Liora woke with a headache.
Not the ordinary kind.
This one felt as though someone had pressed a finger against the inside of her skull and refused to move it.
She groaned and pulled the blanket over her head.
“Five more minutes.”
A knock sounded.
“Liora?”
She opened one eye.
Lucien.
Of course.
She sat up.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Lucien took one look at her and frowned.
“You look terrible.”
“Good morning to you too.”
“You have dark circles under your eyes.”
“Thank you.”
“Again, not a compliment.”
Liora rubbed her forehead.
“I have a headache.”
His expression immediately became serious.
“How long?”
“I just woke up with it.”
“Did you feel anything unusual last night?”
Liora hesitated.
There it was again.
That strange pulse beneath the garden.
The silver flower.
The feeling that something had awakened.
She didn’t want to worry him.
“No.”
Lucien studied her.
“You hesitated.”
“I was thinking.”
“About?”
“Breakfast.”
He stared at her.
She smiled weakly.
“Too obvious?”
“Very.”
He sighed.
“Come downstairs.”
“I don’t feel like eating.”
“That wasn’t a suggestion.”
Liora stared at him.
“You’re using your king voice.”
“I have a king voice?”
“You do.”
“What does it sound like?”
“Like you’re about to sentence someone.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Despite herself, Liora smiled.
The kitchen was unusually quiet.
Liora sat at the table while the cook prepared something warm.
Lucien remained nearby.
“You don’t have to stay.”
“I know.”
“You have meetings.”
“I cancelled one.”
Liora looked up.
“You cancelled a meeting because I have a headache?”
“It wasn’t important.”
“You said that about your lunch yesterday.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“I wasn’t responsible for your headache.”
Liora stared at him.
Then smiled.
“You’re worried.”
Lucien looked away.
“I’m being responsible.”
“You’re worried.”
“I am the Demon King.”
“That’s not an answer.”
He sighed.
“I am worried.”
Liora’s smile softened.
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
It was comfortable.
Almost too comfortable.
Liora realized she had become used to him being there.
That thought frightened her slightly.
Not because Lucien frightened her.
Because she liked having him there.
After breakfast, Liora returned to work.
The headache gradually faded.
She spent the morning organizing the library.
Halfway through, Julian appeared.
“You’re alive.”
Liora looked up.
“Good morning to you too.”
“I heard you weren’t feeling well.”
“Who told you?”
“Lucien.”
Liora blinked.
“He told you?”
“Apparently, my cousin has discovered communication.”
She laughed.
“He’s worried.”
Julian smiled.
“He is.”
Then he looked at her carefully.
“You should be careful.”
Liora frowned.
“Why?”
Julian hesitated.
“The rumors are getting worse.”
“I know.”
“No.”
His tone was more serious than usual.
“You don’t.”
Liora closed the book.
“What happened?”
“Some nobles are saying Lucien is considering making you part of the royal household.”
Liora stared.
“What does that even mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Neither do I.”
“That’s the problem.”
Julian leaned against the bookshelf.
“People don’t need facts to create stories.”
Liora sighed.
“I don’t want to be a story.”
Julian smiled sadly.
“Neither does anyone else.”
Across the city, Lord Alaric Arclayne sat behind a large wooden desk.
A letter lay open before him.
He read it twice.
Then folded it.
“She’s becoming more visible.”
The man standing across from him nodded.
“Yes, my lord.”
“And Lucien?”
“Protective.”
Alaric smiled faintly.
“Of course he is.”
He stood and walked toward the window.
Below, Valthera moved through its ordinary day.
Merchants.
Children.
Guards.
Nobles.
Thousands of people living their lives without knowing how fragile political peace could be.
“Find out who she is.”
The man hesitated.
“We’ve tried.”
“Try harder.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Alaric’s eyes narrowed.
“There is something unusual about that girl.”
He turned.
“And I dislike unanswered questions.”
That afternoon, Liora went into the garden.
She wanted fresh air.
She wanted quiet.
Most importantly, she wanted to stop thinking.
For several minutes, nothing happened.
Then she heard footsteps.
She opened her eyes.
Lucien stood nearby.
“You followed me.”
“I was looking for you.”
“Why?”
“You disappeared.”
“I was in the garden.”
“I noticed.”
He sat beside her.
Liora looked at him suspiciously.
“You don’t usually sit.”
“I do.”
“Not with me.”
“Apparently I do now.”
She smiled.
“Are you okay?”
Lucien looked toward the flowers.
“I could ask you the same.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re lying again.”
Liora sighed.
“I don’t know what’s happening to me.”
Lucien turned toward her.
She looked down at her hands.
“Sometimes I touch things and feel something.”
He remained silent.
“Not words exactly. Not always.”
She struggled to explain.
“Images. Feelings. Like something happened there before I touched it.”
Lucien’s expression became thoughtful.
“How long?”
“I don’t know.”
“Since the flower?”
“Maybe.”
She hesitated.
“And lately, it’s happening more.”
Lucien didn’t panic.
He didn’t tell her to stop.
He simply asked,
“Does it hurt?”
“Sometimes.”
“Then you shouldn’t force it.”
“I know.”
He looked at her.
“And if it happens again, tell me.”
Liora nodded.
“Okay.”
She expected him to say more.
He didn’t.
Instead, he reached over and gently took her hand.
Liora froze.
Lucien seemed to realize what he had done.
But he didn’t let go.
Neither did she.
For several quiet seconds, they simply sat there.
Then Liora smiled.
“You know.”
“What?”
“You’re not very good at being comforting.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“I’m holding your hand.”
“Yes.”
“That isn’t comforting?”
“It is.”
She smiled.
“Just unexpected.”
His fingers tightened slightly around hers.
“I’ll try to be more predictable.”
Liora laughed.
“Please don’t.”
Neither of them noticed the silver shimmer beneath the garden soil.
It pulsed once.
Then disappeared.
Far away, the mysterious silver object in the watcher’s hand responded.
He looked toward the mansion.
His expression changed.
“They’re getting closer.”
He closed his hand around the object.
“But not yet.”
And for now, he remained in the shadows.