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"Sab—” My voice grates against the dryness of my throat and I immediately break into a weak coughing fit that wakes the woman beside me with a jolt.

"Cassian?"

"Water," I croak, caught up in a cycle of burning that aggravates the cough while the cough aggravates the burning.

Sabina surges up from her wheelchair and rushes to the end of the bed where she quickly pours a cup of water and returns to my side. She perches on the edge of the bed and cups my chin with one hand, then slowly tilts the cup against my lips.

The first gulp of water is utter bliss. The second soothes the burning, and soon, I'm drinking like I've never tasted water in my life. Sabina watches me and a smile grows over her face.

I could watch her smile forever and it would never be enough.

"Careful," she says as she pulls the cup away and swipes her thumb across my lower lip to catch a droplet of water. "I think too much, too fast might be bad."

"Why?" I croak, relieved to hear my voice again. "Did you get a nursing degree?"

"Oh, yeah." Sabina takes a sip of the water and sets it aside. "You were under for so long, I got like five degrees."

"Five?"

"Mmhmm. Nursing. Radiology. Gardening. Confectionery and…" She trails off and fixes her beautiful eyes on me. "I'm still working on the fifth."

"It's so good to see you," I croak.

Her entire expression softens. "You too."

"What happened?"

"Uhm… do you remember falling through the floor?"

I nod.

"Ruslan— I met Ruslan, by the way. He told me your shoulder was fucked up, broke your collar bone, your ribs, tore your liver, and the wooden beam impaled your leg, but it missed everything important, thankfully. That and some bleeding on your skull had everyone a little scared. Me included." She lists it all off carefully and then cups my face again. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"Damn," I groan. "There goes my daring rescue. Can't believe I fell through the floor."

"It was plenty daring," she murmurs, and she leans closer to me. There's a moment of hesitation where her eyes dart between my eyes and my lips, then she leans in fully.

I can survive anything so long as she kisses me after.

"You're okay," I whisper against her lips.

"I am," she replies softly. "So are you."

"And Illyana?"

"She's perfect. You saved me. You saved us." She braces herself over me with one hand on the pillow beside my head. "And I love you. I want you to know that before anything else dramatic happens."

Warmth blooms in my chest, spreading as if coaxed out by her touch. "You love me?"

"I do."

"Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

"Not even the dishes at your restaurant?"

A soft laugh escapes her. "Not even that."