Elena’s POV The next day arrived with a tension that clawed at my chest like thorns. I stood beside Lykan in the war chamber, the soft crackle of flames the only sound between us. He was fully dressed, armored, and prepared, his presence exuding the calm-before-storm aura that came just before a battle. I wasn’t calm. I stared into the fire, my hands clenched, heart raging like the blaze before us. I want to go with you, I said quietly, but firmly. Lykan turned to me, his eyes sharp, searching. No, Elena….. you’ve been through enough. I took a step closer, my voice steady despite the storm in my soul. And I’ll go through worse if I stay behind while you fight for our son alone. I’m his mother and I will be there when we find him. A beat of silence passed. Then another. He didn’t argue again. Instead, he nodded slowly. That was all I needed. I turned and hurried to my chamber, grabbing only the necessities, my blade, a pouch of herbs, and the pendant given to me which I ti
Elena POV The next morning, I woke up with a strange urgency tugging at my chest. I couldn’t explain it, but something didn’t feel right. I had barely gotten dressed before pacing restlessly in Lykan’s palace, waiting, hoping for the strangers to arrive. Today was supposed to be the day we put everything on the table, the day this long, dragging issue would finally find its conclusion. I was prepared. My heart was racing not from fear but from anticipation. I wanted answers, I wanted peace. But the morning dragged into noon, and still, no sign of them. The silence was beginning to scream louder than words ever could. Lykan stood beside the window, watching the horizon, his arms folded across his chest, his jaw tight. The tension between us was unspoken, but present. Just then, the palace doors burst open, and Mira came flying in like the wind, her breath ragged, her eyes wide in terror. Eeeelleeeenaa!!! She screamed my name, almost collapsing at my feet. I froze. My heart dr
Lykan’s POV I paced back and forth in my chamber, the heavy thuds of my boots against the floor echoing the unrest in my heart. Ever since Elena brought up her concerns about Cael, I hadn't known peace. I kept replaying her words, her expression, the tremble in her voice when she told me of the strange warning symbol she found under his pillow. She said it felt dark, unnatural, a sign of danger. I clenched my fists... That boy wasn’t just any child; he was the son of Kairos. The heir to a bloodline soaked in betrayal and destruction. But he was also just a child, Innocent at least, for now. I couldn’t decide what troubled me more, the possibility that Cael might be used as a weapon or that something inside him might already be awakening. And yet, I couldn’t act recklessly, any wrong move could trigger another war, and this time, we might not survive it. The air in my chamber felt tight like it was closing in on me. The torchlight flickered against the walls, casting strange sh
Strangers’ POV The shade of the ancient trees cast long shadows across the clearing, branches dancing gently with the wind as though whispering secrets among themselves. We sat beneath their embrace, quiet, calculating, and cloaked in patience. But even patience has its limit. A low growl broke the silence. We have waited long enough, I said, my voice tight with frustration. Lykan returned from the Northern Range days ago. Yet, not a word, not a signal, not a gesture. Does he think we are fools? The others murmured their discontent, their faces cold and unreadable. Silence stretched again, heavy and thick, only broken by the distant rustle of birds flying overhead. Our silence must not be mistaken for weakness, I continued. We are not the kind to bow or beg, and if Lykan won’t respond, then we will make our move. One way or another. A tall man seated to my left, Joe narrowed his eyes as he clenched his fists. He has Cael, our Cael, he hissed. The boy is Kairos’s heir and the
Lykan’s POV I felt something, soft fingers brushing against my skin, gentle but persistent. It tugged me from the deep, dreamless darkness I had sunk into. Ever since we returned from the war, I hadn’t been myself. My body was here, lying on the familiar bed, but my spirit had wandered. Maybe it was the aftershock, maybe it was the weight of all we had seen, all we had lost. Maybe peace was too foreign, now too silent, too suspicious. Another soft tap on my chest. Elena…... I muttered, forcing my eyelids open. She stood there, her face pale, her hair slightly disheveled, as if she hadn’t slept. Her breath came out fast, her eyes wide and worried. That alone shook me out of my grogginess faster than a lightning strike. I rubbed the back of my palm against my eyes and sat upright. Elena, what’s wrong? I managed, my voice still hoarse with sleep. I think Cael might be in danger, she said, panting lightly, her words rapid and clipped. Those strangers, remember them? I don’
Elena’s POV I'm here now, I whispered as I stepped quietly into Cael's room, the soft creak of the door alerting him before my voice even finished carrying through the space. The dim glow from the moon outside gently poured in through the window, casting long shadows across the floor. The room still smelled of lavender and innocence, the kind only children carried around like an invisible cloak. The very air felt warmer, familiar… and healing. Ma Elena, Cael’s voice broke the silence, shrill with excitement. I barely had time to breathe before he leapt from his little bed and came running at me with open arms. My heart swelled, and without hesitation, I opened mine wider. I caught him mid-air, wrapping him into me like a long-lost piece of my soul had just been returned. Tears stung the corners of my eyes. I missed you, my little charming prince, I said, pressing a kiss to his forehead. He smelled of talcum powder and warmth. So small, so full of life, yet too young to u