<i>Zephyrine </i>
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I pushed open the door of my bedchamber, Dessyn and Blue following close behind. A shaky sigh escaped me the moment I stepped in.
“The pack feels empty… and I feel emptier, hollower now that Lycannar is gone,” I murmured, pulling away the curtain draped over my mirror.
I moved to settle in the chair, staring at Dessyn’s reflection. She climbed onto the bed, and our gazes met briefly before hers drifted toward the sheets. Then I saw it.
The mischievous smile on her lips, making me arch a brow.
“You did it on here?” she teased, and I turned to stare at her, wordless. “I mean, it’s the perfect weather. He’s hot, and… I heard you were sleeping in his arms all afternoon. Surely sleeping isn’t all you two did.”
Still I said nothing, just watching her grin. She raised a brow.
“What? You don’t want to gist me?”
A lump rose in my throat, and I swallowed it down. Without a word, I rose from the chair and pulled her into a hug.
“I miss you,” I whispered softly. “I miss this side of you. Your naughtiness. Your smile. Just you.”
Silence lingered between us. She pulled back and guided me to sit beside her. I watched her try to smooth away the heavy atmosphere with a smile, but it faltered.
Her gaze lingered on me before she took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Thank you for keeping your word, Zephyr. You said you’d bring your brother home, and you did.” Her voice shuddered as she went on. “No one can fathom the greatness, the goosebumps when the pack gates opened and you rode in with a Blood, covered in blood.”
I smiled at her words and answered,
“None of it would’ve been possible without that same Blood. Lycannar Blood. He made it simple. I still don’t know how he cut through hundreds of soldiers to reach my brother. He saved Varyn, and he saved me.”
Hearing that, Dessyn searched my eyes before lowering her gaze, blinking rapidly.
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“It was obvious to us all. His de dripped with blood, and the rain washing over him only smeared it deeper into his clothes. He’s a king, Zephyr. He has wealth, strength, everything. I don’t know how to repay him. Maybe I should give you to him as an offering?”
At that, I gaped at her and smacked her shoulder. She giggled, and I joined in.
After a moment, I leaned against the headboard, watching her glow. No one could look more excited than Dessyn.
“So… once Varyn gets better… what do you n…”
“He’ll make up for the years he’s left me behind,” she cut in without letting me finish, and I chuckled.
“Oh yes. Varyn will.” I smiled, but her face soon dimmed, sadness recing her spark. I raised
<i>a </i>brow.
“Zephyr…” she said hesitantly. “What if… Varyn doesn’t want me anymore?”
“Nonsense.” <fnaac6> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find·novel</fnaac6>
She looked at me, but couldn’t bring herself to speak. I saw it in her eyes. The fear, the doubt but I knew my brother. I knew Varyn.
The silence thickened until footsteps broke it. The door opened, and Moon entered.
“Dessyn, you’re needed.”
“Oh. Yes.” She rose at once and hurried off.
Once she was gone, Moon fixed his gaze on me. Without thinking, he reached for my wrist, pulling me into a hug. With Lycannar absent, we could share this moment.
I hugged him back, grateful, then pulled away. His eyes searched mine, and I smiled warmly.
“Thank
you for being here, Moon. Thank you for taking care of my brother.”
At that, he stared at me as though I had spoken nonsense.
“Lord Varyn is my senior, my future brother–inw. Taking care of him has nothing to do with you. He’s like a mentor to me. I respect him. And… I’m sure he’ll recover. Princess Mearez looks skilled.”
Pride touched my smile.
“She is skilled. Not that she only looks like it.”
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“Just like her brother,” he said, and I smiled, until his next words dimmed it.
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“Those soldiers surrounding Lord Varyn, are they truly dispatched? Because there’s no way you both could’ve passed through them.”
I paused, rethinking.
“Lycannar did most of the work. He… cleared the path for me. I only took care of my brother and…”
Moon stared at me in disbelief and my voice trailed off.
“That can’t be true. The Lycan King is powerful, yes. But to break through that army? I saw them myself when my sister and I snuck into ckwater. If he truly did… how is that possible?”
“How about we face the fact that he helped us?” I said softly. “My brother is home, all thanks to Lycannar. Let’s not pry further.”
Moon’s gaze lingered on mine, reading the unspoken warning. I wouldn’t let Lycannar’s name be tarnished.
He sighed and nodded.
“I apologize, Zephyr. I should go see if Dessyn needs help.”
I smiled in response, watching him take his leave.
Strangely, once he was gone, I found myself pausing, wondering. How did Lycannar truly cut through those soldiers? How did he…
“Mydy?” Blue’s voice startled me, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. She was already in the chamber with me.
I let out a shaky sigh and sank onto the bed. Blue came forward, settling at the rug by my side as she always did.
“Mydy, don’t you think the cloth suits my king perfectly?”
Her innocent, happy face eased me, and I leaned back against the headboard. The heaviness of Lycannar’s absence lifted slightly.
“He’s grateful for the cloth, Blue,” I told her gently, “I know the man I love. I feel it in him. He loves you. He will protect you. And I will protect who Lycannar loves. That includes you.”
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Blue studied me for a long moment, then lowered her gaze, smiling softly.
“I know. My king doesn’t like forming new bonds. He fears he’ll destroy them… or face betrayal. His father, our former king, was never a good example. So it’s hard for him to trust.”
I nodded.
“Yes. He grew up in pain, in trauma. I can’t imagine what that means. My parents gave me everything.”
“How about your aunt, mydy?” Blue asked, and I paused, thinking of her, my Aunt Kostyra.
“She’s… just there,” I murmured quietly.
Blue reached for my hand, as if bracing me for a blow.
“Mydy, while you were away, there’s something you must know. Your aunt… she’s been visiting the ckbridge Pack in secret. And worse, one of the maids here has been reporting your every move to her.”