IN THE PALACE OF XING CITY]
Caspian stood there after Zayden left, the door clicking shut behind him. The house felt bigger without him.
He turned back to Elara, who was grinning at him widely, like she'd just won a prize.
"Uhh… you see, brother-in-law," she said, rocking on her heels. "If you want anything, just tell me. After all, brother trusts you to me."
Caspian didn't say anything. He just felt anxious because elara remind him of someone from his past.He just started walking toward his room. He didn't want to burden Zayden so he just didn't tell him about this feeling.
Elara followed him from a suitable distance.
He stopped due to her but she also stopped. He looked back at her, but she was suddenly _very_ interested in the palace structure. The ceiling , the floor and the he air.
Caspian ignored her and walked again. She followed again.
"Don't follow me," he warned quietly. As anxiety start to increase inside him.
Elara heard it with one ear and threw it out the other. She thought caspian was just introvert that's why she didn't take it to heart.
He quickened his steps. She also quickened her steps . Caspian reached his room, slipped inside, and remembered that— he can't lock the door because he can't reach them._
He took a deep breath to calm himself. _It's okay. She's Zayden's sister. She won't be a bad girl. I will just wait here if she come I will just lock myself in washroom_ He tried to comfort himself.
Then the door opened.
She was there, standing in the doorway.
Suddenly, Caspian couldn't breathe. Some flashbacks hit him hard, he tried to run to washroom, he really tried but suddenly his whole body freeze, he felt helpless in his own body like he always felt back then.
Fear lunged into his eyes, cold and nightmare came back Infront of his eyes:
_"Don't… don't hit me—"_
A younger boy, pleading but everyone answered with fists and laughter. _"Sister, sister—" young boy called her sister_ But no one came. The girl same age as elara kicked him in the abdomen ، The Pain and cries are everywhere.
The boy in the flashback none other than was he himself.
Caspian took one step back. The trauma hits hard sometimes. He took a breath to calm himself, but it felt like the air wouldn't come. He tried to control his emotions but he forgot that we all are humans, we can't always pretend.Everything started to disappear slowly Infront of his eyes, he hear the voice of elara calling him from too far. He felt like sleep is capturing him in his embrace, the edges of the room started to disappear.
The grin vanished from Elara's face when she saw Caspian suddenly turned pale. She took a few steps inside.
"Hey… brother-in-law?
Caspian didn't answer.
What happened? She tried to talk to him.
Why are you so pale? Are you sick?" She moved toward him, worry flickered in her eyes but Caspian backed away like she was a monster.
That was the first time she'd ever seen that much fear in someone's eyes. She thought to call Zayden, but he'd be in the meeting right now. What could she do? She was still too young to handle this situation.
Before she could finish the thought, Caspian fell backward.
He should've hit the floor, but Elara was fast. She caught him midair.
"Zay… Zay…" Caspian tried to call, voice broken. His voice shook, with fear and something cold.
He got panicked attack.She yelled at the top of her lungs. "MRS. VESPER! MRS. VESPER! Brother-in-law—something happened to him!"
Guards were in the room in seconds. Mrs. Vesper reached them moments later, breathing hard from running. She crouched down beside Caspian.
"Young master… young master…"
"Water—"she yelled at guard.One guard filled a glass and handed it to Mrs. Vesper. She helped Caspian sip a few drops while Elara rubbed his hands, her own shaking didn't Stop.
Caspian consciousness came back slowly, he blink at everyone with a blank expression, trying to process that what happened to him suddenly. Everyone exhaled in relief.
Mrs. Vesper and Elara helped him to the couch. Mrs. Vesper murmured a quiet thanks to heaven. Caspian still hadn't fully come back to himself.
Mrs. Vesper left to make soup. The guards returned to their posts. Elara stayed, still rubbing his hands.
"You scared me," she whispered. "I first thought you were acting."
Caspian stared blankly at the door.
I.....am sorry!!!!
Hey why are you apologizing, it's not your fault.
"Do you want me to tell brother? He'd be here in any minute."
Caspian finally looked at her. "Don't… don't tell him. He'll worry. I don't want him worried about me during work." His voice was barely there.
Elara's smile came back, wide and fierce. "Then I won't tell him. Pinky promise." She held out her pinky, and after a second, Caspian hooked his with hers, confused.
She tried to console him.
"Here, how about this—let's talk about my college."
And she babbled. About her roommate who burned toast every morning. About the professor who hated her because she corrected him once. About her friend who was trying to set her up with "this guy who looks like a golden retriever but fights like a mafia boss." About how the library was the best place to nap.
Slowly, Caspian's hands stopped shaking. He thought that elara was not that bad.
His breathing evened out. By the time Mrs. Vesper came back with soup, a tiny smile was tugging at his lips.
---
[*Evening — Dining Room*]
When Zayden got back, he found them both at the dining table, talking. Waiting for him.
They both stood up when he entered. Caspian's eyes sparkled.
"Zay…"
Zayden covered the distance in a few strides and hugged him, tight. He sighed, relief pouring out of him. "I don't know why. I just felt anxious all day. Like something happened to you."
Elara cleared her throat loudly, covering her nervousness.
Caspian hugged him back, burying his face in Zayden's chest. "I'm fine."
Zayden let him go, but only a little. His eyes flicked to Elara. "So. Did she annoy you?"
"I am _not_ that useless!" Elara protested, crossing her arms.
