Homecoming pt.1

Derek's POV

Home.

It is a strange thing, how a single word can become enough to keep a man moving.

For the better part of these few weeks, that word had been the only thing keeping me patient.

The vampire territories had always been difficult, but this time, they had somehow managed to become worse. A small faction of younger clans had decided centuries of treaties no longer suited them. They called themselves reformists. Revolutionaries. Liberators.

Everyone else called them fools.

They wanted independence from the old houses that had governed vampire society for generations, claiming the elders had become complacent and corrupt. Normally, internal disputes between vampires were exactly that—internal. The wolves had little interest in who sat on which throne so long as our borders remained untouched.

Unfortunately, revolutions rarely respected borders.

One reckless raid had become two.

Two had become seven.

Then villages near the eastern frontier began reporting disappearances.

Trade routes became unsafe.

Merchants refused to travel.

Before long, what should have remained a vampire problem had become ours.

Which was exactly how I found myself spending weeks negotiating/threatening/bargaining with people who seemed determined to draw swords before opening their mouths.

I rubbed the bridge of my nose as we proceeded on our chariots.

"If another elder says, 'We seek peace' while ordering an execution five minutes later..."

I let the sentence die.

There was no point finishing it.

Across from me, Sabrina laughed.

"You've been saying that for six days now."

"I've been right for six days."

She snorted, adjusting the strap of her sword across her shoulder.

"You know, for someone who claims not to enjoy politics, you're surprisingly good at it."

"I don't enjoy politics."

"No?"

"No."

"You just enjoy proving politicians wrong."

"There is a difference."

"There really isn't."

Despite myself, the corner of my mouth lifted. Sabrina noticed immediately. Of course she noticed, she noticed everything.

"There it is."

"What?"

"A smile."

"I smiled?"

"You almost did."

"I don't believe you."

"You should. It might be the last one for another month."

I rolled my eyes.

"You've become insufferable."

"I learned from the best."

"You learned from Keon."

"I improved on his work."

That earned an actual laugh from me.

A small one.

Brief.

Gone almost as quickly as it appeared.

Sabrina looked strangely pleased with herself.

"There."

"What?"

"I knew you still remembered how."

I shook my head.

"You'll become unbearable if I encourage this."

"You already have."

The castle walls appeared over the hill before I could answer.

Stone.

Steel.

Blackbird.

Familiar banners dance in the afternoon wind.

Home.

Something inside my chest loosened.

I had missed this place more than I cared to admit.

Not the meetings.

Not the reports.

Definitely not Rowan insisting every document be alphabetically organized.

Just...

Home.

I found myself searching the highest tower without thinking.

Ridiculous.

She wouldn't be standing there.

Still...

My eyes looked anyway.

Winter.

I wondered what she was doing.

Whether she had settled in.

Whether she still wandered the gardens when she couldn't sleep.

Whether she had finally stopped apologizing every other sentence.

The thought made something warm settle quietly in my chest.

Beside me, Sabrina followed my gaze.

"Thinking about her?"

I didn't answer.

I didn't need to.

She smiled knowingly.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"I wasn't aware you had become interested in my personal life."

"I wasn't."

She grinned.

"You make it everyone's business by being so obvious."

"I'm obvious?"

"Derrick."

She gave me the sort of look one reserves for children asking whether the sky is blue.

"You've spoken about Winter at least once every day since we've started these trips."

"I have not."

"You have."

"I don't remember doing that."

"Exactly."

She folded her arms.

"You don't even realize you're doing it."

I frowned.

"I mentioned her because she was recovering."

"Mhm."

"And because she was adjusting to the palace."

"Mhm."

"And because Keon needed updates."

"Mhm."

I sighed.

"You're impossible."

"So I've been told."

The gates opened before us.

Guards straightened immediately.

"Royal Derrick!"

"Welcome home, sir."

"It's good to have you back."

I nodded to each of them as I passed.

Something, however, felt...

Wrong.

Not dangerous.

Not urgent.

Just...

Different.

People smiled.

But there was hesitation behind it.

Servants bowed as they always had.

Yet several lingered for a fraction too long.

As though they expected me to ask something.

Or perhaps...

Already knew the answer.

I slowed.

Sabrina noticed.

"What?"

I looked across the courtyard.

Nothing appeared unusual.

Training continued.

Stable hands worked.

Messengers hurried between buildings.

Everything was exactly as it should be.

And yet...

It wasn't.

"I don't know."

"You've got that look."

"What look?"

"The one that usually means someone forgot to hide evidence."

"I don't have a look."

She laughed.

"You absolutely have a look."

Perhaps I did.

Because my instincts had rarely failed me.

Something had shifted while I was gone.

I simply didn't know what.

"We should report to Keon," Sabrina said.

"I know."

There would be reports to deliver.

Border updates.

Casualty reports.

Political recommendations.

Enough paperwork to occupy the rest of the evening.

I turned toward the Alpha Wing.

Then someone stepped into my path.

"Lord Derek."

I recognized her immediately.

Lillian.

A maid.

Months ago, before Winter...

We had shared a night together.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

She smiled warmly.

"It's been a while."

"It has."

"I heard you've only just returned."

"We have."

"I was wondering if perhaps..."

She took a small step closer.

"...we could continue where we left off."

There had been a time when I might have accepted without much thought.

A lonely night.

No expectations.

No promises.

That man felt oddly distant now.

I offered her a polite smile.

"I'm sorry."

Confusion flickered across her face.

"I don't understand."

"I can't."

Her eyes searched mine.

Then something softened.

Understanding.

"Oh."

She nodded once.

"It's her."

I didn't answer.

I didn't need to.

She gave the smallest smile.

"I hope she knows she's very lucky."

Before I could respond, she curtsied and quietly walked away.

Sabrina watched the exchange from several paces ahead.

"You handled that well."

"It wasn't difficult."

"No?"

I looked toward the palace.

"No."

Because there had never really been a choice.

Not once Winter had quietly, unknowingly become the person I looked forward to coming home to.

I resumed walking.

The Alpha Wing lay ahead.

Keon first.

Reports first.

Duty first.

Then...

It hit me.

A scent.

Soft.

Floral.

Wildflowers after rain.

Winter.

My steps stopped before my mind caught up.

She was close.

Very close.

Without thinking, I turned away from the Alpha Wing.

"Derek?" Sabrina called.

"I'll report to Keon shortly."

She looked between me and the corridor I'd chosen.

Then she smiled to herself.

"I figured."

I barely heard her.

Because I was already following the scent.

Each step made it stronger.

Closer.

Until...

Something else slipped beneath it.

My wolf stirred uneasily.

Not danger.

Not blood.

Not fear.

Something...

Familiar.

Another scent woven so deeply into Winter's that, for a heartbeat, I couldn't separate the two.

I frowned.

That wasn't right.

My wolf lifted his head inside me.

Alpha.

I kept walking.

He spoke again.

Alpha.

This time...

There was unmistakable warning in his voice.

Something has changed.