"Her safety for our freedom" Tyril looks at his brother, a silent conversation passing between the two. I take a moment to process what I just heard.

"Zane is willing to set us free if we give her back?" Mal questions, clearly not believing it. Tyril nods.

"It doesn't matter how much of a brute he is, he is a man of his word" Tyril takes a step into the room, his eyes fixed on me.

No.

This can't be happening.

He has spent the last twelve years of his life seeking to avenge his mother's death. He surely can't let it all go so easily, can he? But like Tyril said, he is a man of his word. This can't be a scheme.

All the guilt in the world comes crashing down on my head. He let them go. He let them go because of me.

I raise my head to look him in the eye, tears completely covering mine.

He might have let them go, but I won't. Not in a thousand years.

"Fuck", Thats all he says as he gathers me in his arms, his face tucked completely in my neck.

"Hi, baby. I missed you" I whisper softly in his ear. He doesn't let me go for a good five minutes, holding me as close as he possibly can, as if I'd disappear.

He doesn't say as word, but his hands cradle my face, bringing it closer to his. I don't object. Our lips meet in a soft and delicate kiss that lights my veins on fire.

"Did you miss me?" I blink at him. His hands don't let go of my face, and he stares at me as if it's just the two of us in the room.

He nods, but barely. I bring my face close again and lay a kiss on his nose. He let's out a relived sigh.

"Please" His voice sounds so incredibly soft.
"Please, don't ever disappear again" When I meet his eyes, I notice that they're red.

Was he crying?

"So. Are we dating now?" I wiggle my eyebrows at him playfully. He chuckles.
"I've learnt not to question your choices" He touches our noses, and, you guessed it, I whisper 'Boop'.

"Will you be my girlfriend, Astraea?" He asks. I blink twice and lean back without any worries, knowing that he'll catch me if I fall.

"Maybe"
"Maybe?"

"Do you agree to a few things?" I question. If he's gonna be my boyfriend, you better hope he knows the terms and conditions.

"What things?" He smiles. I lean back even more and his hands press into my back, preventing the fall.

"Rule number one" I start "You'll get me Icees any time of the day. No question" He scoffs.
"I do get you Icees any time of the day"

"Rule number two. Good morning and goodnight kisses are necessary" He leans over and brushes our lips together. I smile.

"And rule number three" He brushes my cheek with his thumb, waiting for the rule. I grin.
"Rule number three. When you get mad, you won't shut yourself in your room. Talk to me, please? I get worried" He stares at me a bit longer before nodding.

"Pinky promise?" I hold out my pinky and he kisses it before joining our pinkies.
"Pinky promise"

"Okay, then. You're my boyfriend now"

A smile graces his lips as he leans forward again, but before we can kiss, Felix clears his throat.

"I don't mean to be a cock blocker, but do y'all mind?" I turn around. He raises a brow and motions towards us.

"Oh, please. Don't act like you and Rina didn't get down and dirty yesterday" I say slowly, winking at him. His eyes widen so much I think they're gonna pop out of their sockets.

"Wha-"
"She's right" Zane tilts his head "You didn't let me sleep yesterday. Please, for the love of God, keep it down"

My jaw falls to the floor as I stare at him.

"Enough! This isn't about sex. Listen closely" Felix changes the topic quickly. "What do you think-"

"Felix" Zane stops him. "We have her back. ACE is free. It's over now"

You wish.

I look up to find him with a very focused look on his pretty face. Internally, every single part of my heart is in conflict. He did this for what? My safety? He's known me for just a few months. Why did he do that? But then, a sense of warmth spreads across my heart, thinking about how much he cares.

"You're just gonna let them go?" Bianca raises her eyebrows, confused. I would be too, honestly.
"Yes"

"That's...not what I expected" Roxy clears her throat "But I'm glad you did" She smiles sincerely.

He did. I did not.

Zane leans down to lay a kiss on my shoulder. In a second, Bridget appears near the door. Her face pulls in a tight frown when she sees us.

She walks over to us. Zane, specifically, and lays a hand in his shoulder. I keep watching.

"Are you okay? Is you leg okay?" She asks him. He nods. His leg is bandaged, but somehow he still manages to stand.
"Sit" She motions him over to the couch and sits him down, all while he has a 'what the fuck is going on' look on his face.

"Should I get you-"
"I'm fine" He speaks at last. I smile.

"No, your leg looks-" She touches his face with her fingertips, tracing patterns, he moves away, but not before I get in between them.

Bridget stares at my face in confusion. I smile.
"Unfortunately, he's spoken for"

I look over her shoulder to Felix, who punches the air, a wide grin on his face. He mouths,
"That's my girl!"

"I-"

"Bridget" Zane interrupts, holding my waist and setting me down beside him.

"Yes, boss?"
"Your father called. He wants you back home" I can almost see the smile threatening to make it's way on his face.

"What? He didn't tell me-"
"He told me. The flight leaves tomorrow. You should get ready"

I've never seen Bianca show some clear emotion, but when he says that, she covers her mouth with a hand, staring at Roxy in bewilderment. I dont miss the toothy grin that makes it's way onto her face.

"...yes, boss" She finally says. Without another look at any of us, she leaves the room. Right when she closes the door, Royce jumps.

"Oh, my fucking God" He smirks at Zane "You just did that! Yes" He chuckles.

I feel Zane's hand snake behind my waist and clutch it tightly. I smile to myself. I take a moment to look around the room.

What would I do without these people?

Roxy sees me staring, and signals towards the door. I gaze at her, confused for a moment before standing up and leaving the room.

I follow her out to the garden, where she waits for me near the far end.
"Hey, is everything okay?" I ask, putting a hand on her arm. She nods.
"Astraea?"
"Yeah?"

She turns towards me with eyes full of an emotion I can't describe.
"Do you think he really forgave them?" Her voice is small, and light. Like a slow, summer breeze. I hesitate.

"I don't know, but even if he did, I'm not forgiving them" Her eyes light up when I say that.
"That's what I wanted to tell you" She smiles, a slight dimple, that I hadn't noticed before, appearing on her left cheek.

"He doesn't have to know"
"But...why do you want to do this?" I tilt my head.
"Astraea, I've seen how much it affects Zane. When he realised that he didn't have a choice but to spare them, it killed him. As much as I hate to say it, I don't want to see him like this" She breaths deeply.

"So, do you want to help?"

A/N

Honestly, this entire team is on crack.

I'm so fucking hungry I could eat a horse.

Anyway, be sure to vote, comment and tell me what you think!

-Author.