46 GREAT WOUNDS 

"Zoe! Zoe!" She heard a deep and smooth voice calling out her name.

She opened her eyes and gazed at who he was.

He has long hair knotted up into a bun. His chiseled face was admirably situated above his sturdy shoulders. 

He was now staring at her with his oceanic blue eyes that were full of concern and sympathy toward her.

'Red?' She asked in a throaty sound as she stretched out her arm to hold his face.

Raigon closed his eyes the moment her dainty hands touched him. He held on to the feeling of her tender palms on his cheeks.

He clutched her hand with his quivering hands and pressed it passionately.

He was shuddering as he spoke to her with a soft expression. "I thought I lost you."

Tears welled up in her eyes. She recalled how she wrestled with life underwater just a few minutes ago.

She could've died without anyone noticing, but the mighty merciless sea.

But here she was, alive and breathing. Again. Thanks to this man, who kept on miraculously reappearing every moment she needs him.

She sat up with wobbly lips.

'Why is life so unfair to her? Why is it so desperate to destroy her? It already took her family! Their wealth! Her beautiful childhood memories! What did she ever do so wrong?'

As much as she wished to bring her tears to a standstill, they looked like they had a mind of their own. They poured out like a massive waterfall on a steep precipice.

Raigon put his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

She wished to deal with her pent up emotions, but at that point, she just really wanted to break down and cry.

"What do you want from me?" She cracked up and wailed in that empty dark cave.

It turned into a hollow absorber of Zoe's bottled up rage. And Raigon didn't care as he continued to pat her back as she bawled her heart out.

She allowed her fury and her grief be freed from her lungs as she screamed out loud in his arms. She was not conscious that Raigon's eyes were tearing up as well.

"The greatest queen has the greatest wounds. I have no knowledge if this will be the end of your wounds. But what I do know, is that God is grooming you to be a great queen", he whispered in the gentlest tone he has ever uttered. 

Zoe froze for a minute and nibbled on every word that he said.

"I wish to be a great queen," she muttered mindlessly in between sobs.

Raigon chuckled. He dried the tears from his face and moved Zoe away so he could see her face.

"So cheer up then, your Majesty. You're now nearer to greatness." He grinned at her with his most reassuring smile.

Zoe drew in a deep appreciative sigh and beamed at him. "Thank you." She was really grateful for his presence in her life.

He had just known him for a few days but he was always there at the perfect moments and kept on saving her when she was not aware that she needed one.

Now that she's a few inches from him, she took a good look at him and furrowed her eyebrows. "By the way, how did you find me?"

Raigon froze and glanced at Zoe.