Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
REIYANA
R eiya’s heart pounded as Mei Mei turned, startled but unafraid. A wide grin spread across that small face as she waved. The kneeling figure rose in one fluid motion, and now both men faced her—their features still hidden beneath the deep shadow of their hoods.
Reiya’s steps slowed, the flickering firelight teasing out familiar shapes—the curve of a grin half-hidden in the dark; the broad, grounded stance of someone who carried himself with ease.
She stopped, gasping, the world narrowing to the space between them. These weren’t strangers. The princes of Asadia stood before her, as solid and real as the ground beneath her feet.
The urge to throw herself into their arms, to feel the solid certainty of their hold, was nearly unbearable, but she forced it down.
Their expressions mirrored her own—stunned, but soft with recognition.
Even with her hair darkened and her silks exchanged for the plain garb of a X?en woman, there was no disguising what passed between them.
Firelight glinted off Alarik’s narrowed eyes.
Kaelendrin’s gaze lingered, lips parting as if to speak but stopping short.
She traced over their desert-worn attire—layers of earth-toned tunics and loosely draped scarves, leather belts weighted with pouches and gear.
They blended easily into the dust and shadow, yet there was no mistaking the quiet nobility threaded through their stance, the effortless grace in the way they carried themselves.
Her heart thudded, chest tightening beneath the weight of unspoken words. After days adrift in unfamiliarity, the sight of them felt like stumbling into the arms of something once lost.
She swallowed hard, blinking against the sting in her eyes. For a moment, no one spoke, until Mei Mei tilted her head and broke the silence, her bright voice cutting through the tension.
“Do you know them, Yara? They asked a lot of questions about the pendant.” Her small fingers were still wrapped around the wing-shaped charm dangling from the necklace around her neck.
Her throat tightened as she met their eyes. She dipped her head, swallowing the surge of emotions.
“Yes,” Reiya replied softly, her gaze shifting to the little girl. “We’ve crossed paths before.”
Mei Mei’s excitement, so unburdened and light, was palpable.
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” the girl exclaimed. “I’ll go tell Bà you’re back.”
She grinned at the two men, excitement unfazed, and with a quick wave, darted back toward camp—her red tunic flashing bright before vanishing around a corner.
Mei Mei’s absence eft a charged silence between them. Kaelendrin’s smirk lingered. The tension in his shoulders slowly eased, a flicker of relief softening the humour he wore as easily as a second skin.
“Yara,” he said, the name rolling wryly off his tongue as if tasting it, “you certainly know how to make an entrance. Next time, though, might you consider an exit a little less . . . heart-stopping?”
Reiya’s cheeks warmed, but she didn’t look away. Her voice stayed smooth, steady, despite the flicker of nerves sparking beneath it.
“You make me sound so troublesome,” she said lightly. “Yet here you are, still following me, despite all the trouble.”
Kaelendrin’s grin deepened, wicked and unrepentant. “Can you blame us? When you vanish under such dubious circumstances, trouble tends to follow. We simply thought it wise to ensure your safety. ”
Her fingers tightened slightly in her skirts, a quiet brace against the storm inside her. She’d spent days convincing herself they were gone—returned to Asadia, lost to the desert winds, their paths severed before they could truly begin.
Yet here they stood.
Close enough to touch.
A wave of emotions crashed over her, swift and disorienting—relief, disbelief, something dangerously close to hope. It was like stumbling into shelter after a long storm: sudden, jarring, she almost didn’t know how to trust it.
After a pause, she found her voice. “There’s so much to tell.” Her gaze flicked between them, her words wavering slightly. “I don’t know where to start.”
Alarik’s gaze sharpened, a flash of something raw crossing his face as he stepped forward.
His eyes locked on the side of her neck, and his expression darkened.
“Start with that ,” he growled.
His hand lifted, reaching toward the mark before he even seemed aware of it. The moment his fingers hovered close, Reiya stepped back. It wasn’t a conscious choice—just a reflex. The same instinct that had kept her guard up, the memory of Jodhar’s bite still raw beneath her skin.
