In the smoky, dim-lit chamber, the queen lounged across her velvet-draped throne, the lingering fragrance of too many perfus still clinging to the air.
Her skin shimred with the residue of aether, but the glow around her eyes was dimr than usual.
The chamberlain shifted anxiously near the foot of the throne, hands folded, eyes carefully lowered.
"Your Majesty. Do you wish for the guards to pursue the disrespectful pair? I can have them taken care of before nightfall."
He said with quiet formality.
The queen waved a lazy hand, her gaze distant.
"No. Not yet. Leave them for now."
The chamberlain blinked.
"As you command, but... if I may, Your Majesty—"
"I said no. Everyone out."
The queen interrupted, her voice still smooth but with an edge of finality.
The chamberlain bowed and signaled the rest of the attendants. Silks rustled and boots echoed as one by one, they filtered out of the room until only the queen remained.
The heavy doors thudded closed behind them.
Silence stretched.
The queen exhaled, leaned back, and rubbed her temples. The remnants of intoxicating aether still tingled at her skin, but her thoughts were sharper now. That man...
Her fingers clenched lightly.
He had resisted her allure. More than that—he had repelled it. Her aether, potent and refined through years of training and indulgence, had recoiled as if brushing against sothing ancient and sovereign.
She had never felt anything like it. It was as though her power had recognized a predator.
She smiled slowly, eyes gleaming with intrigue.
It wasn’t just that the man was handso, though he certainly was. It was that he wasn’t afraid. And more alarmingly, her power was.
"Who are you?"
She whispered, her voice barely audible, but thick with fascination.
She had heard whispers—legends that passed through the high halls when they thought she wasn’t listening.
Of a being who once descended to this world and granted power to kings, to priests, to her ancestors. The sponsor. The origin. The unnaable source.
Could it be?
The queen sat upright now, her intoxicated haze fully cleared. If what she felt was even remotely true, then that man was no ordinary subject.
He might be the one the nobles whispered about—the myth the high clergy feared more than they feared the gods.
A sharp knock echoed from the doors. She straightened her robes and cleared her throat.
"Enter."
The chamberlain peeked in nervously, surprised to see her sober and... smiling?
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
He asked, voice cautious.
Her gaze slid toward him like a blade sheathed in silk.
"Look into those two. Discreetly. I want nas, origins, history. I want to know what they ate for breakfast and where they sleep at night. And most importantly—what they’re doing in my kingdom."
The chamberlain’s eyes widened at her sudden intensity. He bowed quickly.
"At once, Your Majesty."
"And do not tell the nobles. Not yet."
"Of course."
He hesitated, glancing at her once more before retreating.
As the door shut behind him, the queen leaned back, lips curling upward. She felt disrespected, yes—but more than that, she felt... intrigued.
Sothing had shifted in her kingdom. A ripple in the current. And she was determined to find out where it would lead.
______
The path ho from the palace was quiet, lined with flickering lamps that cast long shadows over the cobbled streets.
A gentle breeze tugged at Amari’s shawl as she walked beside Nova, her fingers twitching and her shoulders tense.
She hadn’t said a word since they left the palace gates, and her pace was hurried, like she wanted to outrun sothing invisible.
Nova watched her from the corner of his eye. Her steps were uneven, her breaths shallow. Twice now, she had glanced over her shoulder.
He finally spoke.
"Amari."
She jumped, visibly startled.
Nova frowned.
"You alright?"
She forced a smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes.
"Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?" Her voice wavered slightly, but she picked up the pace, keeping her face ahead.
Nova said nothing at first, just kept walking beside her, hands in his pockets. Then, calmly,
"You’ve looked over your shoulder seven tis in the last minute."
Amari clenched her jaw. "It’s nothing."
"Doesn’t seem like nothing."
She stopped abruptly, whirling to face him. Her eyes darted past his shoulder, scanning the street.
"It’s not what you think, alright? I just— I’m not used to... situations like this. The queen. Her chamber. The way she looked at you."
Nova’s expression didn’t shift, but his gaze sharpened.
"You’re afraid of her."
"I’m not— Fine. Yes. A little. She’s dangerous. They all are. And I don’t know what she’ll do now that she’s seen you. You shouldn’t have spoken back like that."
Amari hesitated, then sighed.
"She wanted to use her aether on ."
"She always does that to people she likes."
Nova shrugged.
"Then she’s lucky I didn’t break anything."
Amari groaned softly and ran her hands through her hair.
"Nova, I’m serious."
"So am I. We’re not being followed. I’d know if we were."
He looked at her with quiet certainty.
Amari bit her lip, conflicted.
"That’s not what I was worried about."
"You sure? Because your eyes are saying sothing else."
Nova stepped closer, his voice lowering.
She didn’t respond right away. Her silence was enough of an answer. She finally muttered.
"I just... don’t want anything bad to happen. To you. Or . Or Rin."
Nova paused, the wind rustling around them.
"You’re scared she’ll co after you?"
"I don’t know. But I know how that court works. They never forget a bruise to their pride."
Amari whispered.
Nova glanced back down the road they ca from. The streets remained still. He looked at her again.
"Let them co."
Amari blinked at him.
"If soone shows up. I’ll take care of it. You’re not alone."
Nova said, his voice soft but edged with steel.
The wind picked up again, and Amari pulled her shawl tighter.
"You’re reckless."
Nova smiled faintly.
"You’re worried."
"I’m not—Okay. Maybe a little."
She stopped.
They stood there for a mont in silence. Then Amari sighed, stepped closer, and gave him a small shove on the arm.
"Just don’t make it worse, alright?"
"No promises."
But his voice was light, teasing.
They continued walking. Amari still looked over her shoulder once, but when she did, Nova turned too—just to be sure.
The more ti Amari spent with Nova, the more she realized sothing unsettling—she was beginning to rely on him.
It crept in slowly, almost unnoticeably at first. A glance when she felt uncertain. A word from him that made her feel grounded.
His presence, calm and steady, had started to feel like a shield she hadn’t asked for but couldn’t ignore.
She didn’t like it.
Amari was used to depending on herself. Her world was one of calculated decisions, careful steps, and keeping her distance.
But with Nova, things felt different. Dangerous, even. He didn’t belong here. She didn’t know what he truly wanted or what he was capable of.
Yet, despite every instinct warning her not to trust him, she found herself doing just that.
It frustrated her.
He was a mystery—powerful, unreadable, and far too comfortable challenging everything she knew.
And still, when she was with him, her fears dulled. Her anxiety eased.
She hated that.
Because relying on soone like Nova wasn’t safe. Not when she didn’t even understand what he was.
Not when she couldn’t predict what he might do next. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t pull away from him.
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