Lost in a chapter

Chapter 2 - Three

“The High King and I are the only ones permitted entry into this area; all others are forbidden. Those who do, will be executed.” He paused, letting the silence thicken, letting them feel the severity before delivering the final blow.

“And that sentence also extends beyond you.” His tone darkened, ice creeping into his words. “Your family. Your lineage. Your bloodline, it will all be erased.”

The soldiers stood rigid, their breaths controlled, their discipline absolute. Solis wasn’t willing to risk the Fayb escaping, he wanted the deal broken for Theanna, and selfishly, for him.

“Understood.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Good.” Is all he said before leaving the soldiers to their duties.

Solis moved with unwavering purpose, his stride smooth and deliberate as he crossed the grand halls of the Sylvarune Palace. The ladies of the court stole glances as he passed, their breath hitching, whispers spilling behind him like rippling silk. He did not acknowledge them, he never did. Their admiration was meaningless, a dull murmur lost in the background. His attention lingered only on Tora…. Theanna.

The guards stationed at her chamber doors straightened at his approach. Without hesitation, he pushed through.

“Brother,” Solis murmured as he entered. Tora lay peacefully asleep.

Sylvain hadn’t moved. He sat at Tora’s bedside, rigid, unwavering. A rare sight, the High King, worn down by the bond he swears is a mated one.

“I hear she’s fine,” Solis said, hinting for his brother to rest, to leave.

“Yes.” Sylvain’s voice was quiet, but firm.

Solis studied him a moment, his hint slipping on a worn-down Sylvain. “You should go, get some rest. You look terrible. I’ve not seen you like this before.”

“No.” The response was instant, resolute. “I will not leave my mate’s side.”

Solis exhaled quietly; his expression unreadable as he lowered himself into a chair beside Tora’s bed. He studied her, watching the slow rise and fall of her breath, reassuring himself that she was here, that she was alive. But something deep within him clenched, refusing to release its hold.

Will it stop when the deal is broken? The thought unsettled him.

He dragged a hand down his face, forcing himself back to the present. She’s fine, he told himself.

Sylvain hadn’t moved, his posture rigid. His voice was measured, unyielding. “If there is anything that demands my attention, I trust you to handle it. Until she is awake, until she can stand and walk, I will remain here.”

The brothers sat in silence, neither willing to admit they wished the other would leave. With each passing moment, the tension thickened, each waiting, each refusing to break first.

Finally, Solis spoke, defiance lacing his voice as he faced his brother, the High King. “Look, we need to finish breaking the deal with the Fayb.”

"I know." Sylvain’s reply was curt.

"We could do it while she’s resting," Solis suggested, pressing the issue.

Sylvain exhaled sharply, barely sparing him a glance. "I told you, Solis. I won’t leave this room. She will come with us to break the deal, it’s why she’s in this position in the first place."

Solis stiffened. "What? No. She won’t be safe around that creature." His voice rose sharper now, frustration edging into outright disbelief.

Sylvain remained unmoved. "She is safe, with me, and she will be there to break the deal."

"You’re not scared?" Solis’s voice lowered, hesitation slipping through, something rare. "If she cuts your bond?"

Sylvain’s gaze flickered, but his answer came without hesitation. "No. As long as she’s alive."

A rare thing to hear. A rare admission.

Tora stirred, roused by the voices around her. Both men watched, waiting. Her eyes blinked open, slow and heavy, her vision hazy until it settled on Sylvain beside her. His hair dishevelled, shadows carving beneath his eyes, exhausted, worried? Had he been by my side this whole time? Tora wondered, the thought settling uneasily in her mind.

Slowly, she sat up. Sylvain moved instantly, reaching for her. She wanted to resist, wanted to brush him off, but the effort felt hollow. Too weak to argue, she let him help.

"Looks like you didn’t want me dead after all," Tora joked, the tension thick in the room. She had to break the silence somehow.

Sylvain straightened, regret settling over him like a shadow. "Don’t say that, Theanna. If I had known who you were, I never would have put you through that," he said, guilt unmistakable in his voice.

Tora wanted to respond, to thank him for saving her, but resentment still coiled in her chest. She couldn’t bring herself to say the words. Not yet.

Solis cleared his throat, cutting through the silence. "I’m glad to see you’re okay," he said. She gave him a slight smile, small, fleeting. It was enough to make Sylvain’s blood boil.

"Well, this little guy has been stuck to me like glue since you left," Solis said, tugging the baby pudin free from under his tunic.

Tora smiled, reaching out a hand to cradle the tiny creature. Sylvain’s eyes widened, childlike, a look Solis hadn’t seen in centuries.

"Where’d you find him?" Sylvain asked, his voice lighter, the tension briefly forgotten.

"Theanna did," Solis admitted, sending Sylvain’s already boiling blood to spill over. Great, he already shares a fond moment with her. Sylvain forced an easy smile, if only for Theanna’s sake.

"Marthos! I have to get back to Lunary," Tora blurted, panic creeping into her voice.

Sylvain tensed. "Lunary? What were you doing there?" His irritation was masked, but barely.

"We needed to find the Fayb. The Oracle was our best shot."

Sylvain’s jaw clenched. "The Oracle? That i***t sent you straight to your death." His words hit hard, and Solis wasn’t far behind, but unlike Sylvain, he didn’t speak right away.

Solis stilled, his fingers curling briefly against the chair before he forced his hand to relax, the thought of Marthos, his dear friend being with the Oracle stirred something within him. The tension went unnoticed. "Yeah, I had the same thought," Tora muttered, half rolling her eyes. "But he said if I went alone, I’d be safe, and we’d break the deal. Marthos had to stay behind, it was part of his vision."

Solis shifted uncomfortably in his seat, casually enough to avoid notice.