CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 86: SAFE IN MY ARMS

"Babe... hug me. Just a little."

My chest tightened at his plea. Without hesitation, I wrapped him in my arms, holding him close against me, letting him feel the steady beat of my heart. I pressed a kiss to his temple, lingering there for a breath before pulling back just enough to meet his eyes.

"You’ve got me," I murmured against his lips before stealing a tender kiss.

He exhaled shakily, and together, hand in hand, we stepped out of the car and walked toward the hospital doors.

I had already texted my friend while we were still in the car, making sure he would be ready for us. A part of me thought I should have just asked him to come to my house instead, but no, I wanted Zayn to get used to stepping outside with me. He couldn’t hide forever, not every time fear whispered that people would call him gay.

What I wanted, what I needed, was for him to understand that loving me had nothing to do with gender. If we could make love, if we could share laughter, pain, and comfort, then why should that love remain hidden? I wasn’t afraid of being seen with him. Even though my father, Rogan Draeven, was a powerful man... and a homophobic one at that... I, Evric Draeven, refused to cower in his shadow.

I wanted to love Zayn out loud, for the world to see. I didn’t care about whispers or judgments; the only voice that mattered was his.

The only reason I held back was because of Zayn himself. I didn’t want to push him into a spotlight he wasn’t ready for. But deep down, I knew that once he found the courage to be free with me, he would finally realize that I was the best choice he had ever made.

I knocked lightly on the office door, and a familiar voice answered from inside.

"Come in."

Pushing the door open, I guided Zayn in first, my hand still resting gently at the small of his back. "Have a seat, babe," I murmured, pulling a chair out for him. He sat down quietly, his fingers clasped together in his lap, avoiding Adrian’s direct gaze.

Dr. Adrian looked up from his desk, his face lighting when he saw me. "Evric, hey. How are you?"

I gave him a small smile. "I’m fine. What about you?"

We exchanged a casual handshake, the kind only old friends could share, before I glanced at Zayn again. He was sitting there stiffly, clearly uncomfortable, so I decided not to make him sit through everything.

"Let’s step outside for a moment," I told Adrian softly. He caught the look in my eyes and understood.

"Of course," he said, getting up.

I leaned toward Zayn, brushing my hand over his shoulder. "Wait here, baby. I’ll just talk with him for a minute, alright?" My voice was low, reassuring.

Zayn nodded, though I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. I bent down to press a quick kiss against his temple before following Adrian outside.

Adrian tilted his head, waiting for me to go on. I shifted uncomfortably, lowering my voice even more. "The problem... it’s not really his body right now. It’s his throat."

Adrian frowned slightly. "His throat?"

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "We were... close. Intimate. And I might’ve pushed him too much, too deep. He didn’t complain right away, but afterward, he was in pain. He hasn’t said much, but I can see it bothers him. I just... I don’t want him suffering because of me."

Adrian’s expression softened in quiet understanding, and he nodded. "Alright. No need to say more, I get it."

Relief washed through me. "So... can you help me check on him? I just need to be sure he’s okay."

"Of course," Adrian said with calm reassurance. "I’ll take care of him without making him feel uncomfortable. Leave the rest to me."

When Adrian and I walked back inside, Zayn immediately looked up, his fingers fidgeting in his lap. I gave him a small smile, brushing my hand across his shoulder as I passed. "It’s alright, baby. He’s just going to check you, nothing scary."

Adrian’s voice was calm and professional as he approached. "Zayn, I’m Dr. Adrian. You don’t need to worry, I’ll just take a quick look at your throat, okay?"

Zayn swallowed nervously but nodded.

"Good," Adrian said kindly, pulling on a pair of gloves. He gestured gently. "Can you open your mouth for me? Just like you’re at the dentist. Say ’ah’ so I can see your throat clearly."

Zayn obeyed, parting his lips and letting out a soft, reluctant "ah." Adrian leaned closer with a small light, his movements steady and respectful, never making Zayn feel rushed or exposed.

"Hmm," Adrian murmured thoughtfully as he checked. "A little irritation, some redness. Nothing too alarming, but I can see why it feels uncomfortable."

Zayn’s eyes flickered nervously to me, and I reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. "You’re doing great," I whispered.

Adrian straightened, removing the light. "The good news is it’s nothing serious. It should ease on its own with rest. But I’ll prescribe something mild to soothe the pain and reduce the irritation."

Zayn finally exhaled, shoulders loosening a bit.

"You see?" I told him softly, brushing his knuckles with my thumb. "Just like I said, nothing scary."

Adrian scribbled quickly on his notepad, then tore off the sheet and handed it to me.

"This is a prescription for a soothing syrup. It will help ease the irritation in his throat. Make sure he drinks plenty of warm water, avoids anything too spicy or acidic for a few days, and rests his voice when he can. With this and some care, he should feel better soon."

I nodded, relieved. "Thank you, Adrian. I really appreciate it."

He gave me a small smile. "Anytime. Take care of him."

I turned back to Zayn, offering him a reassuring smile as I helped him up from the chair. His hand found mine instinctively, holding on as though it grounded him.

Together, we thanked Adrian once more and walked out of the office side by side, the weight in Zayn’s shoulders lighter now that it was over.

As soon as we slipped back into the car, the bag with the syrup barely settled on the seat, Zayn leaned over and wrapped his arms around me. The suddenness of it made me pause, my hands hovering before I gently held him back.

"Babe, is everything okay?" I asked softly, brushing my thumb over his back.

His voice came quiet but steady against my chest. "Thank you, babe."