~Lyra~
“Prince Kael and Princess Lyra are back!” a maid called out.
A lycan woman I’d never seen before stepped out. She was stunning—regal in a way that time had only softened, not dimmed. Fine lines creased her features when she smiled, but there was strength in her presence. Familiarity, too.
She looked like Kael.
And—strikingly—like Queen Seraphina, from the oil painting I’d once stared at for too long.
“Aunt Gia,” Kael murmured, “My mother’s sister.”
Before I could process it, Gia swept me into an embrace. “My dear, you were incredible! Absolutely incredible. I’m so proud of you.”
I froze, caught off guard by the sudden warmth. I hadn’t expected this level of affection from someone I’d never met. Still, I smiled, hugging her back. “Not really. It was a team effort—Kael, Kaelis,
