Chapter 207. Heedful Instincts

Raina’s POV

“Rai.” Vaheed rasped out like his throat was clogged.

With ragged breaths, Vaheed’s bare feet staggered heavily from the aft deck towards us with one hand over his chest and the other stretched out for help.

My mouth opened dry and I became teary-eyed, watching him. The relief of finally seeing him after months of his disappearance was almost too much to bear.

Blood coated his forehead as it seeped down his full-bearded face from an angry gash that littered around his arm and neck. He was still his regular height, extremely tall and towering, but he appeared gaunt and brown from dirt. He had lost a significant amount of weight, so much so that it was heartbreaking. All of his muscles were shredded down to a slim build.

It drowned me in an ocean of dismay the more I saw his body. His dark hair had lost some of its sheen, and it was now a bit longer, brushing his collarbone, matted and in disarray. His upper torso was bare and