The forces might have doubled if they had been expecting Zayne. Zayne had taken the time to explain things to Mekhi. Zayne refused to have Mekhi beat himself up over this.

Because Zayne knew within himself, it simply was not the case, and he needed Mekhi to get better and not wallow in what he saw as his failures.

After more back and forth, Mekhi resigned to Zayne's estimate of events.

Then an elated Zayne simply stared at Mekhi, his blue eyes twinkling, a broad smile on his face. Still, before he could say anything, Mekhi's eyebrows pinched, his eyes narrowed, and he instantly sat up, "Oh buddy," his tone...