Elian’s POV
*****
After breakfast, Lucian escorted his sister and her mate to the palace gates. For a final goodbye.
Elian had already had a brief mont with Aurora before she left.
"You know my brother’s a bonehead." She had pulled him into a light hug in the presence of everyone else and whispered. "Be patient with him. Mind you, I didn’t say be stupid. You have my permission to spank his ass if he acts out of place."
He had chuckled softly, hugging her back.
His future sister in-law. That’s what she’s always made herself to be in his life.
But truth be told, with each adventure and turmoil they faced, Elian no longer saw her as just his mate’s sister. Dare he say he saw her as a sister.
All these ran through his mind as he stood on the balcony of his room, overlooking the vast palace grounds and the rest of Moon Haven City.
The city seed alive under the morning sun, people going about their normal day-to-day businesses. But even from up here he could sense it in the air.
An almost gloomy atmosphere, akin to fear. With a tinge of tense suspicion underneath it all.
"Tonight the people will know what truly happened to their Alpha king." Elian’s grip on the marble railing tightened. "Hopefully the Dark Hand doesn’t decide to strike again."
He turned his eyes away from the city, his eyelashes half lidded. "Striking during major events seems to be a pattern with them."
[As is every other evil organisation ever. Creates more suspense and drama.]
Elian arched a brow, once again confused at the system’s random and otherworldly references.
"And you say I’m the one with early-stage schizophrenia." Elian scoffed, twirling his neck in a circle to loosen the tightness he felt. "Gods, I need a massage."
No sooner had those words left his lips than two hands slid onto his shoulders from behind. He gasped, spinning around only to et Kyren’s crimson gaze flickering with amusent.
"W–What are you—" Elian’s cheeks flushed, his heart racing heavily. "How long have you—"
"One question at a ti, little fla." Kyren chuckled, his right hand parting strands of Elian’s hair to the side. "Gods, talking to yourself seems to be a recurring habit."
Elian’s cheeks were still hot but he dealt with the awkwardness by faking a cough and leaning against the rail behind him. "What? You don’t talk to yourself occasionally too?"
The Rogue king’s eyes were still locked on him. That sa intense look made Elian feel like he wanted first-class entry into his soul.
That’s if he didn’t already have it.
"I do, actually." Kyren withdrew his hands, walking slowly to the rail. He rested his arms on it, standing shoulder to shoulder with Elian. "When I’m plotting my next move. Sotis I subconsciously speak to myself when others are there."
The Rogue king’s lips twitched into a smirk. "My magi tech expert. Ishtar. She once said I do that last one because I don’t care enough about what people think. They’re all just flies before ."
Elian squinted.
It’s not every ti the dreadful Lord Kyren just scooted over and started randomly dishing out parts of himself.
So he leaned into Kyren, curiosity mixing with genuine concern.
"She was right, of course. Partly." Kyren’s eyes dragged lazily to the sun.
His almost pale white skin glistened under the sunlight, his white hair flowing like a wave under the force of the soft morning breeze.
Beautiful. Almost ethereal.
This was a part of Kyren Elian rarely saw. A part that made him see the warmth underneath all that darkness and chaos.
"However, everything that’s happened since last night has made realise... I might not be so untouchable after all." The Rogue king remarked, his voice lowering. "A celestial-level Alpha fell so easily. My father, Garrick, has been body hopping for centuries. And my mother..."
He stopped himself, his fists clenching on the rail.
Elian watched him closely. Kyren’s face was stoic but he was able to guess sothing was wrong almost instantly. Especially with the emotions leaking through the mate bond.
"Kyren," Elian grabbed his hand, forcing him to look into his eyes. "Did... Did sothing happen? Is it about the surveillance magic you saw in Arian’s painting?"
Kyren’s eyes narrowed, his lips remaining thinly pressed. He kept eye contact with Elian—staring yet again like he wanted to decipher sothing.
But what?
"Do you rember anything about your parents?" Kyren suddenly asked, stunning Elian.
That was a question none of his mates had asked. And one he preferred not talking about.
His fingers loosened on Kyren’s hand but the latter grabbed him this ti, keeping him in place.
