Chapter 87

While Steve's call came at a terrible moment, I felt immense relief knowing he was safe. They were both alive. That was all I could grasp onto at that moment. I had been so afraid, terrified even, that I might have to face a future without them.

It had kept me awake the night before, worrying about both of them and trying to imagine a life without them. Wondering if I would have the strength to face it. Once I was certain Xavier was going to make it, I had sent countless prayers to the goddess for Steve.

With some urgency, but not too much because Xavier was moving slowly, we gathered what we needed to pick up Steve. I could tell he was healing. The beast within him was knitting together his muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The broken and splintered bones were fusing back together. His heart was pumping blood through his body, and oxygen was reaching his organs, making them strong enough to heal from internal damages.

I knew that process well; while it was a reli