Chapter 853 Day Of The Competition
The Next Day
Hera groggily opened her eyes, her chest tight and her breathing shallow. "Ugh..." she murmured, trying to shift her body, but everything felt heavy and sluggish.
"You’re awake?" A hoarse, magnetic voice brushed her ear from just above her head. Her eyes snapped open, and she turned her head sharply—only to find a half-naked Xavier lying beside her, his eyes still closed, his body warm and relaxed. He instinctively pulled her into his embrace, pressing her against his chest.
"Strawberry, let’s sleep a little longer, okay?" he murmured, nuzzling into the crook of her neck with a soft sigh of contentment.
Hera, however, sat frozen, her mind flatlining for a moment before the gears finally started turning again.
"When did you get here?" she asked quietly, turning her face toward him. Her gaze softened when she saw the dark circles under his eyes and the dryness in his usually radiant skin. It was clear—Xavier hadn’t slept at all last night.
"Maybe two hours ago," Xavier murmured sleepily, his voice barely a whisper, as if even answering her had taken effort. Hera didn’t press him further. Instead, she simply watched him for a moment, then gently reached out to run her fingers through his hair.
Xavier responded by nuzzling closer, a contented hum vibrating in his chest like a soft purr. Hera smiled, her fingers gliding through his hair as she lightly massaged his scalp. Within moments, Xavier slipped into a deeper, more peaceful sleep.
The sky outside was still dim, painted in hues of pre-dawn gray. Hera closed her eyes again, wrapped in his arms. His breathing was steady, his warmth grounding. Feeling safe and content, Hera drifted back to sleep in his protective embrace.
Two hours later, Hera woke naturally to the soft light filtering into the room. Xavier, however, was still out cold, sleeping like a log. She carefully slipped out of bed, mindful not to disturb him, and padded over to check her phone.
There were several unread messages.