Chapter 48, part 5a

His playful smirk and glinting eyes stirred a distant memory within her.

Skye gasped, and her eyes grew wide upon recognizing the man.

"Oh, it's you!" she exclaimed. "I-I think I remember you."

The man chuckled and nodded.

"It's been five years since we last met."

"I apologize, but I can't recall your name," she admitted.

"It makes sense that there were no recommendations made since I left your uncle's castle immediately after the incident. We didn't even sit down for dinner," the man replied. Skye thought about it for a moment and agreed.

"Do you two know each other?" Hector asked, fixing his eyes on the man.

"Um...kind of," Skye replied.

"Cael? Explain," Hector said sternly.

"Please, Hector, there's no need," Skye interjected, attempting to pull him away, but he remained rooted in place like a rock.

"Just one moment, Skye. I need to know," he said, closing her hand in his. "What did Cael do to you? What event did he speak of?" His voice and expression grew hard with anger at the tho