Submission in the Stars

Chapter 38: A Someone

The battle was over, but the echoes of war still lingered in the air, as if the violence and chaos had left an indelible mark on the very atmosphere of the palace. The enemy forces had been shattered, their ships scattered like broken toys across the galaxy. The palace, though scarred and shaken, stood tall, and its people, those who had fought so bravely, were already beginning the process of rebuilding their lives. But despite the calm settling in the aftermath, something deeper had shifted—particularly for Valentin.

He sat by the tall, arched window of the royal chamber, watching the twin moons rise slowly over the distant horizon. Their pale light bathed the landscape in a cool, ethereal glow, casting long shadows over the palace grounds. The soft breeze of the evening swept through the room, carrying with it the scent of flowers from the gardens below, a scent that usually brought him peace. But tonight, the quiet felt almost foreign, like a dream after a long nightmare. The tension that had once knotted itself inside him—the constant fear, the pervasive loneliness—had finally begun to unravel.

Aleron and Kaelis had left him only moments ago, slipping away to speak with the palace council about the rebuilding efforts. Their absence, though brief, gave Valentin time to reflect on the storm of change that had overtaken his life. The weight of his experiences sat heavy on his mind, but it was different now. He no longer felt crushed by it. He felt... free.

For so many years, Valentin had been defined by what he lacked: status, power, freedom. He had been a nothing, first as an orphan cast aside by society, then as a prisoner, and finally as a pet, a living possession within the royal palace. But after everything—the battles, the tests, the trials—he had become something more. He had discovered strength within himself that he hadn't known existed. And for the first time, he realized that he wasn't alone.

The soft rustle of footsteps behind him pulled Valentin from his thoughts. He turned to see Aleron entering the room, his crimson eyes soft as they met Valentin's. Kaelis followed closely, his sharp gaze sweeping the room before settling on Valentin. Despite the lingering intensity in Kaelis's expression, there was warmth in his eyes, a quiet acknowledgment of everything they had been through.

Aleron approached first, moving with the graceful confidence that had always defined him. He settled beside Valentin on the cushioned ledge by the window, his presence as calming as the moons that hung in the night sky. Gently, Aleron's hand found its way to Valentin's shoulder, a familiar touch that brought comfort and security.

"You seem lost in thought," Aleron observed, his voice as soft as the evening breeze.

Valentin smiled faintly, his gaze drifting back toward the horizon. "I was just... thinking about how much has changed," he said, his tone quiet, almost contemplative.

Kaelis crossed the room in a few quick strides, his movements purposeful, always direct. He leaned against the windowsill on Valentin's other side, his arms crossed, but his eyes locked onto Valentin's face with a rare softness. "You've changed, Valentin," Kaelis said, his voice low but full of conviction. "You're no longer the frightened, uncertain man we took in. You've become something stronger. You've earned your place."

Valentin hesitated, his fingers fidgeting slightly with the fabric of his shirt, his mind still trying to reconcile the man he had been with the person he was now. "I didn't think I could ever be more than what I was," he admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "A pet. A servant. Someone to be used, not... cared for."

Aleron's hand squeezed his shoulder just a bit tighter, a gentle but firm reminder of the bond they shared. His voice, steady and reassuring, cut through Valentin's uncertainty. "You are so much more to us than that, Valentin. You've fought by our side. You've proven your loyalty, your courage, your strength. You are not just our pet anymore. You are a part of us."

Valentin felt a lump rise in his throat, his chest tightening with the overwhelming emotions that flooded him at Aleron's words. He had spent so much of his life believing he was nothing more than an object to be commanded, shaped, and discarded at will. But here, with Aleron's steady hand on his shoulder and Kaelis's intense gaze watching over him, he realized something he had never dared to believe before.

Kaelis leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a soft murmur. "You're someone to us, Valentin. You've always been someone. You belong with us now, in every way that matters."

The sincerity in Kaelis's voice and the warmth in Aleron's eyes filled the empty spaces inside him, spaces he hadn't even realized were there until now. For so long, Valentin had been adrift, unsure of where he fit in the world, unsure of whether he had any value beyond his obedience. But now, sitting between the two princes, he knew without a shadow of a doubt. He had found his place—not just as their pet, but as something more, something vital.

Valentin nodded slowly, his voice catching in his throat as he spoke. "I... I didn't think I'd ever feel this way," he whispered. "I didn't think I'd ever find... home."

Aleron's smile softened, and he shifted closer, his fingers brushing against the side of Valentin's neck in a gesture that was both intimate and reassuring. "You are home, Valentin. With us."

Kaelis's hand found Valentin's other shoulder, his touch firm, grounding. "You belong here," Kaelis added, his voice rough with emotion, though his expression remained composed. "With us. Always."

Valentin closed his eyes for a moment, letting the warmth of their presence wash over him, the safety of their bond wrapping around him like a shield. He had fought his way through hell to get to this moment, but now that he was here, he finally felt whole.

The three of them sat in silence for a time, the quiet of the night enveloping them, the twin moons rising higher in the sky. For the first time, the future didn't seem so uncertain. Valentin didn't know what challenges lay ahead, but he knew that whatever came, he wouldn't face it alone.

He belonged to them, and they belonged to him.

And together, they were unbreakable.