Chapter 38: Unspoken Truths

The sterile scent of antiseptic lingered in the ICU, blending with the quiet hum of machines. Dale lay in a bed surrounded by monitors, his body still and pale. His chest rose and fell with slow, steady breaths, but his face was drawn and pale. The weight of the ordeal had settled deeply on him, and his body—a body so accustomed to action and command—was finally succumbing to the cost of the mission. Gray stood at the edge of his bed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she watched his shallow breaths, her mind racing with the quiet questions that never seemed to fade.

Though her expression remained impassive, her thoughts betrayed her. Gray had always been calculated, controlled—focused on the task at hand. But the moments when she was forced to simply wait were the ones that rattled her the most. She wasn't used to this—being powerless, standing by as someone she cared for hung between life and death. And the truth was, even after everything that had passed between them—months of tension, misunderstandings, and the constant conflict—they hadn't erased the one thing she still felt for him.

She loved him. 

Gray let out a slow, steadying breath. She had pushed it deep inside for so long—tucked it away as the walls between them grew higher. He had been difficult. Hostile, even. Their marriage, one built on political necessity, had never blossomed into anything more than mutual respect and shared burdens. Yet, the truth remained. Despite everything, she still cared for him. More than she cared to admit. 

A faint shift in the bed caught her attention, and she turned her gaze back to him, her eyes narrowing as if willing him to wake up, to prove that her love hadn't been in vain, that it had all meant something. But Dale didn't stir. He remained unconscious, each breath a reminder of how fragile life truly was.

The soft click of the door opening signaled the arrival of Queen Amara. She stepped into the room with a quiet grace, her presence commanding but gentle. She was dressed in dark clothes—simple yet regal—and her face was drawn, the strain of the past few days settling into her features. Her eyes immediately found Gray, and she offered a small, knowing smile. 

"Dear," she greeted, using the affectionate term that had slipped into their interactions over time. The Queen had always been like a second mother to Gray, even before their bond had truly solidified. It was the kind of warmth that Gray rarely allowed herself to feel, but in Amara's presence, it was effortless. 

Gray nodded in response, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Mama." She said it without thinking, the word slipping out naturally, and it felt right. The Queen had been a constant in her life, a quiet yet firm foundation, and calling her Mama was just another affirmation of how important that bond was to her.

The Queen's eyes softened at the address, her gaze flitting to her son lying unconscious. "How is he?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. 

"Stable," Gray replied, her voice low, the weight of it carrying all the exhaustion she had been holding inside. "It was a long operation. He's strong, but it will take time for him to fully recover." 

Amara let out a breath, the kind of sigh that carried years of experience—of loss and recovery, of managing expectations and grief. She knew that the road ahead was never easy, but seeing her son like this? It tore at her heart in ways she wasn't sure how to process. 

"I can't even imagine," she murmured, her gaze flicking briefly to Gray.

"This is his first mission of this magnitude, isn't it?" Gray looked at her briefly.

Amara nodded. "Yes. It's his first time being gravely injured like this. He's been through close calls before, but nothing like this." 

A long silence stretched between them, broken only by the steady beeping of the monitors. 

"I didn't think he would take it this hard," Amara admitted, her voice thick with emotion. "It's one thing to see it happen to others, but it's different when it's your own son." 

"I'm sure it is," Gray replied quietly, her mind still fixated on the stillness of the man in the bed. She couldn't imagine how difficult this moment must be for the Queen, even if she had experienced loss before. "But he's strong. He'll pull through." 

"Will he?" Amara's voice cracked, and for a brief moment, the regal Queen was replaced by a mother—vulnerable, fragile, and terrified. 

Gray turned her head, her gaze sharp and steady. She moved toward the Queen, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. The gesture was rare for Gray, but this was one of those rare moments when even she could not hide behind her armor. 

"He will. He's resilient. And you raised him well." Gray's voice was firm, carrying a quiet conviction. "He's tough, Mama. You should know that." 

Amara's gaze lingered on Gray for a long moment before she nodded, drawing in a shaky breath. The Queen exhaled slowly, wiping at the corner of her eye before she straightened herself, regaining her composure. She gave Gray a smile that was both grateful and weary. "Thank you, Gray. For everything." 

Gray gave a single nod, the conversation lulling into a quiet pause. The moments stretched, both of them standing at Dale's side, their eyes not quite meeting, but the bond between them undeniable. 

"I know this is difficult, but I've learned something from Rhys," the Queen said suddenly, her tone shifting. "He told me about the work you and Louise do—about your other life." 

Gray's brows furrowed slightly, her heart skipping a beat at the mention of their covert work. She hadn't expected the Queen to learn of it so soon. "He told you?" 

Amara nodded, her gaze unwavering. "It makes sense now. You've always looked so... tired." She gave a half-hearted laugh. "You wear it well, but I can see it now. The toll it's taken on you both. And I know why. You've been doing far more than you've let on." 

Gray remained silent for a beat, the truth hanging in the air between them. She hadn't expected Amara to know, let alone understand. But as the Queen's words echoed in her mind, something shifted. For the first time, Gray allowed herself to acknowledge the weight of the work she had kept hidden for so long. It wasn't just the strain of daily life. It wasn't just her marriage or the endless mission assignments. It was the life she and Louise had carved for themselves, a life of shadow and precision, one that came with its own costs—exhaustion, secrets, and the occasional brush with death. 

"Yes," Gray said quietly. "Louise and I... we've been working as freelance snipers. It's what we do.It's what I have to do to be able to investigate my mother's accident and Princess Elara's case" 

Amara's eyes softened. "I understand now. Why you look so worn out, why you're always so on edge." She paused, letting the weight of the moment settle before continuing. "But I need you to understand this, Gray: I am so proud of you. Of what you've become. Of what you do and your cause. But I want you to step away from investigating my daughter's case if it get's extremely dangerous. You are my best friend's daughter and you've are also my daughter in every way that matters." 

Gray was silent for a moment, her eyes reflecting the deep well of emotion that she rarely allowed anyone to see. "Thank you," she finally whispered, her voice barely above a breath. 

"I've never had the chance to say it, but I'm proud of you," Amara repeated, her voice thick with affection. "I wish you could've been with us more, but I know why you had to stay away. You've always been so dedicated to the cause." 

"I did what I had to do," Gray replied, her voice steady but softer than usual. "And I will continue to do so." 

As the hours passed and the night grew deeper, Gray remained at Dale's side. The ICU was quiet now, the only sound the steady beeping of the monitors and the soft breath of the man who lay unconscious. 

For all the anger, the cold distance, and the misunderstandings that had come between them, Gray knew one thing—she couldn't walk away from him. Not now, not ever. Despite everything, despite the months of hostility and the emotional walls they had built, her feelings hadn't changed. 

Gray loved him. 

And she would be there, no matter what it took, to see him through this.