The corridor outside the Great Hall still humd with unsettled energy as Aire was guided out by Nate.
Nate walked beside her with a careful control. He had one arm slightly behind her back, not touching her unless she leaned too far, and not pulling unless she stumbled.
Aire didn’t speak as they walked out.
She barely even looked at the passing guards who lowered their heads as she passed.
Behind them, Alaric watched the distance between Nate and Aire. His jaw tightened once, subtly, as Nate adjusted his pace to match hers again.
He hated the sight of it, but he didn’t interfere. At least not today when she looked like she might break if soone even spoke too sharply.
So he stayed back, and let Nate take her.
Aire’s steps slowed briefly, when the palace corridor opened into a quieter wing.
Nate shifted closer grounding her beside him.
"You’re almost there," he said quietly, not pressing her forward.
Aire didn’t answer, but she didn’t pull away either. That, in itself, was answer enough for him.
They reached her chamber doors a mont later.
The guards stationed outside straightened imdiately when they saw them approach, but none dared step forward. Not with Nate there, and not with the mood still unsettled from the hall.
Nate pushed the door open gently for her to walk in.
Aire stepped inside first, then stopped.
She didn’t fully enter.
She just stood there, with her hand resting lightly on the edge of the door. Then, she turned her head slightly to look back at him.
Nate paused outside.
The distance between them suddenly felt too loud.
"I will leave now," he said quietly. He was trying to convince himself as much as her anwhile, he knew very much he’d stay by her door tonight. "Rest well."
Aire stared at him for a long second.
Then, very faintly, her expression shifted.
She smiled softy at the way he sounded like he wasn’t sure where he was allowed to exist anymore.
Nate throat tightened at the sight of her small smile.
Aire shifted slightly, opening the door a little wider instead of closing it. "You can co in." She permitted.
Nate blinked once, then again. His mind had refused to process what he just heard properly.
"I..." His voice ca out lower than he intended. "I can co in?"
Aire gave a small nod. A small simole and certain nod was all she offered.
Behind them, footsteps approached quickly down the corridor.
When Aire looked to the direction of the sound she saw Madam, and two maids.
They slowed instantly when they saw Nate standing there.
Madam straightened quickly, bowing her head with practiced respect. "Your Highness—"
Nate didn’t look at her. He didn’t even acknowledge her, or turn. His eyes were still on Aire.
The warmth that had flickered in her expression earlier was gone when Aire eyes landed in Madam.
The shift in Aire’s gaze wasn’t loud, but it was sharp enough to cut through air.
Aire didn’t speak at first.
She just looked at her. She stared hard on the woman she once softened for, trusted, and called comfort.
And now... she stood on the edge of mory that no longer felt safe.
The silence stretched between all three of them.
Madam shifted slightly. "Your Grace, we ca to assist you—"
"No." Aire cut her off.
Madam stopped.
Aire’s voice didn’t rise. "I can take care of myself." She said softly, but her voice didn’t lose its edge.
The maids exchanged a brief glance, unsure.
Madam hesitated. She wanted to say sothing more, but Aire’s eyes didn’t move. It remained sternly her, and didn’t let her speak.
Madam bowed again, lower this ti, and stepped back.
"Of course, Your Grace." She agreed.
The maids followed imdiately after her as she walked away.
Aire eyes remaid where she was for a mont longer. Then, she turned back into her room, and looked at Nate.
"You can help with a few things," she said evenly, "and then leave."
Nate should have answered imdiately.
He didn’t.
His wolf reacted first. He felt a sudden, almost impatient surge forward inside him.
Nate stumbled one step into the room before catching himself.
Aire blinked, caught off guard.
He froze, and so did she.
The mont was so absurdly abrupt that for half a second, neither of them knew what to do with it.
Nate cleared his throat slightly. "I—" He stopped, and restarted. "Yes."
Aire’s lips pressed together.
"Close the door," she said.
He obeyed imdiately.
The chamber felt different once he shut the door behind him.
Aire moved toward the bathroom without another word.
Nate stayed where he was for a second too long, then he followed. He stood before the door, watching her disappear behind the door.
The sound of water splashing eventually as she took off her cloths and walked into the bath tub filled the space.
Nate stood there, listening.
When the water cald, he finally exhaled.
He didn’t sit. Instead, he walked deeper into the room, and began fixing it without being asked.
The bed was unmade. He softly adjusted the sheets, and tucked them into the fra of the bed.
The pillows fluffed and placed exactly.
Aire’s books were shifted closer to the bedside in quiet order, and then he moved toward the fireplace.
He crouched down, and started a fire.
The first fla caught slowly. He added another log of wood, and the fire grew.
Orange light spread across the room, softening the harsh edges of everything.
Nate stayed there a mont longer than necessary, watching it. He kept his focus on the fire, trying not to think of anything else.
Behind him, the bathroom door finally opened.
Aire stepped out, and stopped walking imdiately.
The first thing she saw was the bed. It as neatly arranged. Her eyes moved to the fire place, and landed on Nate kneeling before it.
He was fixing the last of the logs with quiet focus.
For a mont, Aire didn’t move.
She just stood there in the doorway, watching him.
Nate finally turned slightly, sensing her presence.
He looked up. He froze, and swallowed.
Aire was standing there wrapped in soft fabric, with her silver hair still slightly damp, and her skin ward from the bath.
And she looked... different. So real and more different from the cerimional dresses she had always worn to look perfect before the court.
Nate stood slowly.
The fire behind him flickered.
His eyes didn’t leave her.
Aire stepped further into the room, slow and careful.
"You did this?" she asked quietly, gesturing faintly to the room.
Nate hesitated, then nodded.
Aire looked away first. For reasons she didn’t fully understand. He changed so much in the blink of an eye, and she didn’t know if she should trust it, or enjoy the mont while it lasted.
"Why?" she asked.
Nate’s answer ca after a mont. "I... You wouldn’t like to co back to a scattered bed so tired, would you?"
Aire exhaled softly.
She turned slightly toward the bed. "It’s warm." She said, touching it. A soft smile touched her lips.
Nate didn’t respond. Instead, he walked towards her.
Aire sensed it imdiately. Her head lifted, and her blue eyes t his intense grey ones that happened to now glow with his wolf at the edge.
"Nate—"
He reached her before she could finish.
His hands found her waist, careful yet certain as he pulled her in. The space between them disappeared completely.
Aire froze.
Her breath caught, and before she could think, Nate leaned down, and kissed her.
It wasn’t hesitant, or unsure. She never believed a day where this would happen, yet she also would never had believed a day where he would treat with so much gentleness.
It was the first thing he had done all day that didn’t look like control or apology or restraint.
Aire didn’t move at first.
Her body went still in shock, but he didn’t pull away, or rush her. He held her there, finally allowing himself fall into every feeling he had been denying for too long.
Aire’s fingers slowly tightened slightly at his sleeve. She didn’t push him away, or stop him.
Nate felt it.
The fire behind them burned lower.
The room held its breath, and he deepened the kiss.
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