Her eyes slowly opened, the room came into focus, and Hazel's gaze landed on Ezra's piercing eyes, He was sitting beside her, his chiseled features set in a worried expression, his skin deathly pale, his dark hair was messy, as if he had been running his hands through it in distress, "Hazel?" he whispered, his voice low and urgent. "Can you hear me?", she nodded slightly, her throat dry and scratchy, he quickly poured water from a nearby pitcher into a glass and helped her drink, the cool liquid soothed her parched throat, and she leaned back against the pillows, her eyes never leaving his face, with his support, she struggled to sit up, her body feeling heavy and weak, Ezra adjusted the pillows behind her, his touch cold and gentle, his eyes never left hers, filled with concern and relief, "Easy, my love" he whispered. "You've been through a lot." Hazel's eyes locked onto his, her mind slightly foggy, "W-what happened?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, Ezra's expression softened, "You were poisoned, but you're safe now, everything has been taken care of" He paused, his eyes darkening "I'll never leave your side again" he added and she sat up, the room spun slightly, and her grip on Ezra's arm tightened, he held her close, his cold body a comforting embrace, his scent, a mix of earth and spice, enveloped her, and she felt a sense of safety in his embrace, with a gentle smile, he brushed a strand of hair from her face, "everything is fine now" he muttered but his eyes gleamed with a fierce intensity, not long Melvin strolled, "she is awake, oh why didn't you tell me, you are hiding her in your embrace do you think that is going to help her" he yelled and Ezra shot him a glare "keep quiet you are disturbing her" he said and Melvin's lips twitched he really wished he could break somebody's neck right now, with anger filled face he put some herbs in his bowl and began to mash furiously, "me, all through, it was all me mashing since almost a week now, my hands are so weak and tired but I still mash up medicine for your girl, I would run around, heed to all your call just to make sure she is fine and now that she is awake, you ungrateful blood sucker tell me I am too loud, I am too loud, oh Melvin you helped the wrong creature, well, it isn't his fault, I would have ignored him if his girl wasn't a lythrix, ungrateful blood sucker" he murmured begrudgingly, Ezra couldn't help but sigh at how petty he was behaving, suddenly he pushed the bowl in his hand to Ezra, "feed her" he said and immediately strolled out of the room, no grudge was going to make him eat dog food. In the room Hazel immediately buried her head in his chest on sighting the medicine, "this is what you have been taking for almost a week now" he muttered "I have been unconscious" she mumbled "you didn't take it even though you were, I fed it to you in a special way, I promise it won't be bitter" he said and she raised her head slightly "what special way" she mumbled "Open your mouth, Hazel" he said, her gaze was filled with dissatisfaction but she decided to trust his special way and she obediently opened her mouth, Ezra's lips suddenly pressed against hers, and the bitter taste of the medicine flooded her mouth, she stiffened, taken aback by the sudden invasion, his hand cradled the back of her head, holding her in place as he carefully poured the medicine into her mouth, her heart raced, her mind reeling from the unexpected gesture, as she swallowed, Ezra pulled back, his eyes searching hers "the last one" he whispered, his lips brushing against hers once more, Hazel's face flushed, her body responding to the unexpected closeness she felt a flutter in her chest, her heart skipping a beat as Ezra's lips touched hers again, the medicine was bitter, but the taste of Ezra's lips was sweet, and Hazel found herself wanting more, with each dose, Hazel's shock gave way to a fluttering sensation in her chest, as the last of the medicine was administered, her eyes locked onto Ezra's, her heart pounding in her chest, "strange drug taking way" she whispered her voice barely audible and at the same time alluring and a little seductive, Ezra's eyes darkened, his gaze burning with an intensity that made Hazel's heart race, "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe my little thief" he whispered, his lips brushing against hers once more, just then Melvin's knock sounded on the door, "if you both want to make babies at least wait till the medicine has taken effect, well, I have done my part and I don't care, the next full moon is next tomorrow, we can start the ritual then, you both should get yourselves prepared" he said and strolled off, Hazel buried her head in his chest with blushed face.