Who knows? Zayden backfire at her.
This time elara ignored him.
They all sat in the dining table. Zayden didn't let go of Caspian's hand through the whole dinner. Not once.
After dinner, Elara stood. "Okay, brother, I have to go. Mother must be waiting."
Zayden nodded. "Darius will drive you."
She nodded, then turned to Caspian with a grin. "See you soon, brother-in-law."
Caspian waved, small but real. "Okay, bye-bye, Elara."
Zayden just stared between them. _When did they get this close?_
To cover the weird twist in his chest — not anger, not quite jealousy, just… something — he filled Caspian's plate again to divert his focus from elara.. "Eat more. You're getting weak."
Caspian didn't notice the tone. He was too busy smiling at his food, too busy feeling warm, too busy feeling safe.
And he felt too good the way Zayden was holding his hand softly. No wonder, Zayden did make him felt that how the warmth is felt.
No one commented.
Mrs. Vesper pretended she didn't see. The guards pretended they were blind.
Dinner had never been this sweeter.
---
[AFTER THE DINNER _IN THE BEDROOM]
The wedding dress was a problem.
Caspian stood in front of the mirror, twisting, trying to reach the tiny pearl buttons along his spine. "The stylist… she used too many pins," he muttered, frustrated.
"Let me do this."
Zayden's voice was quiet behind him. He stepped close, his hands are warm and solid. His fingers were careful, clever, plucking pins one by one. They fell to the table with soft _tinks_.
"Thank you," Caspian whispered.
Zayden didn't answer. His hands stilled at Caspian's waist once the last pin was out. Then, slowly, he pulled him back against his chest.
Caspian gasped. "Zay—"
Zayden turned him around and kissed him.
It wasn't demanding. It wasn't scary. It was slow, and deep, and a little clumsy because Caspian was still learning. But Zayden held him like he was precious, one hand cradling his jaw, thumb brushing his cheek.
They kissed until Caspian was breathless, until his hands fisted in Zayden's shirt. When Zayden finally pulled back, Caspian's lips were pink and his eyes were wide.zayden hold their foreheads close for a while.
I...I have to change my dress. Caspian asked hesitately.
"Go change then," Zayden said, voice low. "Before I forget we're supposed to sleep."
Caspian fled to the washroom, heart hammering against his ribs. He locked the door behind him.
He pressed his fingers to his lips as he looked at himself in the mirror. They tingled a little. He was sure they had to look different now. Swollen and Kissed like someone owned them. The shyness hit him all at once, and he buried his face in his hands.
_He kissed me. He giggled to himself.
He kissed like.. like...I was… like I mattered._
This feeling is too good to ignore, he just felt so full that tears filled in his eyes. He never thought that he will be this happy one day.
It took him twenty minutes to change into the soft sleepdress Mrs. Vesper left out. When he stepped back into the bedroom, Zayden was already in bed, lying on his side, eyes closed. Asleep, maybe.
Caspian hesitated. Then he carefully climbed in on the far edge, leaving a careful, respectful distance between them. He pulled the blanket up and closed his eyes.
He was just drifting off when an arm caught him around his waist.
In one tug, Zayden pulled him back until Caspian's spine hit his chest.
Zay..... he called him.
"You will fall," Zayden murmured, voice thick with sleep. "Don't sleep too far."
Caspian's heart slammed against his ribs. He could hear Zayden's heartbeat, slow and steady, against his back. He swallowed hard. The room smelled like winter and cedar and safety.
Then Zayden spoke again, lips brushing his ear.
"Turn around, beauty. It's disrespectful to turn your back on your husband."
Heat flooded Caspian's face. He turned in Zayden's arms, burying his face in his chest to hide his shyness. Zayden's shirt was soft. He smelled so good.
"Zay…" Caspian whispered.
"Hmm?" Zayden answered, half-asleep, fingers already carding through his hair.
"Can I… can I go to college?"
Zayden's hand didn't stop. He caressed Caspian's hair lightly, gently. "Do you want to go?"
Caspian tilted his head in his embrace, looking up at him. "Yeah. I… I want to."
Zayden smiled, just a little, eyes still closed. "Then we have to train you before you go."
Caspian blinked, curious at his sleepy face. "Train…?"
"Mm." Zayden pressed his head back to his chest. "Training to make you stronger. Like me. Don't you want that?"
"Yeah…" Caspian whispered. "I want it."
"Then sleep. I will ask Darius about your admission in college, he will handle that. Any college is fine right" he murmured half asleep.
"Yeah, Thank you!" Caspian excitedly answered him.
He just smiled:
"Now , sleep"
Caspian happily hugged him back, and his milky pheromones slipped out, light and sweet like honey in the air. Zayden answered with his own comforting scent, cedar and winter, wrapping around them both. Caspian's eyes drifted slowly as he drowned in sleep happily.
Once he was soft and sleeping, Zayden opened his eyes. Fully. Awake.
He touched Caspian's lips with his fingertips, reverent, and pressed a feather-light kiss there.
"I will always protect you, love," he whispered into the empty air. "But I don't know the enemy's schemes. So I have to take some precautions for you."
He pulled him closer, breathing deep at Caspian's nape, letting the milky honey scent drive him quietly crazy. He just held him like that — tight, safe, sure.
Caspian wasn't the only one who got nightmares. But they'd become each other's comfort. Zayden didn't know how miserable he was before Caspian.
Together, they drifted to sleep.
---