Chapter 20

Hannah’s POV

I didn’t see Lucien again that day.

Or Kael.

Or Riven.

It was like they all disappeared the moment I woke up.

And somehow…

That bothered me more than it should have.

The room felt too quiet.

Too big.

Too empty.

I hated it.

Tianna moved around quietly, fixing things that didn’t need fixing.

She kept glancing at me like she wanted to say something.

But didn’t.

“Just say it,” I muttered, resting my head back against the pillow.

She froze slightly.

“My lady”

“Tianna.”

She hesitated.

“You can talk to me like a normal person,” I added.

A small pause.

Then she nodded.

“…You should go downstairs tonight.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“They asked for you.”

Of course they did.

I let out a slow breath.

“I’m not in the mood.”

Her expression softened slightly.

“I know… but it’s not a request.”

Right.

Of course it wasn’t.

Nothing here ever was.

By the time evening came, I was already tired.

Not physically.

Just… everything else.

Thinking.

Feeling.

Remembering.

Tianna helped me get dressed.

Something simple.

Nothing like the dress from the ball.

I wasn’t ready for that again.

Not yet.

Walking down the hallway felt different this time.

Like the palace itself was watching me.

Waiting.

For something.

I didn’t know what.

When I got to the dining hall, they were already there.

All three of them.

Seated like they owned the world.

Which… technically, they did.

Kael sat at his usual spot .

Lucien beside him, quiet, unreadable.

And Riven

Riven was already looking at me.

Like he had been waiting.

I ignored it.

Or at least, I tried to.

One of the maids pulled out a chair for me.

I sat.

Silence followed.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

“You look better.”

Kael’s voice.

Calm.

Measured.

I glanced at him briefly.

“I feel better.”

Another lie.

I didn’t know why I kept saying that.

Maybe because I didn’t want them to see how much I wasn’t.

Riven scoffed lightly.

“That’s funny.”

I stiffened slightly.

“And why is that?” I asked, not looking at him.

“Because you looked like you were about to die this morning.”

There it was.

Subtlety clearly wasn’t his thing.

“Riven,” Kael said, a warning in his tone.

“What?” he shrugged. “I’m just stating facts.”

I clenched my jaw slightly.

“I’m still here, aren’t I?”

His eyes met mine instantly.

Sharp.

Challenging.

“For now.”

Lucien didn’t interfere.

Of course he didn’t.

He just watched.

Always watching.

I looked down at the table.

At the food.

At anything but them.

“Eat,” Kael said.

Again.

Always that word.

Like it was the only thing that mattered.

“I will,” I replied quietly.

But I didn’t move.

Not immediately.

Riven leaned forward slightly.

“Or what? You’re going to starve yourself again?”

I looked up at him this time.

“I said I’ll eat.”

“Then do it.”

Something in me snapped slightly.

Not loud.

Not dramatic.

Just enough.

“I’m not one of your soldiers,” I said, my voice steady.

“You don’t get to order me around like that.”

The air shifted.

Instantly.

Riven’s expression changed.

Not anger.

Something worse.

Interest.

Kael didn’t speak.

Lucien didn’t move.

But I felt it.

All of it.

Their attention.

Fully on me.

Riven leaned back slowly in his chair.

A small smirk forming on his lips.

“There she is.”

I frowned.

“What?”

“That attitude,” he said.

“I was starting to think you lost it.”

“I didn’t lose anything,” I replied.

“Good.”

His voice dropped slightly.

“Because I like it.”

That caught me off guard.

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Did I hear that right?

“Riven,” Kael said again.

But this time, it wasn’t a warning.

It was a reminder.

Riven exhaled softly and looked away.

But not before his eyes lingered on me for a second too long.

I didn’t understand them.

Any of them.

Lucien finally moved, reaching for his glass.

“You’re recovering faster than expected,” he said casually.

Like we weren’t just seconds away from something… else.

“I guess I’m stronger than I look,” I replied.

His gaze met mine.

Brief.

But intense.

“Maybe.”

A pause.

Then

“Or maybe there’s something else.”

My chest tightened slightly.

“What do you mean?”

But he didn’t answer.

Of course he didn’t.

Kael stood up suddenly.

“I have matters to attend to,” he said.

Then his eyes landed on me.

“Finish your meal.”

And just like that

He left.

Riven followed not long after, but not before throwing me one last look.

Unreadable.

Now it was just me.

And Lucien.

Again.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“This is exhausting,” I muttered.

He didn’t disagree.

“You’re still here,” he said.

I frowned.

“You keep saying things like that. What does that even mean?”

He studied me for a moment.

Then

“It means,” he said quietly,

“…you’re not breaking.”

I didn’t respond.

Because I didn’t know how to.

He stood up.

“Get some rest after this.”

Then added

“And remember what I said.”

Selene.

I nodded slightly.

“I will.”

He left.

And just like that

I was alone again.

But this time…

It didn’t feel the same.

Because now I knew something.

Something I wasn’t sure I was ready to understand.

They were changing.

All of them.

And somehow

So was I.