Veiled Bonds

The Palace and the Unspoken Bond

Unknown to Lysander, the little girl was listening to the what seemed like nightmare to her, till now she was obviously ignorant of the fact these people were supernatural.

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The journey back to the inn was tense. The pale moonlight filtered through the trees as Zephyr, Thaddeus, and Dashiell made their way back to the inn to collect Anastasia and her family. They had gathered all the information they could at the river, but it wasn't enough. The threat of the dark witch was still looming, and the time had come to bring Anastasia to safety. The kings couldn't risk the unknown any longer, and they knew the palace was the only place where their bond could be fully protected.

As they arrived, Zephyr's sharp crimson eyes scanned the surroundings, his mind focused solely on the task ahead. "Let's move quickly," he muttered, his voice low and commanding.

Inside, Elowen had been anxiously waiting, her eyes flicking to each of them as they entered. Anastasia was playing in the corner, her small hands clasped around a wooden toy, her face unreadable. Despite her outward calm, her aura, her very presence, exuded an odd sense of quiet strength, something that hadn't fully been revealed to her mother yet.

Elowen looked at the kings, uncertainty and apprehension clear in her expression. "You're taking her... to the palace?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yes," Thaddeus replied, his tone soft but firm. "It's for her safety. It's time she understood more of what's going on, and we'll protect her from any harm."

Anastasia barely reacted as they packed their things and prepared to leave. The little girl, usually so full of energy, was unusually quiet. She hadn't said much since learning about her bond to the kings, and her silence spoke volumes to them all. It was clear now that Anastasia wasn't simply shy—she was introverted, sensitive to the world around her, and overwhelmed by the gravity of her new reality. She walked alongside them, eyes wide and lost in her thoughts, her steps slower than usual.

As the group arrived at the palace gates, Anastasia gazed up at the towering structure, her eyes wide with awe. The beauty and the sheer size of the palace stunned her, and for the first time, a sense of wonder crept across her small face. She was entranced by the glowing marble walls, the grand tapestries, and the ornate decorations, all of it like something from a dream.

Inside the palace, the kings took great care to make Anastasia feel comfortable, even though they could sense the unease radiating from her. They hadn't yet explained everything to her, but they knew they would soon. For now, it was enough to let her explore the new surroundings with her family.

However, as they settled into their rooms, an issue arose. Elowen stood before the kings, her face full of a mother's desperate plea. "I need to see Kaelan," she said, her voice cracking. "I need to know he's alive and well. He's my husband."

The kings exchanged uneasy glances, each of them knowing the weight of the situation. They were reluctant to grant her request—not because they were unwilling to reunite her with her husband, but because they feared how Kaelan would react. They had kept him locked away for a reason—he wasn't ready for the truth. And yet, the moment was fast approaching when they would have to reveal everything.

"I'm sorry, Elowen," Lysander said gently, though his words held an underlying firmness. "We need to make sure it's safe first. Kaelan hasn't been... himself. Not since he was brought here. You don't know what he's been through."

Elowen's face darkened with worry. "He's my husband. I've been through hell just waiting to see him. You can't keep us apart."

Zephyr stepped forward, his expression hard. "We can't allow him to see her yet. He's not ready. His feelings for her—our bond—are clouded by his fears. We're not doing this to hurt you, Elowen. We need him to understand, and that takes time."

But Elowen wasn't going to be easily dissuaded. Her eyes filled with tears, and she took a step forward, her voice desperate. "Please. I just want to see him. Please."

Anastasia, who had been standing quietly by the window, turned her gaze to her mother and the kings. Her eyes widened with concern as she watched the tense exchange. She stepped forward, her small hands clasped together. "Momma, don't be sad," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't like it when you cry."

Elowen's heart twisted as she looked at her daughter, who seemed to notice everything—even the smallest shift in emotion. Anastasia had always been sensitive, but today, her quietness felt like a vast ocean of things left unspoken.

The little girl's eyes turned toward the kings, and something shifted in the room. A quiet plea emanated from her, a yearning for understanding, for her family to be whole again. She crossed the room and stood in front of Zephyr, her small hands reaching up toward him.

"Please," Anastasia whispered, her voice soft and shaky. "I want to see my daddy. I don't like it when we're all apart."

Zephyr's expression faltered for a moment. The fierce warrior who had always been so steadfast felt his resolve begin to crack. In that moment, he understood just how deeply Anastasia's bond to her father ran. He had promised to protect her, to keep her safe, but she was asking for something different—she was asking for the one thing that could heal her.

The other kings exchanged glances, silently debating. Thaddeus sighed and nodded, giving in to the pressure. "Fine. We'll let them meet. But it will be on our terms. We can't risk letting Kaelan get too close to her just yet."

Lysander opened the door to the chamber where Kaelan was being kept. He stood tall and strong, his golden scales glinting in the soft light as he nodded to Zephyr. With a gesture, they motioned for Elowen and Anastasia to enter.

Inside, Kaelan was sitting on the edge of a bed, his eyes hollow with worry and confusion. His gaze darted to Elowen, and his expression hardened. "You," he spat. "Why have you brought me here? What's going on?"

Anastasia, stepping quietly forward, looked up at her father. Her eyes filled with emotion, and her lower lip trembled as she blinked rapidly. Without warning, tears began to spill from her eyes.

"I missed you, Daddy," she sobbed, her tiny voice breaking. "I don't want to be alone anymore."

Kaelan froze, his anger faltering in the face of his daughter's desperate tears. His heart ached, but confusion still clouded his judgment. He stood up abruptly, looking at the kings with fury in his eyes.

"No," he said, shaking his head violently. "You're lying. You're all lying. You are not Anastasia's mates. She is a child! This is wrong. I won't accept it."

One of the kings—perhaps Dashiell—stepped forward, his temper rising. "Enough, Kaelan," he growled. "She is ours, and we will protect her. You've no say in this anymore."

In the tense silence, one of the kings, unable to hold back his anger, moved as if to approach Kaelan, but Thaddeus quickly intervened, grabbing his arm.

"Don't," Thaddeus warned. "Anastasia is in the room. We won't do this in front of her."

But Kaelan was relentless, his voice growing louder with each word. "You have no right to claim her. She's my daughter, and I won't allow it. I won't allow this—this madness!"

The kings gathered around, their faces grim, their voices lowering to menacing tones as they ushered Elowen and Anastasia out of the room. As the door closed behind them, Zephyr stepped closer, his voice cold and unwavering.

"We will have her," he said with quiet menace. "She is ours, and nothing—nothing—will stand in our way."

The silence that followed was thick with tension, and as the kings turned back toward Kaelan, they knew this was only the beginning of a far greater battle.