"Elian." Kyren’s voice softened, his tone reassuring. "We’ve never brushed on that topic. And in light of things I’ve recently discovered I..." He stuttered.
The Rogue king actually stuttered.
It was brief, his cold calm soon coming back to his face. "... I just want to know more about your past."
Elian blinked, his heart warming up at the genuineness that ebbed deep in his voice.
[Fruitcake? Just tell him.]
His jaw tightened, his eyes closing and opening repeatedly. "I..." Words failed him, his voice breaking as his mind reeled through mories.
From his childhood.
"I was adopted into the palace when I was five." He managed to say. "Trained to be a servant—"
"I know that already, little fla." Kyren’s back straightened now. He clasped his hands on Elian’s shoulders, causing him to gasp.
But the Rogue king persisted, forcing him to look into his eyes. "Can’t you rember sothing? Anything at all from before the forest? Before Arian picked you up."
His heart lurched into his stomach, pulse quickening with unease. "How... How do you know I—"
"There are things I’m trying to understand, Elian." The Rogue king’s voice was serious now, almost desperate.
Desperate.
Lord Kyren... Desperate?
It was at that mont Elian knew sothing really was wrong.
"What’s with all these questions?" He queried, grabbing Kyren’s wrists. "You’re not talking to , Kyren. You—"
"Neither are you." Kyren’s crimson eyes darkened, his magic surging like a storm that sparked through the bond.
A cold shiver ran through Elian’s spine, his eyes widened with confusion while Kyren went on:
"There’s sothing beyond the Dark Hand. Beyond my parents. Beyond the petty squabbles on this continent." He paused briefly, leaning closer. "And do you want to know who’s at the centre of it all?"
Elian trembled.
He didn’t know what to do or say.
How does he begin to tell Kyren that most, if not all, mories from before Arian picked him from that forest were gone? Blurred.
"You’re at the centre of it, Elian." Kyren shook him slightly, snapping him out of his thoughts. "I’d peer into your mind but you know I—"
"Then do it." Elian snapped, pulling out of his grip.
He took a few steps backwards, the Bond Resonance skill activating. Ten per cent of Kyren’s magic raged through him like a storm, his fists clenching and unclenching as he glared at him.
"You’re not being very open right now." He ignored the surprise on the Rogue king’s face. "Tell what happened. Tell why you’re suddenly acting this way."
Through the rage that burned in his chest, another feeling stung.
Pain.
Why did Kyren seem to change all of a sudden?
[I think you should give him a chance.] The system rang in his mind.
[He has reasons for his questions and you’re overreacting. Just—]
The sound of footsteps and a slamd door cut the tension like a blade.
"What’s going on in here?"
Lucian’s voice was sharp, heavy with authority as he strode into the room.
His silver eyes flicked between them — first Elian, then Kyren — taking in the tension.
Elian quickly withdrew the Bond resonance skill, his shoulders relaxing as Lucian continued.
"Why does it feel like soone’s about to start a war?"
Kyren’s jaw flexed.
He turned his face away from Lucian’s gaze, lips pressed thin as he looked back at Elian. For the first ti, Elian saw it — hesitation.
Lucian moved closer, stepping toward the balcony where they stood. The morning breeze pushed against his hair.
"Kyren," he said, voice low but firm, "what did you do?"
The Rogue King’s crimson eyes flickered once — from Lucian to Elian — before softening with sothing unreadable.
"He’ll understand soon enough," Kyren murmured. "You both will."
And before either could respond, he vanished. A ripple of magic split the air where he’d stood, leaving behind only silence and the faint hum of dissipating energy.
Lucian turned imdiately to Elian. "What the hell just happened?"
But Elian barely heard him. His heart was pounding, mind whirling like a broken reel of film. He swallowed hard, staring into the space where Kyren had stood.
"Lucian," he whispered, his voice shaking. "I... I don’t know."
Lucian stepped closer and pulled him into a hug — grounding, steadying. Yet Elian’s thoughts spiralled further.
’Why can’t I rember anything before I was five?’
The question struck harder now, echoing through the hollow corners of his mind.
Faces blurred. Voices faded. A forest. Blood. A scream. Then—
Darkness.
And in that darkness... sothing called his na.
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