Khan's trip back to the Harbor was rough. He studied most of the time and even meditated a bit, but the real improvements arrived when he took a short nap.

The ship alerted Khan about his imminent arrival at the Harbor, waking him up in the process. He still felt tired, and the fever had yet to leave. However, checking his skin confirmed that the purple marks had disappeared, and the same went for the foreign mana.

'I should be fine by tomorrow,' Khan thought, stretching his back and voicing an annoyed groan at the vague weakness that filled him. A tremor even ran through him due to the fever, but he felt well enough to survive a day of lessons.

The trip had taken a full day, and the landing procedures wasted more time. It was already early morning when the ship entered the Harbor's hangar. The lessons were only four hours away, and returning to the second district was bound to occupy one of them.

Luckily for Khan, he had sorted things out with the Headmistress. The call during the trip back to the Harbor had given her the time to prepare the hangar for his arrival and immediate departure. A cab was already waiting for him next to his landing area, and he could get in without attracting annoying attention.

Of course, some soldiers still saw Khan leaving the ship to get into the car, but his messy appearance worked in his favor. No one dared to approach him. Many even struggled to recognize him. Yet, the scene was bound to hit the news sooner or later, and Khan also knew that Abora's outpost would spread rumors about his feats.

As soon as Khan sat in the cab, he took out his phone as if waiting for Jenny to call. Yet, his device remained silent, allowing him to check other details that he was too weak to study during his flight.

The knife ended in Khan's hands, and he cleaned its edge on the seat's fabric to get a good look at it. The blade had endured the corrosive bullet perfectly, but marks had appeared on the handle.

That small damage didn't make the knife any worse. Khan could barely notice it when he wielded it, so he eventually stored it in the sheath. His phone was also still silent, so he used that window to meditate.

Only a handful of people knew about Khan's return, and the trip back to the flat wasn't enough to overcome the Headmistress' preparations. When the cab stopped, Khan found an empty sidewalk and swiftly headed to the elevator to avoid potential onlookers.

The arrival inside the flat broke the peaceful silence that had filled Khan's trips. George, Monica, and Anita were waiting for him, and their excited calls turned into confused and worried gasps when they noticed his state.

"I need to take a shower," Khan stated, lifting a hand to stop the incoming Monica and open a way through his friends.

George didn't dare to question Khan. He even pulled Anita away since she was too shocked to move at Khan's passage. As for Monica, she followed Khan silently and entered the bathroom while he undressed.

The dirty and broken pants fell on the bathroom floor, and the sheath quickly followed, leaving dark stains in that otherwise clean room. Khan forgot to remove his right shoe but entered the bathtub anyway, and a warm liquid soon fell on him.

The dried mud, blood, and dirt took a while to come off, but the intensity of the shower eventually won. All the stains caused by the journey on Abora flowed away, revealing the skin underneath and the various injuries.

Khan didn't like that incoming warmth when fused with his fever. Still, something even warmer eventually spread on his back, and peeking past his shoulder revealed his worried girlfriend.

Monica entered the bathtub without removing her clothes. Her simple pullover and yellow skirt became drenched in a few seconds, and her curls suffered from a similar fate, but her eyes never moved from Khan's body.

Khan showed an apologetic expression when he turned to face Monica. He had only notified her about his return without adding any detail about his state. Yet, he couldn't hide anything now.

Monica moved her fingers around the injury on Khan's chest before heading for his right forearm. She traced that wound's edges before checking his left elbow. Those marks were hideous, and only time would turn them into scars. Besides, they looked painful.

"You said you wanted marks about you," Khan joked. "I got three, just like you asked."

"Not this kind," Monica whispered as her hand went on Khan's forehead, and her face darkened as another comment left her mouth. "You are burning."

"The poison is already gone," Khan explained shortly. "I'll be fine soon enough."

Monica didn't react to those words. She let go of Khan's forehead before crouching in the bathtub to reach his shoe. Khan finally noticed it and supported himself to the wall to let Monica remove it.

"Turn," Monica said while straightening her position. "I'll wash your back."

"Monica, there is no-," Khan began to refuse, but the glare that unfolded in his view made him shut up. Monica was strangely calm, but that gesture told him that she had already snapped on the inside.