Alarik’s hand lingered for a moment, brushing only the space between them, and in that heartbeat, she saw his gaze dimmed, shuttered. His hand dropped, and the distance between them felt colder, harsher.
The hurt that flashed across his face twisted something deep inside her, tightening her throat around words she couldn’t seem to find. The urge to explain nagged at her, to tell him it wasn’t him, that it was something far uglier and twisted that had nothing to do with him.
But her hesitation smothered the words, trapping them.
Kaelendrin’s voice cut in, smooth as ever but laced with something darker. “Is that Castiel’s handiwork?”
The question jolted her. She shook her head quickly, urgency breaking through. “No, not Castiel. I left him days ago. I joined a family of travelling merchants, stopping here for a few days.”
Kaelendrin arched a brow, interest flickering across his face before his eyes narrowed, weighing the revelation.
Then, his face hardened, his tone dropping low. “The family you’re with, then? The father, perhaps?”
“No!” Her reply came stronger than she intended. She softened her voice. “They’ve shown me nothing but kindness. They’re good people.”
He studied her for a beat before his scowl eased. Reiya swallowed. She’d never seen such a thunderous expression on the lighthearted golden prince before. Not even when Castiel asked her to dance during the celebration ball.
The sight of it sent a thrill along her spine, and she wondered why.
“Good to hear,” he said. “Then, who left that mark on you?”
Her fingers brushed over the bruise, anger flickering beneath her skin. “One of the Alpha guards. He thought he could . . . own me.” Her jaw tightened. “He was wrong.”
Kaelendrin’s expression darkened again. “Did he learn that lesson, or should we handle it ourselves?”
If his gaze was a storm, Alarik’s was frost. “Or both .”
“I’ve handled it,” she said firmly. “There’s no need to drag either of you into this.”
Kaelendrin’s grin returned. “You’ve proven yourself a survivor, but even the strongest doesn’t have to stand alone. There’s strength in numbers, Yara. Let us stay and help.”
Her breath hitched. Strength in numbers. As much as she wanted to stand her ground, the truth of his words lingered. Having them here—Kaelendrin’s ease and Alarik’s quiet steadiness—felt like laying down part of a burden.
Her gaze flicked over them; the dust on their tunics, the fatigue she could see in the lines around their eyes. They’d come far, crossing the ocean, desert, and who knew what else—for her. That realization alone was enough to stir something warm and aching in her chest.
“You look like you could use rest and refreshments,” she said quietly. “What about joining the family’s fire? The Xians are kind and generous. They won’t mind helping two travellers in need of a hot meal.”
Kaelendrin’s eyes brightened with surprise. Before he could respond, Mei Mei darted up, her face glowing with excitement.
“Yara! Níang and Lǎo lao said your friends should come to supper!”
The girl beamed at the princes. Kaelendrin let out an unguarded laugh. Alarik’s lips curved faintly—a rare glimpse of warmth breaking through his stoicism. The weight that had lingered between them lightened, just enough for Reiya to feel the shift.
“That settles it,” she said, nodding with a soft smile. “You’ll join us for supper.”
Alarik inclined his head. “A wise traveller never refuses a warm fire or a good meal.”
Mei Mei tugged at her hand. “Let’s go together.”
Kaelendrin crouched slightly to meet the girl’s eyes. “We’ll catch up soon, little miss. The road’s left its mark on us. We wouldn’t want to bring dust to your fire.”
She pouted but relented. “Alright. Bà parked near the big tree at the end of the caravan. Look for the red and yellow wagon!”
As Mei Mei tugged her away, Reiya cast one last glance over her shoulder. Kaelendrin’s easy grin remained, and Alarik’s steady gaze lingered on them as they stepped away.
There was so much she wanted to share. Though time didn’t allow for a lengthy conversation now, but perhaps, after the meal . . .
A small, hesitant smile curled on her lips as she gingerly waved at them.
It was bound to be an interesting supper.