If Aliena thought surviving demons in the forest had been terrifying, she was sorely mistaken.
Nothing, nothing, prepared her for the looks.
The moment she rejoined the main training grounds, it was as though an invisible bell had been rung announcing her return.
Conversations paused.
Heads turned.
Whispers bloomed like wildfire.
“That’s her.” “The girl from the horse—” “Did you see how the Prince looked at her?” “Who is she?”
Aliena resisted the urge to look behind her to see if there was someone more interesting walking along with her.
She kept her head down and focused on putting one foot in front of the other.
Act normal, she told herself.
You were just privately trained by the Crown Prince.
Perfectly normal.
She found her family near the outer edge of the grounds.
Hermia spotted her first.
Her face lit up instantly.
“Aliena!”
She rushed forward, grabbing her hands.
“Are you alright?
You disappeared and then—by the stars, you were on a horse with him.”
“I’m fine,” Aliena said quickly.
“I think.”
Hermia’s eyes sparkled.
“You think?”
Before Aliena could answer, Lydia’s sharp voice cut in.
“So,” Lydia said coolly, arms crossed, “care to explain why the Crown Prince singled you out in front of the entire kingdom?”
Helena scoffed.
“Honestly.
It was embarrassing.”
Aliena blinked.
“For who?”
“For us,” Helena said, gesturing vaguely.
“People were staring.”
“Yes,” Lydia added.
“Staring at you.”
Their stepmother’s lips were pressed into a thin, unreadable line.
Their father looked confused and mildly alarmed.
“I didn’t ask for it,” Aliena said.
“He just—”
“Oh please,” Lydia interrupted.
“Princes don’t just do things.”
Helena leaned closer, eyes narrowed.
“What did you do?”
Aliena stared at her.
“Exist?”
Hermia snorted before she could stop herself.
Lydia shot her a glare.
“This is serious.”
“Is it?” Aliena asked.
“Because I was terrified the entire time.”
“That didn’t stop you from sitting in front of him,” Helena muttered.
“I didn’t exactly have a choice.”
Their stepmother finally spoke.
“Lower your voices.”
But it was too late.
People nearby were already pretending not to listen.
Helena smiled sweetly.
“We’re just curious.
You’ve always been so… invisible.”
Aliena felt the familiar sting, but something inside her shifted.
She straightened.
“I was kidnapped by demons last night,” she said calmly.
“Forgive me if I’m not overly concerned about whispers.”
Their father stiffened.
“Kidnapped?”
Hermia gasped.
“What?”
Lydia faltered, just slightly.
“Demons?”
“Yes,” Aliena said.
“Very unpleasant.
Sharp teeth.
Poor manners.”
Helena scoffed.
“You expect us to believe—”
Prince Sebastian’s voice cut cleanly through the air.
“She speaks the truth.”
The effect was immediate.
Everyone froze.
Sebastian stood a short distance away, his expression dark, unreadable.
His presence alone seemed to draw the attention of the entire grounds like a magnet.
Lydia’s face drained of color.
Helena swallowed.
Hermia looked like she might faint from excitement.
Aliena resisted the urge to groan.
Sebastian’s gaze moved briefly over the sisters, cool, assessing before returning to Aliena.
“You are done for today,” he said.
Aliena blinked.
“I am?”
“Yes.”
He nodded once, then turned away, already dismissing the crowd.
The silence he left behind was deafening.
Helena was the first to recover.
“You didn’t tell us that,” she hissed.
Aliena shrugged.
“You didn’t ask nicely.”
Hermia squeezed her arm.
“Are you really okay?”
Aliena smiled softly.
“I think so.”
Lydia stared after Sebastian, eyes narrowed.
“Whatever you’re doing,” she said quietly, “stop.”
Aliena met her gaze, calm and steady.
“I don’t even know what I’m doing,” she replied.
“But for once… neither do you.”
Hermia smiled wider.
And for the first time in a very long while, Aliena walked away from her sisters without shrinking.
Sebastian did not watch Aliena leave.
That alone irritated him.
He remained where he was long after she disappeared into the shifting crowd, the echoes of whispers following her retreating form.
Nobles leaned toward one another, poorly hiding their curiosity.
Guards exchanged looks.
Trainees pretended to focus on their weapons while failing spectacularly.
Sebastian felt it all, and dismissed it.
He turned away from the grounds and began walking toward the stone corridor that bordered the field, intent on distance.
Distance was useful.
Distance was safe.
“Impressive.”
The voice came from the shadows beside a pillar.
Sebastian did not slow.
“If you’re here to lecture me, spare the effort.”
Miles stepped into the light, cloak draped casually over one shoulder, expression maddeningly calm.
“I was going to say reckless,” Miles replied.
“But impressive works too.”
Sebastian stopped abruptly.
“Speak carefully,” he said.
Miles smiled faintly.
“You lifted a noblewoman, excuse me, a neglected noblewoman, onto your horse in front of the entire court.
Ignored three powerful families.
Interrupted training protocol.
And personally declared yourself her instructor.”
