Back home

The ride back home was a strange mix of emotions. I couldn't stay still, restless with anticipation. The closer we got, the more anxious I felt. It had been so long since I'd seen him, and the thought of finally being with him again made my heart race. I missed him so much—his presence, his warmth, the way he made me feel safe. The moment the carriage came to a stop in front of the palace, I practically jumped out, barely giving anyone a chance to acknowledge me. I had one mission: find Kael.

"Your Majesty!" A voice called out behind me, but I kept moving, determined to track Kael down before anyone could slow me down.

Still, I sighed and stopped in my tracks, turning around to see who it was. Orton stood there, looking relieved to see me. His presence was familiar, and I knew I should be polite, but right now, all I could think about was Kael.

"I'm glad to have you back," Orton said with a slight bow.

"Thank you," I replied, my tone polite but hurried. I hoped he would get to the point quickly.

"His Majesty isn't in the palace at the moment," he said, and my heart sank a little. "But he should be back soon."

The excitement that had been bubbling up inside me faded slightly. "Okay, thanks," I muttered, trying to mask my disappointment. "I'll wait for him."

With a nod, Orton excused himself, and I was left standing there, feeling restless again. I had been so eager to see him, but now I had to wait. Still, the thought of finally being in his arms kept me going, and I headed to my room to wait for his return.

…

The day had dragged on longer than I'd expected, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep. The softness of the bed and the weight of exhaustion had lulled me into an unplanned nap. When I woke up, I blinked groggily, my eyes adjusting to the dim light of the room. I immediately looked around, hoping to see him beside me, but the bed was empty.

A wave of disappointment washed over me, but it was quickly replaced by renewed anticipation. I had slept long enough. *Maybe he's back now.* I couldn't just sit here and wait any longer. I needed to see him.

I slipped out of bed and left the room, my feet moving quickly as I wandered through the quiet halls of the palace. I knew where he would be. His office. It was where he always retreated when he had too much on his mind. The thought of him working alone, probably exhausted from the weight of his responsibilities, tugged at my heart.

As I approached his office, I hesitated for a moment, peeking through the slightly ajar door. There he was, sitting behind his desk, a stack of papers in front of him. He looked tired—more tired than I had ever seen him. His hair was slightly messy, and the dark circles under his eyes made it clear he hadn't been sleeping much.

*He's been working himself to the bone again,* I thought, a wave of guilt rushing through me. *And I wasn't here for him.*

Finally, he looked up and saw me standing there, hovering awkwardly in the doorway. For a brief second, surprise flashed across his face, but then his expression softened into something that made my heart flutter. I took a step into the room, trying to find the right words to say, but before I could, Kael was already out of his chair, crossing the room in an instant.

His arms wrapped around me tightly, pulling me against him, and I felt the tension in my body melt away. His embrace was so warm, so comforting, that I could hardly breathe for a moment. He held me close like he never wanted to let go.

*Magic,* I thought with a small smile. *I forgot how handy it can be.*

I buried my face in his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of him, a mix of pine and the faint scent of parchment from the papers he had been handling. It was the scent of home. I hadn't realized just how much I had missed it, missed *him*, until this very moment.

"I missed you," Kael whispered, his voice muffled slightly by my hair. 

I smiled against his chest, though my voice came out playful. "I don't know… I didn't think about you much."

He chuckled softly, the sound reverberating through his chest. It was a sound I had longed to hear, and now that I was hearing it, it felt like everything was right in the world again.

"Liar," he teased, pulling back just enough to tilt my chin up so I was looking at him. His eyes searched mine, filled with so much warmth and tenderness. "I told you not to go anywhere again," he said, his voice more serious this time, his brow furrowing slightly as he spoke.

The guilt that had been simmering beneath the surface suddenly bubbled over, and I felt my chest tighten. I had tried so hard to stay composed, to keep my emotions in check, but now, standing here in his arms, it was impossible. My eyes welled up with tears, and I blinked rapidly, trying to keep them at bay.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible. I took a shaky breath, my control slipping. "I… I'm so sorry."

The tears spilled over then, and I couldn't hold them back anymore. I broke down, my shoulders shaking as I sobbed quietly into his chest. Kael held me tighter, his embrace a solid anchor in the storm of emotions crashing over me. He didn't say anything for a long moment, just held me, his hand gently stroking my hair.

"I love you," he finally murmured, his voice soft but filled with sincerity.

"I love you too," I whispered back through the tears, my voice cracking as I clung to him.

And in that moment, I realized just how much I needed him—how much I had missed him, and how lost I had felt without him. Being in his arms again felt like coming home, like everything that had been wrong was finally right again. I didn't want to let go, and neither did he.

"I missed you so much," I mumbled into his chest, my tears still flowing freely. "I didn't realize how hard it would be to be away from you."

Kael leaned down, resting his forehead against mine, his thumb gently wiping away the tears from my cheek. "You don't have to apologize," he said softly. "You're here now, and that's all that matters."

I nodded, feeling the weight of everything I had been carrying start to lift. With Kael by my side, I knew I could face whatever came next.