Owen had scarcely believed what he had seen. Alexander had indeed returned through the portal. However, he was battered and bloodied. When Owen caught him in his arms, he had hardly been able to find a pulse and was terrified he was going to lose him right there. Valencia had been able to heal his major wounds and keep him from death's door, but she couldn't do much more than that.

So, she made a portal and then returned to the elven city. Ronan had been horrified when he had seen Alexander's state and had hurriedly placed him in a bed and called a group of healers. For a week, it had been touch and go, and they had almost lost him more than once.

It felt like hell for Owen.

After he had recapped his version of what had happened with Ciaran and Valencia, everyone was shocked. Ciaran had put up a good enough front where no one had suspected him, so learning this cut deep and put everyone on edge.

Finally, one of the nights that Owen had been sleeping next to Alexander's bed, hoping for him to wake up, he did. Owen felt like he was going to burst like a dam. Alexander hugged him, and they stayed like that until Ronan came in.

"Ah! You’re awake!"

Owen smiled, overjoyed. When he noticed Alexander's surprise, he caught him up on everything that had happened while unconscious. At the same time, Ronan checked him to ensure he was okay.

Owen's brother Callum had approached Owen about a week after their return and asked him what he had been hiding. Since they were close, it was nearly impossible for Owen to hide anything from him or lie to him. So, Owen told him everything about him and Alexander.

Eventually, Callum convinced Owen to tell their parents, and when he did, there were mixed reactions. His father wasn't happy about it at first. Still, he ultimately accepted it while their mother was happy with it from the start, and his sister didn't care so long as Owen was happy.

Alexander smiled, "so we don't have to hide then? We can be together?"

Owen nodded, "Yes."

To those words, Alexander pulled Owen into him, embracing him hard and meeting his lips with his. He wrapped his arms around Alexander. Owen had thought their kiss before Alexander went through the portal would be their last and was glad to learn how wrong that was. Though, he could have sworn that Ronan looked embarrassed when Alexander kissed him. He honestly never wanted this moment to end.