Sebastian turned slowly.
“She needed guidance.”
Miles blinked.
“That’s it?
That’s the explanation?”
“Yes.”
Miles tilted his head.
“You didn’t say guidance when you trained the elite guard.”
“They were not—”
“Abducted by demons?” Miles finished smoothly.
Sebastian’s eyes sharpened.
“How did you—”
“I move in shadows,” Miles said lightly.
“You taught me that.”
Sebastian exhaled through his nose.
“Then you also know she was targeted.”
“Yes,” Miles said.
“And I know that doesn’t explain why you care.
I suppose you are just confused with your feelings”
Sebastian’s expression hardened.
“I do not care.”
Miles hummed.
“You used her name.”
Silence.
“You healed her,” Miles continued.
“Brought her into a shielded zone.
Chose archery, something that builds confidence before strength.
And,” he added, eyes glinting, “you laughed.”
Sebastian looked murderous.
“I did not.”
“You did,” Miles said.
“Briefly.
It was unsettling.”
Sebastian turned away, jaw tight.
“She reminds me of a weakness I overcame.”
Miles stepped closer.
“Or one you buried.”
Sebastian’s voice dropped.
“This ends here.”
“Does it?” Miles asked gently.
“Because the court has eyes.
And tongues.”
“I will manage them.”
“You always do,” Miles agreed.
“My concern is you.”
Sebastian’s hands curled into fists at his sides.
“I will not allow sentiment to compromise the crown.”
“Good.
Then I suggest you stop standing where you can see her.”
Sebastian froze.
Across the grounds, Aliena laughed again, soft, unguarded, real.
Sebastian closed his eyes.
Miles sighed.
“Ah.
Too late.”
Sebastian opened his eyes, darkness settling back into place.
“This conversation never happened.”
Miles bowed slightly.
“Of course.”
He paused, then added, “Just… try not to ruin the kingdom over a girl who doesn’t yet realize how dangerous your attention is.
Just because of your feelings”
With that, Miles slipped back into the crowd, leaving Sebastian alone once more.
Sebastian stared at the ground for a long moment.
Then he turned, already putting his mask back on.
Aliena did not hear the whispers until it was too late.
She had just parted from Hermia near the outer fountain, still feeling oddly light despite everything, the training, the stares, the way Sebastian’s presence seemed to linger even after he was gone, when Lydia’s voice drifted toward her like silk over steel.
“She’s enjoying this far too much.”
Aliena slowed instinctively.
Helena’s laughter followed, soft and cruel.
“Of course she is.
Imagine being invisible your entire life and suddenly becoming… interesting.”
She should have walked away.
She didn’t.
“She doesn’t belong anywhere near him,” Lydia continued.
“The court will laugh once they tire of the novelty.”
Helena hummed thoughtfully.
“Or worse, blame us for not controlling her.”
Lydia scoffed.
“As if she’s ever listened.”
Aliena pressed herself closer to the stone wall, heart pounding.
Helena’s voice dropped.
“You saw the way he looked at her.”
“Yes,” Lydia said tightly.
“And I won’t have our family reduced to whispers because Father favored charity over sense.”
Helena smiled.
Aliena could hear it.
“Then we make sure the whispers change direction.”
Lydia was silent for a moment.
“…What do you suggest?”
Helena’s tone turned playful.
“Nothing drastic.
Just reminders.
A stumble here.
A rumor there.
She’s weak, she always has been.”
“That weakness is exactly why he noticed her,” Lydia snapped.
“Then we make it visible,” Helena replied smoothly.
“In front of everyone.”
Aliena’s stomach twisted.
Lydia exhaled slowly.
“Training exposes flaws.”
Helena laughed quietly.
“Exactly.”
A pause followed.
“What about Hermia?” Lydia asked.
“She’s grown… protective.”
Helena snorted.
“Hermia has always been soft.
Let her cling.
It won’t save Aliena.”
Lydia straightened.
“Be careful.”
“Oh, I will be,” Helena said sweetly.
“I always am.”
Footsteps approached.
Aliena retreated just in time, heart hammering as the sisters emerged, expressions perfectly composed, faces of warmth and noble grace.
They did not see her.
Or perhaps they did, and simply didn’t care.
Aliena leaned back against the wall, breath shallow.
So this was it.
Not demons.
Not training.
Not even Sebastian.
Her sisters.
Across the palace grounds, Lydia and Helena rejoined the gathered nobles, already laughing, already weaving themselves into conversation.
Words traveled faster than arrows here.
And unlike arrows, they left no visible wounds.
From a distant balcony, Miles watched the sisters with narrowed eyes.
From the training field, Sebastian felt something tighten in his chest, sharp, instinctive, unwelcome.
He could feel traces of Aliena’s discomfort because they were mates but until the mating bond was completed, Aliena would be able to feel his too but he doubted it would ever happen.
Aliena straightened slowly.
She would not shrink.
But somewhere deep inside her, a quiet truth settled like a warning bell.
The demons in the forest had been obvious.
The ones in silk smiled.