"Sure. I would like that." Zaeryn nodded, "Just let know when, I’ll go with you."
"By the way, Zaeryn," Ysine said, her attention shifting from the simring pan on the stove. "You haven’t told us how the eting with your professor went."
Zaeryn pulled away from Marceline’s embrace, his playful mood evaporating as his gaze locked with Ysine’s. "Well... It was a trap."
The three simple words shifted the atmosphere in the room instantly.
Marceline’s teasing smile vanished, replaced by a sharp, maternal concern. She took his hand, her grip tight. "What do you an, ’a trap’?" she asked, her voice losing its sultry edge.
"Honey, your professor... Did she set you up?" Ysine’s voice was tight with suspicion.
Just as Zaeryn started to shake his head, Aeris and Ravena walked into the kitchen, drawn by the sudden tension. "What happened? We saw Kayla storming out of here, " Ravena asked, her eyes imdiately finding Zaeryn.
"Not now, Zaeryn was telling us what happened during his eting with his professor." Marceline said seriously.
"No, not her," Zaeryn said, his voice low. "Not really. She was being mind-controlled by sothing."
"Mind-controlled?" Marceline’s grip on his hand tightened. "Can you explain?"
"Please," Ysine added, stepping away from the stove to sit on the sofa beside him, her body a warm, protective presence. "Don’t leave out any details."
Zaeryn took a deep breath, the concerned faces of all four won fixed on him. He started, his voice quiet. "She was possessed by so ancient entity. It asked about power, about changing the world." He paused, swallowing hard. "Then her eyes... they weren’t hers anymore. They were gold. An invisible force slamd into a bookshelf and started choking the air from my lungs."
A soft gasp ca from Ysine. Ravena’s hand, which had found his, was now trembling slightly.
He told them how he’d fought back, and how Mireille and Arya had burst in just in ti, their blades glowing as they faced the possessed professor. He left out the na of the Dragon Lord; that was a burden he would carry alone.
Ysine didn’t respond with a lecture. Instead, she leaned in and kissed him, not a playful peck, but a deep, desperate press of her lips against his. It was a kiss of relief, of fear, and of a love so fierce it was almost painful. She pulled him into a hug, her arms locking around him as if she could shield him from the world itself. He could feel the frantic, terrified hamring of her heart against his own chest.
"Marea forbid sothing ever happened to you... Do you have any idea what that would do to us?" she whispered, her voice trembling against his ear.
Zaeryn held her close, his hand stroking her back. "Stop overthinking it, Ysine. I’m fine."
She finally pulled back, her eyes still searching his face for any lingering sign of danger. The anger in her gaze was now directed outward, at an invisible enemy. "Who did this? This ’entity’... who was it?"
"I don’t know," Zaeryn lied, the na a cold weight on his tongue. "It didn’t say. But it’s alright now."
"No, it isn’t!" Ysine snapped, her eyes blazing. "You could have been hurt, Zaeryn! Or worse!"
"She’s right," Ravena added, her voice was sharp, but the anger was a thin veil over the fear in her eyes. "Going in there alone, telling your guardians to wait outside... What were you thinking?"
"Goddess, what if they had killed you?" Marceline’s voice was a low, maternal scold.
Zaeryn sighed. "Relax, nothing happened." He said, a little annoyed.
Ysine looked at Zaeryn, her eyes pleading, "Promise ," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Promise you won’t do anything that dangerous again. There is a reason Mireille and Arya are with you; it’s for monts exactly like the one you encountered."
Zaeryn looked into her eyes, seeing the genuine fear there. He reached up, but instead of imdiately agreeing, he gently held her arms, his expression turning serious.
"I can’t promise that," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
Ysine’s breath hitched, a look of hurt surprise on her face.
"Listen to ," he continued, his gaze unwavering. "I can’t promise to avoid danger. Hiding from it won’t keep safe, or help in the long run, sooner or later, the royal family will find out about ." He gave her a small, confident smile that didn’t quite erase the hardness in his eyes. "But I can promise you sothing else. I promise I will be smarter, and get strong enough to face whatever cos for . And I will always co back to you."
The words weren’t a comfort; they were a vow. He wasn’t the boy asking for protection anymore; he was the man declaring his intent.
He sealed the new promise by capturing her lips in a kiss that was not just tender, but firm and confident—a statent of his resolve. Ysine was montarily stunned by his refusal, but as she felt the conviction in his kiss, her fear was t with a new, dawning sense of pride.
Fast forward, minutes later.
The scent of roasted bird and spiced vegetables filled the living area, a warm and inviting sll.
The family was gathered around a long, polished table, the light from the overhead glow-panels catching the steam rising from the platters of food. Zaeryn was seated between Kayla and Ysine, with Marceline, Aeris and Ravena seated across from them.
Mireille and Arya had also been invited to eat with them.
Noticing them approaching, Ysine offered a warm, genuine smile. "Arya and Mireille Join us," she insisted, gesturing to two empty seats. "And thank you, for keeping him safe. I know his situation is... Irregular."
Mireille gave a curt, respectful nod. "We’re just doing our job, Ysine".
Arya, however, smiled sincerely, her gaze flicking to Zaeryn with open admiration. "Of course. Though from what we witnessed, he seed more than capable of handling things himself". Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke.
Her cheeks, already warm, flushed a deeper shade of crimson. For a mont, her confident smile wavered as she avoided Zaeryn’s gaze, the mory of their kiss in the cruiser suddenly electric in the air.
Ravena, who had been listening from her seat across from Zaeryn, observed the glow up in Arya’s cheeks, and she let out an exaggerated sigh, her green eyes narrowing playfully. "And he does it again," she declared, propping her chin on her hand. "Zaeryn, honestly, you need to keep that charm of yours in check. You can’t just go around making every woman you et fall for you."
Arya’s flush deepened, but she just smiled, recognizing the teasing for what it was.
"What are you even talking about? Keep your jealousy in check Ravena." Zaeryn replied. "But also, if soone does fall for , I don’t think that’s my problem."
Marceline let out a low laugh. "Oh, darling, he’s not wrong. Zaeryn has been making won fall for him long before he even knew what that ant, so he can’t help it. You’ll just have to learn to deal with it, like the rest of us."
Ravena leaned back, her lips curving into a dangerous little smile. "That depends on how much of his attention he pays to . If it’s enough, I’ll deal with it. But if it’s not..." She tilted her head, green eyes glinting with mischief. "...then I might just have to cause a little trouble until he rembers who’s really worth looking at."
After Mireille and Arya took their seats, the al began, the clink of cutlery filling the air.
Ysine made sure their plates were full, her hospitality a sharp dissimilarity to the cold formality they were used to. After they had saved Zaeryn, Ysine already considered Mireille and Arya more than just acquaintances, they were allies, and perhaps, in ti, even friends worthy of trust.
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