Ares’s POV

The first thing I felt was pain.

A deep, dragging ache that seemed to live in my bones.

The second was warmth — a smaller hand curled tightly around mine.

When I opened my eyes, the world came back in pieces.

White ceiling.

Soft light.

The rhythmic beeping of a monitor.

And then… Alina.

She was asleep, her head resting beside my arm, her hair spilling like ink across the sheets. Her lashes fluttered faintly, her face pale but peaceful.

For a moment, I just stared. I ...