Elian’s POV
*****
"What’s wrong? What happened in Lunaria?" Lucian questioned his sister as he got off the bed.
Elian adjusted his legs, using his hands to shield his hair. He watched her holographic figure turn its head to him. "Oh, hey Elian." She gave him a wave.
He reciprocated, squinting when she turned her attention back to Lucian. "Your little escapade or whatever the fuck that was in Arcadia. It’s causing waves here." She paused, tilting her head. "What? You guys don’t see the news in the Dark Lands?"
Elian’s brows furrowed.
The battle in Arcadia. Could Amara—
"Aurora, it’s a long story." Lucian rubbed the bridge of his nose. "And I—"
"Please." Aurora raised a hand. "Co tell that to Mom, the Council of Fangs and basically every other council body here in the Empire. Do you know the rumours that are being passed?"
She shifted from the fra, swiping her hand. A holographic screen projected from Lucian’s ring, showing a scene that made Elian swallow hard.
[Well, damn. You look Hella rough from that angle.]
The "scene" in question was aerial footage from the Arcadian capital. In it, Elian knelt beside Lucian’s body, fingers glowing with a red light.
"Now I don’t know how Elian is using powers in that clip," Aurora mumbled, her projection coming back into the fra. "But so people are already saying you’re either badly injured... Or dead."
Lucian and Elian exchanged glances.
Crap.
After a few more seconds, Lucian let out a sigh. "Very well. I’ll hop in a sky craft and head there now."
Aurora nodded, making a gesture like she was about to hang up.
However—
"Wait." The Alpha Prince called her back. "Are you... Are you at your new place now?"
The princess arched her brow. "Yeah. Why?"
Elian already had a feeling he knew why.
And he was right.
"I don’t know if it’s possible for you to... Show up at the palace." Lucian muttered. "Probably today. There’s sothing I found out that I need to show you and Mom."
Yep... There it was.
He was talking about Sylas.
"Seraphyne and I literally just got here." Aurora scoffed. "Is this ’thing’ so important that you can’t tell right now?"
Lucian turned, his lips curling into a smile. "Oh, trust sister. It is."
There was a short pause.
Aurora’s eyes darted around, clearly hesitant. Elian didn’t bla her. She’d left the Lunarian palace to avoid all its drama.
Now Lucian was vaguely telling her to co back.
"Gods, Lucian." Aurora cursed under her breath, clasping her hands in front of her face. "Fine. Okay? I’ll tell Sera and see if coming today is alright."
The Alpha Prince nodded, his smile widening.
"But it better be worth it." Was the last thing she said before hanging up, her holographic figure blinking out like it was never there.
Lucian lowered his hand, rubbing his ring. "She has no idea..." His eyes trailed to Elian, softening. "You heard all that. I have to head back to Lunaria."
Elian nodded, adjusting his sitting position on the bed. "I... I understand. And Sylas—"
"I need to take him with ." Lucian blurted. "Both my parents wanted to find him. And now I have. We have..." He strode toward the bed, grabbing Elian’s palms. "Will you accompany to Lunaria?"
Elian pursed his lips.
[What are you waiting for? Say yes.]
’Even with everything we’ve discovered?’ he questioned. ’The divine crystal. I have a feeling I still have to be close to it.’
[You’re joking, right?]
’I—’
[Amara’s curse reacts whenever you try tapping into anything divine. Staying close to that Crystal right now is a no-no. A huge one.]
Fuck... That’s right.
’And then your mission.’ Elian pointed out, simultaneously watching Lucian dimming his eyes at him. ’How do I find a cure to the curse? And how much ti—’
[You have three days to complete the mission. That’s generous enough, no?]
Elian’s forehead twisted with frown lines.
[Besides... You underestimate yourself, fruitcake. So far you’ve completed every mission and special mission I’ve thrown at you. This should be a piece of cake.]
A piece of cake? Breaking a transcendent-level curse... Was a piece of cake?
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
"Uhm... Elian?" Lucian rubbed his knuckles, bringing his attention back to him. "You... Did that thing again. Spacing out." His lips quirked. "What? Are you seeking guidance from your system?"
Elian’s cheeks flushed. "Sothing like that..." He curled his toes. "I’ll follow you. We have your father’s funeral and our wedding to look forward to anyway."
Lucian grinned, getting off the bed. He tightened his grip on Elian’s palm, helping him get up.
"Let’s go show Lunaria that I’m alive."
.
.
Harsh desert winds carrying gales of red sand welcod them when they got outside.
Elian and Lucian had their arms locked together, Sylas keeping pace beside his brother.
As for Kyren—
"Amara or her council of frauds still haven’t made any comnts concerning what happened in the Arcadian capital." The Rogue king grunted behind them. "Yet the Empire is already spreading rumours. Hmph."
Elian’s lips twitched with a ghost of a smile while Lucian glanced over his shoulder.
"Won’t be the first ti Lunaria carried false information."
Kyren countered. "Which is why I believe your royal court should take control of the dia. Clearly, press freedom does more harm than good."
They finally got beside the Lunarian sky craft. The evening sun made its golden wings glisten, the ramp already unfurling.
Elian drew in a breath. He pulled his arm out of Lucian’s, spinning around to say his goodbyes.
"Please, don’t do anything dramatic like diving into Arcadia to fight your mother." He stretched out his hand, gripping Kyren’s. "Promise?"
Kyren’s crimson eyes ward up with sothing at first. Then he pulled Elian closer to himself, staring down at him. Like he wouldn’t let him go.
"I should be the one telling you to be careful." The Rogue King said softly. "Rember... You’re still mine. Fragnt of a dead goddess or not." He leaned in, lips brushing Elian’s earlobe. "Do you understand?"
Elian’s legs wobbled, chest heating up.
Kyren’s words were equal parts hot and grounding.
"I do." Elian nodded, smirking. "See you later, Kyren."
The Rogue King finally let go, eyes moving to Lucian. "You’d better keep an eye on him."
Lucian wrapped an arm around Elian’s shoulders. "Don’t worry. He’s in good hands... cousin."
The two n stared at each other for a breath before Lucian led Elian toward the ramp.
Once they were all inside, Elian sat close to a window. His gaze wandered, landing on the excavation crater hundreds of ters away. At the withering flora life.
He clenched his fists, whispering to himself. "This isn’t over, Amara..."
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