Elien; 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

The walk to Queen Selthia’s room is slow and deliberate. I know the need to speak with her is urgent, but I can not afford to run now, or share Elian’s panic.

If I run, Elián will feel it, and he’s already tense enough inside me that I can feel the anxiety in his silence. After witnessing what happened on the training field tonight, he stepped back and let me take full control of our body.

It was the best choice. Because if he stayed in charge, we’d be a panicking mess tonight, and that could hurt the baby.

"I hope we get something tangible out of this," He murmurs faintly at the back of my mind, and I roll my shoulders as I approach the corridor leading to Selthía’s chambers.

"We will," I whisper back. He doesn’t answer. And I appreciate that.

Because I don’t want softness or doubt right now... I don’t want the fear curling around the edges of his thoughts, leaking into mine, and dulling what needs to be said tonight.

I think he understands that, hence the silence, and I am beyond grateful for it.

By the time I reach Queen Selthia’s doors, I have gathered as much strength as I feel I would need to have this conversation.

The guards at her door straighten the moment they see me. They don’t stop me, but I still pause in front of the doors, lifting my hand and knocking.

She didn’t use to have guards outside her room before. What’s changed?

I keep my knocking light, and respectful because no matter how many times she has told me I don’t need to stand on ceremony with her, she is still a queen.

And more than that— She’s... her.

"Enter." Her voice comes from within, clear and composed, and I take yet another breath.

The guards push the doors open before I get the chance to, and step inside. They close the doors behind me gently, and my eyes instantly begin to search the massive space for her.

I soon find her standing near a table. There are scrolls laid out before her— Maps, maybe, or reports...

She’s working. Of course she is. The kingdom doesn’t just run on its own. She’s behind this order and flow... And that tells me that there’s no way she hasn’t felt the disruption.

There’s no way she doesn’t know something as dark as Balinar has set foot on her soil.

She looks up and stares at me for a few seconds. Then recognition slips into her eyes.

Her gaze shifts—sharpening—then softening in that specific way it does when she’s looking at me and not just the body I’m wearing. But me.

"Elián stepped back," she says, and I pause.

It’s not a question. It never is with her. It’s intriguing how quick she is to tell the difference.

I fold my arms loosely across my chest as I hold her gaze.

"It’s that obvious?" I question, and she scoffs as she moves to stand in front of her desk.

"I know my sons." She replies, and I smile.

"So... to what do I owe this late-night visit, Elien?" She questions, placing her hands leisurely in front of her, and I walk further into the room.

"There’s something I need to discuss with you," I state plainly, and she tilts her head a bit as she looks at me.

"I sense unease. Elian is worried." She says, and I huff a smile as I stand before her.

"Yeah, well, he can take a number. I’ve been worried longer." I say with a small shrug, and that earns me the smallest smile from her.

"You’re not one to admit your worries easily. What has gotten under your skin this badly?" She replies, and my expression goes serious as I stare at her.

At her attentive, calculating golden eyes. She waits— Letting me decide how I want to give the truth.

But I have long decided that. So, I don’t drag it out.

"Balinar found me," I announce flatly, and immediately, I see Selthía turn to ice.

The instant tightening in her shoulders, and the way her fingers quickly grip each other. I confirm that she knows the name.

Of course she does. Everyone knows that name. The mad Alpha who runs his kingdom like a military base for deranged bandits.

However... knowing of Balinar and hearing that he has found someone standing right in front of you— Those are two different things.

And I need her to understand what I mean by ’found’ in this context.

Her gaze locks onto mine, turning sharper now, as she pulls herself off her table.

"Explain." She orders, and I don’t hesitate.

"Elian and I have been feeling uneasy for a while now," I begin, pacing slowly to the side, my fingers brushing lightly against the back of a chair as I pass it.

"With every passing day, the feeling got worse. And then today..." I stop.

Turn back to her, and find her eyes keen on me.

"Then, today, we heard him," I say as I tap my temple lightly.

"Not with my ears." Then I add, more precisely, and her expression tightens slightly.

"I heard him inside my head... Like he was standing right behind my thoughts and decided to introduce himself." I clarify, and her fingers curl slightly into fists now.

"What did he say?" she finally asks, and I look away as I repeat it.

"’Found you... My precious." I reply, and her confused voice follows.

"My precious??"

I look back up at her and nod, and she pauses.

She inhales slowly, then exhales, like she’s trying to figure out what words to choose and use.

Then she asks the question I knew I would dread hearing, but would have to answer.

"W-why would he— Elien, what business do you have with Balinar? Why would he stalk you and go through so much trouble just to get to you?" She asks.

However, the last part of the question confuses me.

What does she mean by go through so much trouble?? How would she know what he went through to reach me??

Wait— could she— does she actually know??

"Elien... I need to understand. What business do you have with that lunatic?" She pushes further, and I let out a breath.

"You... might want to sit down for this..." I reply, and she blinks at me with weary eyes.