Kairan woke up alone, the lingering warmth of Aldric's presence already fading. He turned, his fingers brushing the empty space where his mate should have been.
A slight pang of disappointment settled in his chest—it was their first morning together after the binding ritual, and waking up beside Aldric had been something he had quietly longed for.
He quickly reminded himself that Aldric had responsibilities. The kingdom was facing a crisis, and he was likely attending the briefing.
Kairan sighed, stretching lazily beneath the covers before sitting up, the memories of the previous night washing over him. Aldric had been different—less reserved and more tender, his usual composed demeanor melting into something more intimate.
Kairan's cheeks flushed as he recalled the way Aldric had touched him. He bit his lip, shaking. No, he needed to focus on the day ahead.
Slipping out of bed, he padded over to the shower room, letting the warm water soothe his body. The night's passion had left its mark—his limbs felt pleasantly sore, a secret reminder of Aldric's uncharacteristic passion. He smirked to himself, wondering if he would ever get used to this new side of his Aldric.
When he stepped out of the shower, the palace attendants arrived with the outfit prepared for the royal family breakfast.
Kairan, dismissed them with a wave. "No need for that. I've already chosen my outfit."
The attendants hesitated but ultimately obeyed. Kairan changed into a light green and blue ensemble adorned with intricate golden thread designs. His deep brown hair was styled with delicate flowers, ones he had picked up from the palace garden.
A knock on the door.
His father, Darian, entered the chamber, carrying a set of books. Kairan ran to him, wrapping his arms around him in a tight embrace. Darian hugged him back, and for a moment, Kairan felt like a boy again in his arms.
Darian's expression was tense.
"Son, these are your mother's books. She wrote them to help you with your training. I had planned to give them to you at the right time… but the palace is different from the village. The villagers accepted your mother; they loved her as one of their own. But the nobles… they despised you because of your witch blood. So, I held back. But something tells me it's time for you to embrace that part of yourself as well." His gaze flickered to Kairan's outfit.
"Seems like you've already made that decision."
"Thank you, Father," Kairan said. "We can't force people to like me, and I don't want them to… but I hope they do, for Aldric's sake."
Darian's expression darkened. "About that… I thought the king loved you. But you are still unclaimed. He hasn't given you his mark."
"Aldric loves me, Father. You know how he is—he has responsibilities to his people."
"I just want you to be happy, son. Your mother would never have agreed to this. I regret agreeing myself. Mates should be each other's first priority."
"I know, Father. We'll take that step soon," Kairan reassured him. Then, eager to shift the conversation, he asked, "Oh, what about the plants I asked you to bring?"
Darian sighed. "I left them in the garden. I'm leaving for the village soon. Remember, you'll always have a home to return to."
He pulled Kairan into a warm embrace before taking his leave.
As Kairan made his way through the palace, whispers followed him. Some gazes held shock, others disdain, and a few, sympathy. But Kairan held his head high, determined not to waver.
Outside the dining hall, Aldric was deep in discussion with Lord Theo Solmira and Lady Seraphine Orvelle, the only two Elder Council members who tolerated Kairan.
Aldric sensed his presence before he saw him, his eyes flickering with brief confusion before softening. When he turned fully to face Kairan, his lips curled into a knowing smile.
Kairan felt a shiver of satisfaction at the way Aldric's gaze roamed over him, taking in the outfit, the flowers woven into his hair. For a fleeting moment, Aldric's expression held something unguarded—something appreciative.
"Kairan," he murmured under his breath, reaching for Kairan's hand.
Lord Theo greeted Kairan with a warm smile, while Lady Seraphine simply gave a curt nod, her expression unreadable.
The moment was short-lived as the palace guards prepared to announce their arrival into the dining hall.
As they waited, Aldric leaned in, his voice low. "Why did you wear this outfit? What happened to the one prepared for you?"
Kairan met his gaze defiantly. "I designed this myself. You know too that green was color of my mother's healing magic It reminds me of her. Feels like a warm hug...like she's with me."
Aldric's expression softened. "I know, Kairan. He signed before continuing, "But you're now part of the royal family. You need to follow the traditions so that people will accept you. Why make things harder for yourself?"
Kairan lifted his chin. "I am not just a Light Fae, Aldric. I am a witch too and people remind me of it every second of the day. So I have decided to embrace that part of me. I want them to accept all of me, not just the part that they want to accept."
Aldric sighed, but said nothing more as the guards opened the grand doors to the dining hall.
Inside, only the royal family was seated—Aldric's mother, father, and sister. Pleasantries were exchanged, though tension lingered in the air.
The first course was being served when Aldric's younger sister, Lyria, smirked at Kairan and leaned.
"Well, dear brother-in-law, you look positively radiant today," she teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I do wonder why. Did you even get any sleep last night?"
Kairan nearly choked on his drink. Aldric shot his sister a warning glare, but she only laughed, clearly enjoying herself.
Their father, Roderic, scowled in disapproval. "Enough, Lyria. Show some decorum."
Lyria held her hand up in surrendering gesture.
Aldric's mother turned to Kairan with a gentle smile. "And what are your plans for the day, dear?"
Kairan cleared his throat, grateful for the change in topic. "I plan to plant some healing herbs in the garden."
Aldric's father, Roderic, looked over to his son. "There's been another report of water bodies drying up, and now even the fertility of the soil is decreasing. The harvest yields are shrinking."
Aldric's expression darkened. "Yes. The incidents are increasing. I've deployed troops across the kingdom to investigate. But something is disrupting the magical balance—we need to find out what that is before it worsens."
Silence hung over the table. And somewhere deep in Kairan's heart, unease took root.
A strange tension filled the air, pressing against his skin like an unseen force. It wasn't just the failing rivers or the withering fields—it was something deeper. The magic in the land felt... disturbed, like a quiet ripple before a storm.
He had sensed it before, in the way the wind carried an unnatural stillness and in how the soil felt colder beneath his fingertips. Now, sitting at the table, that feeling only grew stronger. It wasn't just misfortune striking the kingdom. Something was moving in the shadows—something old, something evil...