Zar opened his eyes to see the most beautiful woman in the world.

A lot of emotions kicked in and they brought along the truth. Long before irritation and anger, before the loathsome feeling of being betrayed, before pain – there was relief. In his fever dream, Zar had been lucid for a few moments, realizing that he was drifting in and out of consciousness.

In those bitter moments, realizing how badly he'd been wounded in his battle with fifty men, Zar had only wanted one thing.

It wasn't to survive, although that was definitely high up there on the top of his wish list.

The absolute first was to see Ashley again. To look into her stormy, gorgeous eyes that had won his heart within seconds of meeting her.

He could still see her in that measly little station. Pointing a gun at him, stubborn defiance glinting in her eyes, gorgeous as a goddess and his, all his.

"Ashley," Zar said, hearing how harsh and broken his voice was.

Someone must have wounded him near his throat. He'd hardly noticed in the midst of battle where his bloodlust was up and the battle hormones were running wild in his system.

He looked around. The cell was still dark, but now there seemed to be some light too and he wasn't just talking about Ashley. The harbinger could distinctly remember packing some items to bring to Ashley, more lanterns included.

They sat in a semi-circle around him now, illuminating him, lying on most of the warm furs he'd packed for his fated. Some parts of his armor were discarded, for example the armor plates. His wounds were tended to, feeling like they were on the mend. The diadon in his chest was glowing more brightly than usual, keeping his vital organs working as his body healed.

Ashley had done all that, he realized. Only when Zar looked at her, the eyes he loved so much were cold and accusing.

"What happened?" his fated asked him quietly, almost impassively. "With The Reaper? How many people did I get killed?"

Zar groaned, trying to speak. It hurt a bit to breathe. There must have been some damage to his lungs as well.

"I killed many," he admitted. "The Reaper ran, the coward. I challenged him. I will kill him."

Ashley chortled.

"Like this? I don't think so."

"Nayanors heal fast... You looked after me."

There was a strange look in Ashley's eyes. She was sitting, wrapped in one of the furs, against the cell wall, regarding him with a dark gaze.

"I did," she admitted, looking away. "All the while thinking of all the women whose lives you've ruined. The women you've stolen, including me. So much pain and suffering, for what? I don't think Nayanors are a happy people. You are the only one I've seen actually enjoying life."

"Are you saying we should let ourselves become extinct?" Zar asked.

"No," Ashley sighed. "I'm saying that any other woman other than me would have cut your damn throat and been right to do so. Not with that sword, of course. I tried to move it, but I could barely drag it."

"Did you consider that?" Zar asked, his pulse beating as fast as it had during the fight with The Reaper's guards.

It felt like his life depended upon her answer.

"What? Cutting your throat?" Ashley asked, her eyes gleaming in the dim light when she turned her gaze back to him.

"Yes."

"No."

"You lie," Zar grunted, trying to sit up, finding that it took more effort than it was worth.

He laid back, looking at Ashley, waiting for her to confirm what he knew to be true.

"I can't lie, remember?" she laughed humorlessly. "One of your many orders and rules. So tell me, what does this say about me? I shouldn't be on Luminos. I should be studied by scientists."

She really didn't.

Zar didn't know if it was a fact or his active imagination, but it felt like his heart beat stronger after that realization. The diadon in his chest seemed to glow brighter as well.

"It says you're a good person," Zar told his mate, seeing the first change in her after he'd roused. "Someone who doesn't want to hurt others, just like you told me. If it was a Nayanor in your place, on Terra, they wouldn't think twice about getting however many people killed to be free. But you worried about my people. Not just your friends and Terrans. All people who would get hurt if The Reaper ever found out."

"And now he has," Ashley said sadly. "People will get hurt no matter what I do. Hooray for my goodness."

Despite the mournful tone of her voice, there was some life returning to her right before Zar's eyes. She moved slightly, twitching like her body wanted to come closer to him, only to be stopped by her mind at the last moment.

"Are you really going to fight The Reaper?" Ashley asked then.

"Yes," Zar said, choosing not to say how much he ached for her warmth.

And her smile.

"Why?" Ashley asked and there was genuine curiosity about her. "You don't need to. You could just outlast the long night and go. Take your people and find another place without risking your life again. The way you tell it, he's afraid of you. He'd leave you alone if you wanted."

"No," Zar said firmly. "He needs to die."

Ashley said nothing, letting the previous question hang in the air between them.

"For you, he needs to die," Zar finished, seeing Ashley's mouth drop open. "As long as he lives and rules the Black Hall, you won't be safe no matter where I take you. Even the Foront may come under attack by Nayanors if The Reaper wants it. He's influential enough.

"Besides, I like the Hall, I always have. You should know by now Nayanors take what they like."

The shadow of a smirk appeared at the corners of Ashley's lips.

"I do," she admitted. "Now tell me the real reason."

Zar pushed himself up, despite Ashley's cry of protest. He sat up, pulling her against him. The motion hurt but Ashley's closeness was like a balm on his wounds, making everything better simply by existing.

He kissed her. At first, Ashley didn't respond, but then, like always, inch by inch she gave in, deepening the kiss and letting him slip his tongue into her hot mouth.

"You," he said when they had to break for breath. "You are the reason. I promised to protect you and keep you safe and this is what I need to do. And when I'm done with The Reaper, the Hall will be our home and you can do what you can to help the other females settle in here like you always wanted."

This time, Ashley kissed him.

When she laid down beside him, wrapping her hand gently around him and resting her head on his shoulder, Zar felt like he could conquer the world with her by his side.