BOUND BY ROYALTY

CHAPTER 9

Aleron's break was over far too soon for my liking. The days we spent together felt like a dream I wasn't ready to wake from, and yet here we were, the time slipping away faster than I could hold onto it. Each night had brought us closer, and waking up beside him every morning had become something I never thought I'd crave. Now, the familiar routine was being snatched from me, and I could feel the weight of it settling on my chest.

The morning he was due to return to his duties, I woke to the quiet rustling of fabric, the soft sound of Aleron moving around our room. My eyes fluttered open, the early light from the window casting a warm glow over his figure as he sat on the edge of the bed, tugging on his tunic. For a moment, I stayed still, watching him, the peaceful rise and fall of his breath, the way his hands moved with practiced ease. It was a small, intimate moment, and it made my heart ache in a way I hadn't expected.

"You're up early," I murmured, my voice rough from sleep as I sat up slowly, the covers falling from my shoulders. The chill of the room hit my skin, but it wasn't the cold that made me shiver, it was the realization that our time, as brief as it had been, was ending.

Aleron paused, glancing back at me over his shoulder. There was something soft in his gaze, but also something resigned. "I have to get back to the council today," he said, his voice low, as if speaking any louder would break the fragile moment between us. "There's a lot that's been left waiting."

I nodded, even though I didn't want to. I knew this day would come, but knowing didn't make it any easier. "Of course," I replied, forcing a small smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "Duty calls, right?"

He turned fully toward me, his expression softening further. "It does." He sighed, reaching out to touch my hand gently, the warmth of his fingers grounding me for just a moment. "But it doesn't mean I want to leave."

There was a tenderness in his words that made my chest tighten, and I felt the unspoken weight between us how much had shifted during his break, and how much more I wanted to hold onto.

"I got used to having you around," I admitted quietly, surprising even myself with the vulnerability in my voice. I wasn't sure when that happened, when having him beside me stopped feeling like an obligation and started feeling like a comfort.

He smiled at that, a real one this time, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. "I got used to being here."

A silence fell between us, the kind that wasn't uncomfortable but was filled with all the things we weren't quite saying. I wanted to ask him to stay longer, to take another day, but I knew better. He had responsibilities, things I couldn't compete with. And yet, I couldn't help the small flicker of disappointment that settled deep in my chest.

"I'll be back tonight," he said, as if reading my thoughts. "We'll still have the nights together."

I nodded again, my throat tight. It wasn't the same, but I didn't want to make it harder for him. "Yeah, I know."

He leaned in, brushing his lips against my forehead in a gesture that felt so intimate, so full of unspoken promises, that it made the ache in my chest swell. "Take care of yourself today," he whispered against my skin. "I'll miss you."

I closed my eyes, holding onto that moment for as long as I could before he pulled away, his absence already leaving a cold space beside me. The door closed softly behind him, and I sank back into the pillows, staring up at the ceiling. The room felt emptier without him, and I knew that no matter how much I told myself I was fine with this, I would spend the day counting down the hours until he returned.

_ _ _

Aleron's departure to attend to his duties left a subtle void in the air. I had grown so used to his presence, our shared time during his break a quiet balm to the tension that had existed between us for so long. Now, the palace seemed almost too large and empty without him nearby. But I couldn't simply wallow in that feeling. There was still much of this place I hadn't seen, and Ben, ever dependable, had offered to show me around.