The first rays of dawn crept through the curtains, casting a golden hue across the room. Kael stirred, her body slowly awakening as the world outside began its daily rhythm. She sat up, stretching her arms before instinctively turning her head to glance at Riven, still fast asleep beside her.
She found herself observing him, studying the way his silver-white hair was tousled and messy—completely unlike the pristine image he usually upheld. His face, refined and aristocratic, contrasted with the wild disarray of his hair. Her gaze trailed lower, recalling the sight from the night before—his well-defined chest, the sharp lines of his abs, the strength in his arms. She felt a warmth rise to her cheeks and shook her head with a small, amused smile. No time for such thoughts, she scolded herself, slipping out of bed and heading to the washroom.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Riven stirred, a groggy groan escaping his lips. One eye cracked open as he stretched, sighing deeply. "Damn, sweetheart... you're really not making this easy for me," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his already unruly hair. He sat up, yawning, and moved toward the small basin on the table to wash his face. Grabbing one of his books, he sank into the chair by the window, flipping through the worn pages as he waited for Kael to finish.
When she finally emerged from the washroom, dressed and refreshed, she glanced at him with a hint of surprise. "You're reading?"
Riven smirked but didn't look up. "What, that shocks you?"
She arched an eyebrow. "A little."
He placed a dramatic hand on his chest. "I am wounded. You think I'm some brainless brute?"
Kael scoffed. "You're proving me wrong. But yes, a little."
Riven rolled his eyes but grinned, finally shutting the book and standing up. "Alright, my turn. Try not to miss me too much."
He disappeared into the washroom, and Kael sighed. She glanced at the bed—completely unmade. "Seriously, Cassian? You couldn't at least fix the bed?" she called toward the door.
A muffled laugh echoed from within. "I have priorities, Renna."
Rolling her eyes, Kael went to straighten up the room. As she did, she rummaged through her belongings, ensuring everything was in order. Her hands paused when they brushed against a small, familiar object.
A pendant.
Her breath hitched as she carefully lifted it from her belongings. It was the pendant her mother had given her on her sixth birthday. A small, delicate locket, bearing the sigil of their family—two crossed swords forming a crest. Inside, an image of her family, forever frozen in time.
Her father, Lucian Veyne, stood tall, his raven-black hair slightly unkempt, his deep violet eyes mirroring her own. He had few wrinkles back then, his features still youthful and strong. Her mother Sereïna, radiant with her fiery red hair and soft amber eyes, was breathtaking, a warmth in her smile that could ease any worry. And then, there was her younger brother Elias. He was the spitting image of their mother, the same wild red curls and playful orange gaze. And Kael—young, beaming, her front teeth missing—stood among them, so small, so blissfully unaware of the storm that would come.
She felt a tightness in her throat, the burn of unshed tears. "I miss you all so much..." she whispered, her fingers tightening around the locket.
A soft kyuh! broke through her thoughts.
Kael's head snapped up, turning toward the window. A small creature peered at her, its large eyes gleaming with intelligence. It was the same Aelith she had spotted in Seryndel.
She wiped at her eyes quickly before approaching the window. "So it was you watching me this whole time," she murmured. "I remember seeing you back in Seryndel."
The Aelith chirped again, as if confirming her words. Kael hesitated only for a moment before unlatching the window. The tiny fox-like creature leaped inside and, without hesitation, nestled into her arms. It nuzzled her cheek and licked away the remnants of her emotions, as if sensing her sadness.
A soft chuckle escaped her. "You're not so bad," she murmured. "Thank you."
Just then, the door swung open, and Riven stepped in, rubbing his damp hair with a towel. He blinked at the sight before him—the Aelith comfortably perched in Kael's arms.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" he mused, leaning against the doorframe. "You are one lucky woman. Aeliths are extremely picky about who they follow, you know. And this one seems very fond of you."
Kael smirked. "I suppose I'm just that special."
Riven rolled his eyes. "I don't need more reasons for your ego to inflate. So? What are you going to name it?"
Kael glanced down at the creature, which gazed back at her expectantly. After a moment of thought, she smiled softly. "Lilith."
Lilith let out a happy kyuh!, rubbing its face against Kael's cheek in approval.
Riven chuckled. "Fitting."
They shared a quiet moment before Kael sighed. "As much as I'd love to keep you in my arms all day, I can't have you drawing too much attention to me."
"True," Riven agreed. "Should we leave her here while we head out?"
Before Kael could answer, Lilith chirped and, in an instant, vanished into thin air. Riven blinked in surprise. "Okay, I was not expecting that."
Kael, however, still felt Lilith's presence—she was still there, just unseen. Suddenly, a light weight settled onto her head, and she instinctively reached up, feeling the soft fur of her tiny companion now curled up on her head.
She chuckled. "I guess that settles that."
Riven crossed his arms. "I swear, you get all the fun surprises."
Kael patted Lilith's invisible form. "Ready for another day of trouble?"
Riven smirked. "With you? Always."
And with that, they gathered their things,took another pill, because the effects of the last one vanished and stepped out of their room, ready to face whatever the new day in Saint-Aure had in store.