other, but out hands lingered near each other.

"Don't strain yourself." Faust smiled cheekily, and I blushed. I quickly wrapped clean gaze around my stomach and avoided my Brother's eyes.

"I'll let you get some sleep." Bow said, and I nodded as he passed me to Faust who helped me onto the bed.

I grunted in pain but settled into the warm blankets quietly. Faust sat next to me and cupped his hand in mine.

"Hi." He whispered, and I managed a small smile.

"Hi." Faust pressed his forehead to our hands and breathed shakily.

"I really thought I lost another sister." He admitted, and I smoothed my thumb over his hands.

"I thought I was too late when I saw you, cold, and pale... You looked like death." He shuddered, and I could do nothing but listen.

"Cos told me to protect you, both of you. But I failed, and I have done it over, and over again, but this was a big mistake Azure. If I would have messed up again, we'd all be dead." I shook my head and squeezed his hands.

"Please Faust, please don't ever think that again, I need you to trust me, like I trust you." I whispered and kissed his forehead. He rubbed my hands in his, and nodded, taking deep breaths.

"We don't have to, but... I think we should go to the Hollow, the hiding place." He specified, and I stared into his eyes, feeling rather appalled.

"I can't leave, I have more to fight more now, and I-" Faust touched my cheek gently.

"You've found someone. Anyone could see it Azure, you care for each other, all I'm saying is, we should make sure our own people are alright." I nodded slowly, and Faust smoothed my hair.

"Just think about it, okay? Get some rest." He said, and I clutched his hand firmly.

"Don't leave." I whispered, and he shook his head.

"I won't." He assured me, and pulled up a chair, and sat down, his hands smoothing my hair, and making me sleepy. I closed my eyes, and faded away...