Chapter 662: The Truth He Couldn’t Ignore

The room didn’t empty all at once. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

It happened gradually, like the tension that had filled it before was loosening in quiet layers, easing into something softer now that words had been said and understood.

Tobias was the first to move.

He nodded to himself as though settling something internally, then pushed himself up from the chair beside Sophia’s bed.

"I should probably get some rest," he said, his voice lighter than before but still carrying the remnants of everything that had just been shared. "We’ll talk later."

He hesitated for only a second before stepping forward, leaning down and pulling her into a hug firm enough to say what he didn’t feel like putting into too many words.

"I’m glad you’re okay," he said quietly. "And... the past is the past."

Sophia’s arms came around him without hesitation, her fingers gripping lightly at the back of his tunic as she nodded against his shoulder.

Before the moment could settle too deeply—

Ronan made a sound deliberate enough to pull attention.

"Wow," he said, drawing the word out slightly as he looked between them. "So this is what we’re doing now?"

Tobias pulled back, his brows knitting together.

"What?"

Ronan gestured lazily toward him, a faint grin forming.

"Trying to steal my position as best brother-in-law right in front of me," he said. "That’s bold."

Tobias blinked once before scoffing.

"I’m not stealing anything," he replied. "I’m already the best. It’s not even a competition."

That earned him a look.

Ronan’s lips pressed together briefly before he let out a short breath that almost resembled a laugh.

"Right," he said. "We’re just saying anything now?"

Tobias shrugged in reply. "Orion didn’t react, so it’s likely the truth."

Orion groaned. "Don’t bring me into this, please."

"Quite a supportive brother, right?" Tobias asked no one in particular as he rolled his eyes.

Ronan tilted his head, considering him for a moment before something shifted in his expression.

"Well," he said slowly, "at least I met Raina before you."

Tobias frowned.

"That doesn’t matter."

"It does," Ronan replied easily. "Because right now, that makes me the best uncle."

Sophia let out a quiet breath that almost resembled a laugh at that.

Tobias opened his mouth to respond—

But Orion spoke first.

"I met her before you though," he told Ronan.

Ronan turned toward him, eyes narrowing slightly.

"...you’re not even part of this conversation. You said not to involve you."

"I couldn’t help it," Orion said to him.

And then Lysander spoke.

"I met her before all of you."

The room paused.

Ronan blinked.

Tobias turned.

Even Sophia looked up properly this time.

Lysander remained where he was, expression unchanged as he let the statement settle before adding, almost as an afterthought—

"...though I suppose I shouldn’t be part of this."

A small pause followed.

Then he exhaled lightly and shook his head.

"I’m her father after all. Fuck."

There was a beat.

And then Ronan laughed, along with the others. Even Sophia chuckled.

Ronan stepped forward, placing a hand on Lysander’s shoulder as he shook his head.

"You might want to get some rest," he said. "Before you forget that part entirely."

Lysander gave him a look.

But didn’t argue.

The room felt different after that.

Lighter.

One by one, they began to leave.

Tobias was the first to head toward the door, pausing only briefly to glance back before stepping out.

Ronan followed after him, still muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like he wasn’t done with that conversation.

Lysander lingered for a moment longer before turning as well, his steps quieter as he made his way out with Brynhild.

And only two people remained.

Sophia didn’t move immediately.

Neither did Orion.

The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable.

But it wasn’t empty either.

Orion was the one who broke it.

He crossed the distance between them without hesitation, his steps steady until he reached the bed.

Then he sat beside her and took her hands in his.

His fingers wrapped around hers as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

"You can stop thinking about what should have happened," he said quietly.

Sophia’s gaze shifted toward him.

"And focus on what is," he continued. "On what we have now."

His thumb brushed lightly over the back of her hand, slow and deliberate.

"On what we’re going to have."

Sophia was quiet for a moment.

Then her fingers tightened slightly in his.

"What if it’s not that simple?" she asked.

Orion didn’t respond immediately.

"What if everything is tied to what’s happening now?" she asked him.

Her gaze dropped briefly to their joined hands before lifting again.

"What if everything is connected?"

Orion watched her.

And for a moment, something in his expression shifted, recognition taking place.

Like something he had been circling around had finally taken shape.

He exhaled slowly.

"I had a feeling," he said.

Sophia’s brows pulled together slightly.

"Before," he added. "But I wasn’t certain."

A pause followed.

"But now I am."

His gaze sharpened slightly as it held hers.

"Is there something you are not telling me?" he asked her.

Then he shook his head. "It’d be better if I just ask plainly. What are you keeping from me, shorty?"

Her fingers tightened faintly in his grip.

For a moment, she didn’t answer.

Then she inhaled.

"Do you remember the book?" she asked quietly.

Orion didn’t hesitate.

"The one Holly burned," she added. "The one she took from my home."

He nodded.

"I remember."

His gaze didn’t leave hers.

"Where are you going with this?"

Sophia swallowed slightly.

Then took another breath.

"There was another one," she said.

Orion didn’t move.

But his attention sharpened.

"I read it," she continued. "Before I came to Nirvana. I didn’t finish it, though, but I read enough and I... I saw things in it."

The room felt quieter again.

"What did you see?" he asked her.

Sophia hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then she spoke.

"I have information about the mark on our backs," she said.

"But before we focus on that..." she added slowly, her gaze steady on his, "you said something before. I can’t remember when, but you said Noctis was ancient."