LIGHT-HEARTED

RAVEN'S POV

A soft voice echoed in the distance, pulling me out of the fog that wrapped around my mind. It was calm, soothing, and persistent, coaxing me gently from the darkness.  

"Raven... Raven, wake up."  

I blinked, my eyelids heavy and reluctant to open. The ache in my body was still there, and I didn't need a foreseer to know the cause. But as my senses sharpened, I realized something was different. The room was quiet, the air serene. Only one voice called to me now, not the overwhelming presence of three.  

I opened my eyes, squinting, Asher was seated on the edge of the bed, his eyes warm and filled with something that looked like concern. His dark hair fell messily over his forehead, and his expression was softer than I’d ever seen it.  

"Finally," he sighed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I thought you'd never wake up."  

I tried to sit up, but my body protested with a sharp pang. Asher’s hands immediately reached out, steadying me with a gentleness that caught me off guard.  

"Easy," he said, his voice low. "Your body has been through a lot already. No need to rush."  

I nodded, grateful for his support. My throat felt dry, and the words came out in a croak. "Where are the others?"  

"They left early," Asher replied, handing me a glass of water from the bedside table. "Work, responsibilities... you know how it is. But I stayed. Someone needed to make sure you were okay."  

His gaze lingered on me, and for the first time in a long while, I felt seen. Not as someone broken or vulnerable, but simply... me.  

"Thank you," I murmured, taking a sip of the water. It was cool and refreshing, easing the dryness in my throat.  

"You’re welcome," Asher said, leaning back slightly. "Are you hungry? You need to eat something."  

I hadn’t realized how ravenous I was until he mentioned it. My stomach growled in response, and Asher chuckled softly.  

"I’ll take that as a yes." He disappeared into the adjoining room and returned moments later with a tray of food—toast, scrambled eggs, and fruit. It was simple but comforting.  

I took a bite, savouring the warmth of the food. Asher watched me eat, his expression thoughtful but light. "You know," he said after a moment, "you have this way of making even eating look dramatic."  

I laughed, the sound surprising both of us. It felt good, freeing. "I guess I’ve had a lot of practice."  

His smile widened. "Want to tell me about it?"  

I hesitated, the weight of my past pressing down on me. But something about Asher's presence felt safe like I could share the parts of me I usually kept hidden.  

"It’s a long story," I warned.  

"We’ve got time," he said, settling in more comfortably.  

I took a deep breath, letting the memories surface. "His name was Matt," I began. "He was my fated mate. We were supposed to get married, and I thought... I thought it was everything I ever wanted."  

Asher’s eyes never left mine, his attention unwavering.  

"But on our wedding day," I continued, my voice faltering, "he married someone else. Right in front of me. No explanation, no apology. Just... betrayal."  

The words hung in the air, heavy and painful. Asher didn’t interrupt, didn’t rush me. He just listened.  

"I ran," I said softly. "Into the woods. I didn’t know where I was going, just that I needed to get away. And that’s when I found you. All three of you."  

Silence stretched between us, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Asher reached out, covering my hand with his. His touch was warm and grounding.  

"Matt sounds like an idiot," he said finally, his tone light but sincere.  

I couldn’t help but smile. "You think?"  

"Absolutely." Asher grinned. "Anyone who can’t see what’s right in front of them doesn’t deserve it. His loss, Raven. Not yours."  

The weight in my chest eased a little, and I found myself relaxing. Asher had a way of making everything feel less heavy, less suffocating.  

"Thanks," I said quietly. "I needed to hear that."  

"Anytime," he replied, leaning back with a satisfied smirk. "Now, how about I tell you a joke to lighten the mood?"  

I raised an eyebrow. "You? A joke? This I’ve got to hear."  

"Hey, I’m hilarious," Asher protested, feigning offence. "Okay, here goes. Why did the scarecrow win an award?"  

I shrugged, playing along. "Why?"  

"Because he was outstanding in his field."  

I groaned, but laughter bubbled up despite myself. "That’s terrible."  

"You laughed," he pointed out, looking smug.  

"Only because it was so bad," I shot back, but the smile lingered.  

We spent the next few minutes trading jokes, some worse than others, but the laughter felt good. Healing. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I could breathe again.  

Asher stood and offered his hand. "Come on," he said. "Let me take you on a tour. Show you around. There’s more to this place than just bedrooms and bad memories."  

I hesitated for a moment, then placed my hand in his. His grip was firm, reassuring.  

"Lead the way," I said, letting him guide me forward.