💖FROM HATE TO HEART 💖

IN THE SHADOW OF LOVE'S POTRAIT

💖 CHAPTER -2💖

King Alec sat in his private chamber, a brush in his hand, painting in quiet concentration. The memory of last night’s encounter with the fae played over and over in his mind—the fae, emerging from the shadows of the forest, his arrow cutting through the air and feeling the deer Alec had been about to hunt.

Beside Alec, Theo watched silently. They hadn’t spoken much since they returned from the forest. Alec had been lost in his thoughts, forgotten by the image of the fae with the shimmering eyes and the graceful posture .

Alec’s talent wasn’t just for ruling his kingdom or his dragon strength. He was also a wonderful artist. Since childhood, he had found peace in painting, a way to express what words couldn’t. And now, as the sunlight filtered into his chamber, Alec’s hands moved skillfully, bringing the fae’s image to life on the canvas.

He captured every detail—the fae’s slender fingers, the soft glow of his skin, his extended braid and the calm, powerful expression on his face as he had stepped out from the forest. The fae’s golden eyes seemed to sparkle with a mix of kindness and quiet strength, just as they had the night before. Alec felt something stir inside him as he worked, a strange feeling he hadn’t been able to shake since the encounter.

Theo finally broke the silence. "You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?" he asked, glancing at the half-finished painting.

Alec didn’t look up from his work. "I can’t stop," he admitted. "There was something about him, Theo. Something… powerful, but not like anything I’ve ever faced. It’s like he knew something about me, something deeper and how to provoke me through his beauty."

"He is a fae, Alec. They’re different, mysterious. But I’ve never seen you this focused on someone after a single meeting." Theo leaned back in his chair,his brow furrowed.

Alec paused, the brush hovering over the canvas. "It wasn’t just the meeting," he said softly. "It was what he said. The way he looked at me, like he understood me. He wasn’t just protecting the forest. There was more to it."

He continued painting, adding soft strokes to capture the light that had danced on fae's skin. The fae’s image seemed almost alive now, as if he might step out from the canvas at any moment.

Alec leaned back, studying his work. The fae’s eyes, calm and intense, gazed back at him from the painting, and Alec felt the same pull he had felt in the forest. He knew this wouldn’t be the last time they crossed paths.

Maryse knocked softly on the door before stepping into her son's private chamber. She had come to see her Alec, and there he was, standing behind his desk, glancing over his art . His face softened when he saw her enter.

“Mom, What brings you here?”Alec greeted with a warm smile.

Maryse walked further into the room, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. Alec’s office had always been neat and organized, with a few personal touches. One in particular caught her attention—thst painting of a fae, its magical presence almost escaping from the canvas. Next to the fae, standing in the beside was Theo, Alec’s close friend.

Theo stood up and gave Maryse a polite nod. “Hello, Mrs. Lightwood.”

Maryse smiled warmly at Theo. She had known him for years, ever since he and Alec had become friends. Her gaze shifted to a painting on the wall—a beautiful depiction of a fae creature standing in a mystical forest. “That’s a lovely painting is that yours ?,” she inquired, walking closer to get a better look.

Alec leaned back in his chair, the weight of his responsibilities momentarily lifting. “Yeah, it is.”

“That’s beautiful where did you get this?” Maryse asked, stepping closer to the painting.