Chapter five

Avelyn POV

"You'll stay here," Kaelen said, turning to face me. His voice was calm, but his eyes didn't leave mine. "I'll keep you safe."

I stood up so quickly that my chair scraped against the floor. My hands were shaking, so I pressed them flat against the table to hide it.

"I don't need your protection," I said.

"I know." He studied me without any hint of anger. "But something is coming. I can feel it. And I'd rather my people find their queen alive than dead."

I had no answer to that. My mouth opened, then closed again.

"I'm not your queen," I said after a moment, keeping my voice low so it wouldn't crack.

"Not yet."

He said it so casually, as if he were commenting on the weather, that I could only stare at him. Before I could ask what he meant, he walked out and closed the door behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I spent the next hour walking around the Northern Citadel. I didn't have anywhere in particular to go. I just needed to get away from Kaelen and his strange words.

The word queen kept repeating in my head. I still couldn't believe he'd called me that.

I had spent twenty-one years being treated like I was less than everyone else because I didn't have a wolf. Now the Alpha King was talking about making me his queen.

I should have been afraid of him. Everyone knows how powerful Kaelen is, and nobody dares to cross him.

But for some reason, I wasn't afraid.

I waited for my wolf to respond, even though I knew nothing would happen. It was a habit I'd never been able to break. Other wolves have someone inside their heads to talk to, but I have nothing.

My mother used to tell me, "The strongest ones never shout, Avelyn. They stay quiet and watch what you do."

Kaelen reminded me of those words. He rarely raises his voice, and he doesn't need to. One look from him is enough to make people listen.

What I couldn't understand was the way he looked at me. He didn't look at me with pity like everyone else did. He looked at me as if I were someone he had been waiting for.

I turned a corner and found myself beneath a row of open arches. Beyond them was a courtyard covered in snow.

I stepped closer and let the cold air hit my face. The wind blew my hair across my eyes, and I pushed it back with my fingers. At least out here, I could think without Kaelen staring at me.

"You have a habit of wandering around."

I spun around. A man stood by one of the stone arches with his arms crossed and a grin on his face. His silver eyes were full of amusement.

"Who are you?" I asked, taking a small step back.

"Prince Dorian." He placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly, like he was performing for an audience. "The charming one."

"According to who?"

"Me." His grin widened. "Who else matters?"

I almost smiled, but I caught myself in time.

"Your Highness," I said, with a small nod.

"Please, don't call me that." He waved his hand as if the title annoyed him. "Just Dorian is fine."

I turned back to the courtyard. "I only came out for some air."

"I figured." He walked over and stood beside me, close enough to talk but far enough to give me space. "This place can be a little much, especially with my brother watching your every move."

I looked at him. "Your brother?"

"Kaelen." He gave me a strange look, one eyebrow raised. "Didn't he tell you about me?"

"No."

"Of course he didn't." He let out a short laugh and shook his head.

I frowned and crossed my arms against the cold. "He's only trying to keep me safe."

"Maybe." Dorian shrugged, his eyes drifting toward the snow. "Or maybe he's trying to control something he doesn't understand."

"What does that mean?"

"It means you confuse him." He turned to study my face, and his voice softened. "You confuse me too, actually. I can't sense a wolf in you at all."

My stomach tightened, and I gripped my sleeves.

"You can tell?"

"Everyone can, little flame." He said it gently, without any cruelty. "Some people just prefer to pretend they can't."

I looked away. I was used to people talking about me like that, but it still hurt.

Dorian seemed to notice. He leaned his shoulder against the arch and tilted his head with a lopsided smile.

"Well, I'm not good at pretending," he said. "It's one of my many wonderful qualities."

"Wonderful?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course." He counted on his fingers, looking very pleased with himself. "My looks are another. My excellent taste in wine is a third."

I couldn't help it. I laughed.

"There we go!" He pointed at me like he had just won a bet. "I knew you could smile."

"Did you come here just to make me smile?"

"Not exactly." He folded his arms and smirked. "I heard my brother told you to stay put, and I wanted to see how long you'd last before ignoring him."

"And?"

"You lasted about an hour." He nodded approvingly. "That's not bad."

"I never agreed to stay in one place," I said, lifting my chin.

"Good. Keep it that way."

He leaned back against the stone wall, still looking amused.

"I like women who can think for themselves."

I glanced at him. "What about Kaelen? What does he like?"

His smile faded, and for the first time he looked serious.

"Kaelen doesn't let himself like much these days."

"Why?"

"He changed after our father died." Dorian kept his eyes on the falling snow as he spoke. "Since then, he's been focused on ruling the kingdom and keeping everyone at a distance. He does what he's supposed to do, but he doesn't let anyone get close."

He paused and looked at me.

"Then you showed up."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I just waited.

"What are you trying to tell me?" I asked finally.

Dorian sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I saw the way he looked at you when you first arrived. I've never seen him look at anyone like that."

"Like what?"

"Like he was afraid to hope."

I stared at him, and my heart started to beat faster.

"Hope for what?"

"That's something you'll have to ask him." He shook his head, then pointed a finger at me in warning. "But whatever you do, don't play with his feelings."

I frowned. "Why would I do that?"

"I'm not saying you would. I'm just saying my brother has been through enough."

"Through what?"

For a moment, Dorian looked like he might tell me more. His mouth opened, but he closed it again. Instead, he pushed away from the wall and brushed the snow from his sleeves.

"Anyway, if you want to see more of the Citadel, come find me," he said, his grin returning. "I know places Kaelen would never think of showing you."

"Why are you helping me?"

"Because I'm bored."

I raised an eyebrow, and he laughed.

"And because you're the most interesting person to arrive here in years." He winked before turning away. "Try not to wander around for too long next time. I might start thinking you're planning to escape."

He walked down the corridor, whistling softly, until he disappeared around the corner.

I remained beneath the arches and watched the snow fall into the courtyard. I couldn't stop thinking about what he'd said.

Kaelen had looked at me like he was afraid to hope.

But what exactly was he hoping for?