Caspian had never felt this much freedom before.
The palace stretched endlessly before him, a maze of marble halls and gilded doors. He ran from one building to another, giggling to himself, feet light against the polished floors. For the first time, no one was telling him where to go or what to do.
He only stopped when his eyes caught the morning light spilling through a tall arched window.
_Morning already? How long had I been wandering?_
He glanced behind him.
"Oh no," he murmured.
He was lost.
Caspian rubbed his forehead in frustration. Every corridor looked the same—identical tapestries, identical columns, identical silence. He played rock-paper-scissors against his own hand and chose the right path. It led to a staircase. He went down. More identical corridors.
"Ahhh…"
He slid down against the wall, eyes stinging. He took a deep breath, then another, forcing himself to calm down.
Footsteps echoed down the hall.
Caspian's head snapped up. _Zay?_ Hope flared in his chest as he moved toward the sound. But it wasn't Zayden.
A palace guard turned the corner and froze.
Shock flickered in the man's eyes as he took in Caspian—his sky-blue eyes, his scent, the omega pheromones hanging faintly in the air.
A voice crackled through the guard's earpiece.
_"Motherfucker, did you find him or are you still lingering in that bastard palace?"_
Silas.
The guard swallowed hard, jaw tightening as he fought his own instincts. He glanced around. No cameras. No witnesses. His greed sharpened.
Caspian felt it instantly. Danger.
The way the alpha stared at him was the same way his uncle used to stare. The same hungry, possessive look. His smile vanished. He took one step back, too tired to run.
The guard took one step forward—
"What are you doing here?"
The voice cut through the air like a blade.
Caspian turned.
Zayden stood there in casual clothes, hair perfectly in place, eyes sharp. Caspian didn't think. He moved. In two steps he was behind Zayden, gripping his sleeve like a child hiding from a monster.
The guard straightened immediately.
"Ah, sir. I was helping the young master. He got lost."
Zayden said nothing, but something cold flickered in his eyes.
"Okay. I've come. You can go." Zayden's voice was calm, but final.
The guard nodded and left, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He put the earpiece back in.
"Sir, I'll try again. I didn't find him. The palace is huge."
_"You better be, bastard,"_ Silas snarled before cutting the call.
Zayden's gaze lingered on the guard's retreating back. Something didn't sit right.
Caspian tugged his sleeve lightly. That pulled Zayden out of his thoughts. He looked down.
Those light blue eyes were watching him, curious, trusting.
"Oh," Zayden muttered under his breath. "Those eyes will kill me someday."
He smiled softly.
"Lost again?"
"Yeah," Caspian admitted.
"Good thing I found you. Breakfast's ready. I was looking for you."
"Okay," Caspian said, nodding.
They walked side by side toward the dining hall. Zayden scrolled through his phone, handling a dozen things at once, when Caspian spoke up.
"Zay?"
"Hmm?"
"The guard was lying. He wasn't helping me."
Zayden stopped. His gaze turned cold.
"Did he do anything to you?"
"No," Caspian said quickly. "But he's a bad guy."
Zayden tilted his head, amused.
"What about me? Am I a bad guy?"
Caspian thought for a moment.
"You… you're a good guy."
Zayden laughed quietly.
"So you like good guys or bad guys?"
"Ahh, I… umm… I think I like good guys," Caspian said, smiling warmly.
Zayden's smile faded into something serious.
"Good. Then I'll handle everything from now on. Don't worry."
They reached the lower building.
Caspian's steps slowed when he saw her.
A young girl walked into the palace like she owned it. Zayden noticed Caspian stiffen a second too late.
"Darling! Did you miss me?" Amanda wrapped her arms around Zayden, smiling mischievously. "Because I missed you so much."
Caspian stared at her arms around Zayden.
A sharp, unfamiliar ache twisted in his chest. Jealousy flared behind his eyes.
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