{Third Person}
"Yes," Amara answered, looking up slightly. "It was nice."
Barron nodded and continued, "And Elowen’s friends? Did they treat you well?"
"Yes." Amara nodded slightly as a small smile naturally tugged at the corners of her lips. "They always do."
The conversation remained light after that, carried mostly by Barron, with Amara responding politely and Alexander continuing to listen.
Finally, they arrived at the palace.
As they approached the inner grounds, Barron slowed slightly, preparing to stop, but Alexander instructed, "Drive in,"
Barron blinked. "...Inside?"
Alexander did not look at him.
"Yes."
Barron frowned faintly. "You know cars aren’t allowed beyond this point."
"Drive in."
The tone left no room for argunt, so Barron let out a quiet breath, then nodded. "Alright."
The car moved forward again, passing into the inner palace grounds where vehicles were rarely seen. It did not take long before they reached the Alpha Prince’s residence.
Barron brought the car to a smooth stop. And without wasting a second, Amara opened the door carefully and stepped out with Ginger.
She turned back slightly and said, her gaze moving between the two n, "Thank you for the ride."
Barron smiled lightly as Alexander gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.
Amara then turned and walked toward her side of the residence, leaving the two n behind.
---
Zarek stood by the window of his residence, watching the light outside take on that dull, muted quality that always preceded winter’s full arrival, when a knock ca at his study door.
"Enter," he permitted in a low, steady tone.
One of his n stepped in and bowed low. "Your Highness."
Zarek did not turn imdiately. "What is it?"
"We followed the Alpha Prince this morning, as instructed," the man began. "He left the palace with Lord Barron, his maternal cousin, who recently arrived."
Zarek’s eyes shifted slightly, though his posture remained relaxed. "Go on."
"They went into the city to a restaurant."
That was enough to make Zarek turn. "A restaurant?" he repeated, his tone no longer idle.
"Yes, Your Highness. It is the sa place the Princess and the human bride visited after they left the palace earlier."
For a brief second, Zarek said nothing. Then a quiet scoff left his lips.
"Elowen," he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to the guard. "So she’s gotten close to the human."
It wasn’t entirely surprising, but it was... inconvenient. Still, that wasn’t what held his attention. His thoughts had already moved elsewhere.
"And Alexander?" he asked.
"He stayed there for a while, then left in the sa car with his cousin and the human bride."
Zarek let out a slow breath as he walked away from the window, his mind beginning to connect the pieces.
"So he followed her," he said quietly.
That part made sense. It was easy to dismiss at first. Alexander had always been obsessed with finding his mate, chasing any possibility, no matter how slim.
Going out secretly like this could easily be explained away as another one of those attempts. But the more Zarek thought about it, the less it fit neatly into that box.
His steps slowed as a faint crease ford between his brows. "...No," he murmured.
There was sothing else there. Sothing more deliberate.
The way Alexander had tolerated that human in his residence... the way he had not cast her out despite the circumstances... the way he always ca to her rescues... and now this—leaving the palace and ending up in the exact sa place she was.
Zarek’s lips curved slowly, his earlier indifference giving way to interest. "He is being protective," he said under his breath, tasting the word as if testing its weight.
That was new. And anything new about Alexander was useful.
A quiet, dangerous smile spread across his face. "If that’s the case, then let’s see how far that protection goes," he said softly.
Next, he turned toward the guard, his decision already made. "Prepare the carriage. I’m going to see Her Majesty."
The guard bowed imdiately. "Yes, Your Highness."
---
By the ti Zarek arrived at Queen Lysandra’s palace, the air inside was warm and faintly scented, a sharp contrast to the chill outside.
He did not need to announce himself loudly. His presence alone was enough.
He was already seated in the receiving area when the doors opened, and Lysandra walked in.
The mont she saw him, her entire expression softened in a way she reserved for no one else.
"Zarek."
He rose at once. "Mother."
She closed the distance between them without hesitation and pulled him into an embrace, her hand briefly resting against his cheek as she drew back to look at him.
"You ca without sending word," she said, though there was no real complaint in her tone. "If I had known, I would have prepared sothing special."
Zarek gave a faint smile. "I didn’t want to disturb you."
She laughed softly. "Since when have you ever worried about disturbing ?"
He didn’t answer that. Instead, he took his seat when she gestured for him to sit, his posture relaxed but his eyes alert.
Lysandra settled opposite him, studying him carefully. "So," she said, folding her hands lightly in her lap, "what brings you here? And don’t tell you ca just to see ."
Zarek reached for a piece of fruit on the tray that had just been brought in, as though her question required no urgency.
"I wanted to check on you," he said.
Lysandra held his gaze for a long mont, then she smiled faintly. "You are a terrible liar," she said.
Zarek chuckled under his breath but did not deny it.
She did not press further. She waved her hand lightly, dismissing the attendants who had just finished arranging the refreshnts.
"Leave us."
The room emptied quickly, the doors closing behind them and leaving the two of them alone.
Only then did Lysandra lean back slightly, her expression shifting from warm to attentive.
"Now," she said, her voice quieter, sharper, "tell what you really ca for."
Zarek took his ti, eating another bite before speaking, as though the conversation was rely an afterthought.
"Winter is almost here," he began. "And Alexander’s birthday is in two months."
Her eyes narrowed just slightly, but she said nothing.
Zarek leaned back in his seat, his gaze eting hers. "I think we should celebrate it properly in a grand gathering, he said.
Understanding flickered across her face almost imdiately. "And you want to convince your father," she said.
Zarek’s smile returned, slow and deliberate. "You always know where I’m going."
Lysandra tilted her head slightly, studying him more closely now. "You don’t make moves without reason," she said. "What are you planning?"
Zarek did not hesitate this ti. "There is sothing I’ve noticed," he said, his tone lowering just enough to carry weight. "Alexander is... unusually protective of that human bride."
That caught her attention fully. She leaned forward slightly as her interest sharpened.
"Protective?" she repeated as if trying to digest the word and relate it to how Alexander has been treating Amara.
Zarek nodded and continued, "And that is a weakness."
The word lingered between them.
Lysandra’s lips curved slowly, her earlier curiosity turning into sothing far more dangerous.
"I see," she said. "And you intend to use her."
Zarek t her gaze, unbothered. "I intend to use both of them," he corrected calmly.
A brief silence followed, then Lysandra smiled knowingly.
"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" she asked, her voice smooth, patient, and far too interested.
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