She glanced at the meal spread before them.
The saying "a meal fit for a king" suddenly made sense.
The table was covered with more food than she had ever seen at once. Fresh fruits, roasted meat, delicate pastries, and countless dishes filled every space.
She stared in disbelief. "Do you like it?"
"Huh? Yes. It's beautiful," Lara stammered, her shoulders still tense.
Thornak noticed her hesitation and offered a warm, reassuring smile.
"You don't need to be afraid of the food, Lara. Or of me. I promise you a lunch, not an interrogation. Please, relax. There is no protocol here. Just eat whatever pleases you."
She smiled. "Thank you, Sire. This is truly an honor."
"Thornak," he corrected gently.
She blinked. "My King?"
"Call me Thornak," he said. "When we are alone."
Lara hesitated, surprised by the request.
"I don't think I should."
A faint amusement appeared in his eyes. "Why not?"
"Because you are the King."
Thornak leaned back slightly, a quiet laugh escaping his lips.
"And right now, I am just a man sharing a meal with my guest. Besides, 'Sire' and 'Your Majesty' make me feel centuries older than I really am. I would prefer to hear my name."
Lara stared at him for a moment, wondering if she was dreaming. The Lycan King was asking her to call him by his name.
"Okay... Thornak," she said softly.
A look of satisfaction crossed his face.
"Good."
He picked up his glass before looking back at her.
"Is the meal to your liking?" he asked. "I hope everything is as you expected."
"Yes, thank you. You'd think my entire village was having a feast," she said quietly.
Thornak laughed softly. "Is it too much?"
Lara quickly shook her head.
"No. I just..." She looked back at the table. "I have never seen so much food prepared for one meal before."
"Then you will have to get used to it. Because we will be dining more often."
Her eyes widened slightly, but she said nothing.
The meal passed quietly after that.
The silence between them was not uncomfortable. It was only broken by Thornak's gentle questions about the dishes before her.
When they had finished, he leaned back and picked up his cup of wine.
"I hope you enjoyed the meal," he said.
Lara smiled softly, feeling more at ease than she ever thought possible in a king's presence.
"I did. Thank you, Your... I mean, Thornak."
Hearing his name slip from her lips made something warm stir deep inside his chest, but he kept his expression perfectly calm.
"Thank you once again for saving my life and inviting me into your home," she said softly, her eyes shining with genuine gratitude.
Thornak looked at her for a moment.
"You are welcome, Lara."
She hesitated, then looked down at her hands.
"How long..." she asked quietly. "How long will I stay here?"
Thornak's expression softened.
"I don't want you to go."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Lara looked up in surprise.
For a brief moment, even Thornak seemed caught off guard by his own honesty.
He cleared his throat.
"I mean... you are still recovering. The castle is the safest place for you right now."
"I understand," she said softly, though a part of her wasn't ready to leave either.
Thornak misunderstood the look on her face.
"I won't force you to stay," he said gently. "But... I would like it if you did. You asked of your family."
"Yes."
"They are unharmed. My scouts report no signs of danger to them. If it is your will, I shall have them escorted here."
She looked relieved. "You would do that?"
"I keep my word."
"I am so grateful for this. Thank you."
Thornak nodded, then poured a glass of wine for each of them.
"I hope you don't have any problems so far with your stay here.
Before Lara could answer, a soft knock echoed through the garden.
A royal guard stepped inside and bowed.
He walked over to the king and whispered an urgent message into his ear.
Thornak's expression tightened as the weight of his royal duties settled over him once more.
He gave a single nod, dismissing the guard.
The guard bowed again before quietly leaving.
Thornak set down his cup and rose from his seat.
Lara stood as well.
"I have a meeting with my commaders," he said, holding her gaze. "My guard will escort you back to your room."
He gave Lara one last look before turning toward the council chamber. A royal guard stepped forward and escorted Lara back to her room.
When she reached her chambers, Mira helped her out of the gown, talking excitedly the whole time.
But Lara barely heard a word. Her thoughts were elsewhere. She could still hear Thornak's voice.
"I don't want you to go."
A small smile found its way onto her lips before she quickly brushed it away.
Why did those words affect her so much?
She had only known him for a short time.
Yet somehow, whenever he looked at her with those eyes, her heart refused to stay calm.
That night...
Moonlight streamed through the tall windows of Lara's chamber, casting soft shadows across the stone floor. She had fallen asleep with the memory of Thornak still lingering in her mind. But the dream that claimed her was like nothing she had ever experienced before.