Their gazes melted into each other, lingering in the space between them. After a brief moment, Theo lunged forward, pulling Luke into a fierce embrace. He wrapped his arms around him tightly, pressing their bodies together without leaving a single gap. He buried his face in the familiar scent and warmth that had been absent for far too long. The exhaustion and anxiety that had plagued him during those days of waiting seemed to melt away like snow under the sun.

The ten days during which Luke lay unconscious had been nothing short of hell. And now, this warmth he held in his arms felt like a gift he would never forget for the rest of his life.

“Aren’t you supposed to see me first?”

Luke’s arms tightened around Theo’s waist.

“I already heard everything from Paul. How reckless you were, how you kept throwing yourself into danger.”

At the word “reckless,” Luke flinched. He hadn’t been unaware of the risks when confronting Felix. He’d considered the worst-case scenarios — and yet, things had turned out exactly as horribly as he’d feared. Now, standing before Theo, he couldn’t even lift his head.

“Theo, are you mad at me?”