Monica's anger wasn't directed at Khan, but he played along anyway to avoid becoming its target. He let Monica help clean him, and she even hurried outside once she was done to retrieve new clothes.

"Monica, you know that the Headmistress has nothing to do with this, right?" Khan asked while wearing the clean tracksuit. "I'm the one accepting these missions."

"I know," Monica replied in an emotionless tone. "I won't say anything to her."

Khan sighed in relief. He was worried Monica would take her anger on the Headmistress, but that didn't seem to be the case.

"Hey," Khan called again since Monica was too detached. "I have to attend lessons, but we'll talk tonight, okay?"

Monica looked at Khan, finally showing something different from apathy. She appeared surprised, but that feeling vanished when she performed a nod.

"You still have a few hours," Monica pointed out. "Wait for me in our bedroom. I have to pick up something."

"Sure," Khan said while trying to take Monica's hand to claim their usual kiss, but she stormed out of the bathroom before he could reach her.

'She is pissed,' Khan sighed in his mind. He knew what was happening in Monica's thoughts. She didn't like seeing Khan pushing himself so hard while she remained in the safety of the flat.

Khan understood how useless Monica was probably feeling, but the situation didn't allow any different approach. He was the one who had to raise his status to be worthy of the Solodrey family. There was no way around that problem.

Leaving the bathroom put Khan in front of George and Anita, but he shook his head to convey his intentions. He wanted to remain alone with Monica for a bit, and George understood him with a single glance.

'I have two and a half hours,' Khan thought after entering his bedroom and checking his phone. He should probably rest a bit longer, but studying and his girlfriend had the priority. He even took out a clean military uniform and placed it on the bed during the wait.

Monica didn't take long to reach the bedroom while carrying random clothes. She even sealed the entrance before throwing all that on the bed and showing a playful smile.

"Monica, I don't think we have time," Khan snickered, even if his senses told him something was off.

"You don't get to have an opinion," Monica giggled, reaching Khan to push him onto the bed. She even climbed on him and sat on his waist before adding another order. "Close your eyes now."

"Monica, I might infect you," Khan objected, but Monica crossed her arms and showed another glare that forced him to give up. He didn't know what she wanted to do, but letting her have fun sounded fine.

Still, a frown appeared on Khan's face when Monica seized his right wrist and tied something around it. At that point, Khan couldn't keep his eyes closed anymore, and glancing at his arm revealed what Monica was up to.

"Are you tying me up?" Khan questioned while Monica finished the knot on that soft fabric and bound his hand to the bed's metal edge.

"Of course!" Monica snorted, straightening her back to pick up one of her clothes and move to Khan's left hand. "You are full of injuries and have a fever but still speak about lessons. The only way to make you rest is to tie you up."

"Monica," Khan called while Monica leaned over him to tie his left hand. "How can these clothes even hold me? I can easily rip them off."

"Do it then," Monica pouted, "But you'll lose your favorite skirt in the process."

"What?" Khan asked before glancing at his right hand again. It turned out that Monica had used one of her skirts to tie him up.

"And your favorite underwear," Monica continued once she was done with Khan's left hand.

Khan looked at his left wrist and confirmed what Monica was saying. She had actually used her underwear to tie him to the bed.

"Do you recognize these?" Monica added when she picked up more clothes and showed them to Khan.

"That's my favorite tights," Khan recognized.

"Your favorite tights!" Monica repeated, turning to reach Khan's left ankle. "If you want your left leg back, you must break them!"

"Monica, come on," Khan called, but Monica ignored him and finished the knot on his ankle before picking up more clothes.

"I think you know this too," Monica exclaimed, letting a bra hang above Khan's face.

"That bra is innocent," Khan pleaded.

Monica bent toward Khan's face to let him experience her warm breath before whispering playful words. "And you'll have to break it if you want your right leg back."

Khan could only watch as Monica turned to tie his right ankle to the bed. Once she was done, she resumed her sitting position on Khan's waist and crossed her arms again to convey her firm stance.

"You used your skirt and underwear on my hands on purpose," Khan commented.

"Obviously," Monica scoffed. "Those are your favorite, so you must break one to untie the rest."

