"Sage, I can’t stay the night here," Katelyn said.
"Why not?" Sage asked, his brow furrowing, eyes soft with that familiar, pleading look that always tugged at her heart.
"Because I just... can’t," she replied, looking away.
Sage stepped closer. "Katelyn, I didn’t even touch you all day. Nothing will happen tonight either. You know you can trust ."
"It’s not about that," she said after a pause. "Sothing’s happened back at the palace." She exhaled, trying to steady her thoughts. "I was thinking of extending my leave so I can return to the palace. I need to pack tonight. I’ll be leaving first thing in the morning."
Sage’s concern deepened. "Why didn’t you tell earlier? What happened?"
"I just heard from my attendant that Juniper caused a commotion in the palace. She told everyone that Noah isn’t a Sinclair." Her jaw tightened. "I can’t let that stand. I need to go back and confront her myself, for saying sothing so cruel to Alie and her son," Katelyn explained.
Sage frowned. "That’s... incredibly harsh," he murmured. "You’re right to go. They’ll need you there."
Katelyn nodded, forcing a small smile. "I suppose you’ll see again in a few days. The welcoming ceremony is coming up soon, after all."
"Yeah, by tomorrow I’ll be out of my rut," Sage said with a faint smile. "Thanks for staying with the entire day, Kate. I really do feel better because of you."
"Just rember one thing," Katelyn warned lightly, pausing to look at him. "Don’t open the door for Eleanor, no matter how hard she bangs on it."
"I won’t," Sage promised, his lips curving into a small, amused smile. Then, glancing at the clock, he added, "You should go before it gets too late, before I change my mind and insist you stay."
Katelyn chuckled softly. "Goodnight, Sage."
He didn’t reply, only followed her silently to the door. When she reached the doorway, she turned slightly and gave him one last smile before stepping out.
Sage watched her till she disappeared from his sight. Shutting the door behind him, he returned to the living room. Katelyn’s pheromones were all over his apartnt, bringing a smile on his face.
"I wonder when she will accept . What if she rejects ? I can’t let it happen. She’s the only one I will have till my last breath. I hope she doesn’t reject for my ill behavior," he murmured.
~~~~~
Late that night, Gabriel and Karn t in the eastern wing’s garden of the palace. The moonlight filtered through the trees as the two n spoke in hushed tones.
"You said Juniper’s been causing trouble in the family," Karn muttered, his brows knitting together. "And how could she even dare to say sothing about Noah?" His voice carried a trace of disbelief, and suspicion had already taken root in his eyes.
"That’s exactly why I need your help," Gabriel replied. "I want you to look into her family. Everything about them. She’s Dominick’s fated mate, and it’s been tearing him apart. I didn’t want to interfere in their personal matters..." He paused, "but I can’t stay silent anymore. Juniper has gone too far, she’s hurt Alie."
"But Prince Dominick is your brother," Karn reminded softly. "Be careful not to hurt him in the process."
"I won’t," Gabriel assured, though his voice was edged with frustration. "Juniper’s already blackmailing him that’s why he’s been so withdrawn lately. Casaio ntioned it to ." His brows furrowed as he spoke.
Karn sighed. "Prince Dominick married her with such joy. Everyone rembers how happy he was that day. A wedding should be one of the brightest monts in a person’s life... yet what she’s doing now is beyond imagination. She’s destroying that happiness for both of them."
Gabriel shook his head slowly. "No," he refused. "June isn’t hurting both of them. She’s only hurting Nick. She doesn’t care about his feelings. And her end goal is to get the throne. Mark my words. After so day, she will ask my father to declare Dominick as the next Alpha King."
"Leave it," Gabriel said with a faint sigh, his tone softening. "Tell about you and Aisha. How’s that going?"
"Nothing," Karn replied curtly.
"Nothing?" Gabriel arched a brow. "You’re not even trying to win her over? You like her, Karn. At least make an effort."
Karn shook his head. "I told you she has Joshua in her heart. Do you really think it would help if I confessed my feelings? She isn’t interested in anyone."
Gabriel studied him for a mont, concern flickering in his eyes. "Then promise you won’t fall in love with her. I’m worried for you, my beta. If you let yourself fall too deep, you’ll only end up hurting yourself."
A small, rueful smile touched Karn’s lips. "Don’t worry, it won’t happen." Then, his expression grew serious. "I’ll keep an eye on the Vittileo family. And I’ll start digging into Juniper’s past what kind of person she really was, and what she’s been doing all this ti."
Gabriel nodded. "According to Alie, June started causing trouble even before her wedding. She ntioned it before, but neither of us took it seriously back then."
Karn frowned. "What exactly did she do?"
"She humiliated Flora when Alie wasn’t around," Gabriel said. "Dragged up her past through her so-called friends, made cutting remarks. I’m not defending Flora, but Alie said that even she admitted, June isn’t as kind as she pretends to be."
"Then, I will try to find out through her friends. To stop Juniper, you need to find her weakness too. So, I’ll look into it."
"Sure. You can leave now. Thanks for coming here," Gabriel expressed his gratitude.
"It’s my pleasure to work for you," Karn said with a smile before bowing slightly and walked away.
Gabriel returned to the chamber, asking Ashna to retire for bed. Shutting the bedroom’s door, he first checked on Noah, who was sleeping peacefully in the cradle, then moved to bed, snuggling close to Alie.
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