Sold To The Cruel Pr Chapter 92: Nearby Danger

Chapter 92: Nearby Danger

Kael turned to look at Theron. The Crown Prince had gone visibly pale.

"I will speak with you at ho, Father," Kael said, carefully keeping his voice neutral.

Edric pressed his lips together, his expression tightening with the sort of restraint that ant the situation was already worse than either of them wanted to admit. "Is the Crown Prince with you?"

Kael nodded once.

Edric let out a slow breath, and the portal vanished.

That, more than anything, told Kael the matter had already reached the palace.

His father would not have let the connection drop if it were only a private concern. This had beco royal business now.

Kael looked back at Theron. "Sire—"

"You will speak with your father," Theron said at once.

He did not say more. He did not need to. Every word in this room could be heard by soone they could not see, and Theron knew it. Kael understood imdiately and lowered his head.

Kael did not need to be told what Theron was thinking. If the King wanted Aveline, then the Aurelion Veil would not be enough to keep her hidden forever. Every spell left a trace. Every light-bending signature could be followed by another who knew the sa craft.

And there were only two light-benders in the kingdom.

His liege would know that. He had to. Yet his hands were trembling.

"Then I will take my leave, Your Highness."

He vanished again into shadow.

For a mont, silence pressed down between the walls of the room.

Theron took in deep breaths.

A mory surfaced in the back of his mind, unwelco and sharp: his father’s calm voice asking whether he disliked the woman chosen for him, as though it had been a simple question, as though the answer had ever mattered.

Maybe it had mattered. Maybe the King had only asked because Theron had not behaved as expected.

Another mory followed, darker than the first.

Branric.

The boy he had once been friends with, when he had first co to Greenvale. The boy his father had called a bad influence. The boy who had vanished not long after.

To this day, Theron did not know where Branric had gone. But he had never stopped wondering whether his father had made sure he would never return.

His jaw tightened.

Would the sa thing happen to Aveline?

The thought hit him so hard he had to steady himself against the wall.

Not her. Not if he could help it.

Theron stepped into the room quietly.

Wyla was quick to notice him. She rose at once, gave him a respectful bow, and slipped out with practiced silence, leaving the space to him.

Theron crossed to the bed and found Aveline curled up beneath the covers, sleeping so deeply that her lashes barely trembled. For a mont, he simply stood there, looking at her with a softness he could not quite hide.

Then he tried to sit beside her, when... Sothing shifted under the blanket.

Theron paused, his brows drawing together as he carefully lifted the cover.

Of course.

Hamilton.

The tiny creature was sprawled beside Aveline as though he had every right to be there. The mont he saw Theron, he bristled at once. His little ears flared out, making his head look even rounder and more offended than before. And that short tail... was up like it was offended on its own.

Theron blinked.

"Your proportions are all wrong," he murmured under his breath. "What are you supposed to be?"

Hamilton’s eyes sharpened.

A little glow sparked in them. He lifted his snub nose and snorted, smoke puffing from his nostrils. Then, with all the dramatic seriousness of a creature preparing for battle, he sneezed.

A burst of fire shot out.

It was much bigger than before.

If Hamilton had been his original size, the fla might have caused real trouble. But as he was now, the fire was only just enough to be impressive. Theron tilted his head and dodged it with ease.

"Hm," he said, sounding almost pleased. "You have improved. Your fla is bigger than it was the other day."

Hamilton blinked.

Why was this man praising him?

That was suspicious.

Very suspicious.

There had to be a catch.

He drew in a deep breath, ready to show this irritating man exactly what he thought of him for making Aveline cry again and again.

His nostrils flared, preparing for another round of fire-breathing.

Theron, however, rely looked at him, then gently covered him with the blanket.

Out of sight.

Out of mind.

At least, that was the idea.

A mont later, he tried to sit down beside Aveline again. But he let out a very quiet, very uncharacteristic yelp when he landed a little too hard on sothing and felt a pinch on his butt.

He sat up straight at once, rubbing his sore backside with a faint scowl.

When he looked over, Hamilton was now peeking from under the sheets, tongue out and little teeth bared in the most cheeky, victorious grin imaginable.

If he had been in his true form, he would have snapped Theron in two without hesitation.

As it was, he could not even manage to break through his clothes or skin.

Humiliating.

Especially when Aveline clearly liked him better this small.

Theron, however, glanced at the offended little creature and, after a brief pause, decided it was wiser to keep his distance.

He wanted to tell Hamilton that he was not his enemy. That he would never harm Aveline.

But in the end, he said nothing.

Perhaps it was better this way.

Perhaps it was safer for Hamilton to mistrust everyone a little.

Not in the situation they were in now.

And certainly not when Aveline was still asleep—curled up so softly, breathing slow and even, completely unaware of the tiny, very serious war unfolding at the edge of her bed.

Theron glanced back at her once, just to make sure she hadn’t stirred.

She hadn’t.

Good.

That was all that mattered.

Then—

A faint sound.

Soft. Careful. Almost like soone trying not to be heard.

Theron’s ears caught it instantly.

He stilled.

Every inch of him sharpened, the easy warmth in his expression fading into sothing quieter... colder.

His gaze shifted toward the window.

Another sound.

Not the wind.

Not the rustle of leaves.

Too deliberate.

Slowly...very slowly... he stepped away from the bed, each movent asured so the floor wouldn’t even dare creak beneath him.

Behind him, Hamilton lifted his head from the sheets, tiny eyes narrowing, sensing it too. This ti, he didn’t sneeze. Didn’t move.

Even he understood that sothing was wrong.

Theron reached the window, fingers brushing lightly against the fra before he paused, and listened.

There it was... A presence, close enough to be watching.

His jaw tightened just slightly.

So soon?

His jaw tightened.

That presence...

He had felt it before.