Khan wanted to laugh. It was so lovely seeing how deeply Monica understood him. If possible, he would spend the next month like that, but other tasks required his attention, and Monica had to understand that.

"Monica, I need to attend classes," Khan tried to explain. "Wayne will be there, and showing my face will improve my fame even more."

"Rip my clothes apart and go," Monica didn't waver.

"Come on," Khan called. "You know I'm right."

"You are," Monica nodded, "But I won't let you kill yourself."

"I'm fine," Khan complained, but a sniff reached his ears and made him drop his casual attitude. Monica also bent forward to take his head into her hands, and a few tears fell on his face when she got right above him.

"I don't want you to get those kinds of marks," Monica sniffed. "I'd rather break up with you than let you suffer alone."

"Don't even say that," Khan uttered.

"I don't care!" Monica cried. "I don't want to be happy by sacrificing your health. I'd rather take all the pain away with me."

Khan recognized Monica's feelings because he also experienced them. He was willing to give his everything to his girlfriend, and she shared that stance. They had the same mindset. The situation simply didn't allow Monica to do much.

"How do you think I would feel without you?" Khan asked while Monica closed her eyes above him to hold back her tears.

"Safe," Monica cried, "Without my stupid family causing problems for you. You would be-."

"Sad, lost, lonely," Khan interrupted. "Definitely heartbroken. The last time I lost the woman I loved, I threw myself into a war. I'd probably do worse things now."

"T-then," Monica stuttered while opening her eyes.

"Then," Khan interrupted with a sigh. "I should focus on what's truly important. We need your family's approval, but I can't make you sad."

"So?" Monica wondered as some hope seeped into her sad expression.

"So, I'll rest today," Khan explained. "The fever should go down by tomorrow. It's probably for the best to hide my face until Jenny updates me."

"Jenny," Monica snorted, straightening her back to cross her arms. "Why is it always women with you?"

"Jealous?" Khan teased.

"Incredibly," Monica pouted before shooting a meaningful glance at Khan. "I can't leave my man alone for even a day."

"Am I still your man, then?" Khan wondered.

"You would be even if I broke up with you," Monica claimed.

"How does that even work?" Khan laughed.

"It works because I say so," Monica declared.

"Sure, sure," Khan chuckled. "Now, will my merciful girlfriend untie me?"

"No," Monica rejected. "Never trust a scoundrel!"

Monica leaned forward after her statement and reached Khan's left shoulder to turn it into her pillow. She made sure not to touch any injury before speaking sensual words. "And you know I enjoy it when you are in my control."

"Naughty girl," Khan joked. "Can I at least get my welcome-back kiss?"

Monica didn't hesitate to reach for Khan's lips. The two exchanged a long kiss interrupted by many short ones. It actually took them a few minutes to separate.

"You'll get much more once you feel better," Monica whispered, running her tempting fingers over Khan's mouth.

"This fever can't vanish quickly enough," Khan voiced, making Monica explode into a cute giggle.

"Well, how does this work with food?" Khan questioned. "I can't eat like this."

"I'll feed you," Monica exclaimed as her eyes lit up. She liked the idea so much that she straightened her position and hurried outside the bedroom to grab some food.

Khan shook his head, but a smile remained on his face. Getting spoiled for once felt nice, and he loved the idea of spending the day with Monica. He knew calls and studies would eventually distract him, but that wouldn't be enough to ruin his intimacy.

Still, a familiar presence arrived at the bedroom's entrance before Monica could return. Khan lifted his head to glance at that spot, and a serious request quickly left his mouth. "George, untie me."

George would normally never hesitate to help Khan, but his sly gaze immediately recognized the type of clothes binding him to the bed.

"Kinky," George commented without moving from the entrance.

"Come on," Khan called, "Before she comes back."

"Man, I consider us brothers," George stated, "But here is where I draw the line."

"Stop joking," Khan complained. "Help me out of here."

"Kinky, kinky," George muttered, shaking his head. He even left the entrance, and Khan could only slam his head back on the pillow. It seemed he wouldn't break free any time soon.

****

Author's thoughts: I hope you like the new cover as much as I do!