Night falls quietly over the palace.
Too quietly.
I sit near the window of my chambers staring out at the distant mountains barely visible beneath moonlight while the weight of Lady Lysandra's words continues pressing heavily against my chest.
The wedding is in two days.
Two.
My fingers tighten slightly around the untouched cup of tea resting in my hands.
I still cannot fully understand how my life changed this quickly.
Just weeks ago, I belonged to cold temples and silent prayers.
Now I belong to kingdoms.
A soft knock interrupts my thoughts.
I blink slightly.
"It is open."
The chamber doors part slowly.
Lady Lysandra steps inside first.
But she is not alone.
The moment my eyes land on the two men standing behind her…
My breath catches.
Silver hair.
Ice-blue eyes.
The markings of the Ice Clan woven into dark traveling cloaks.
For a moment, nobody speaks.
The taller twin is the first to move.
Gods.
He crosses the room so quickly I barely have time to stand before his arms wrap tightly around me.
And I freeze completely.
"You're real," he whispers shakily.
Something painful twists inside my chest.
Because no one has ever held me like this before.
Not carefully.
Not fearfully.
Not like I matter.
The second twin steps closer too, though slower than his brother. His gaze studies me quietly, almost disbelievingly.
"You look exactly like mother," he murmurs softly.
Mother.
The word alone nearly breaks me.
I do not know what to do.
So I simply stand there stiffly while the first twin continues holding me as though afraid I might disappear.
Then suddenly he pulls back slightly.
"Oh gods, forgive me." He laughs weakly. "You probably do not even know who we are."
A small embarrassed smile touches his face.
"I'm Cassian."
The quieter twin nods once.
"And I'm Caelum."
Twins.
My brothers.
The realization feels strange.
Too large for my heart to understand immediately.
Because all my life, I thought I was alone.
I swallow hard.
"You came."
Cassian looks almost offended.
"Of course we came."
Caelum folds his arms quietly beside him.
"The moment we learned what Father agreed to, we left immediately."
Father.
Not once has that man come to see me himself.
Not once.
But these two did.
Something inside my chest aches softly because of it.
Lady Lysandra quietly moves toward the doors.
"I will ensure no one disturbs you."
Then she leaves the four of us alone.
Silence settles briefly afterward.
Not uncomfortable.
Just emotional.
Cassian looks around my chambers before turning back toward me with visible frustration.
"They're forcing this too quickly."
"The wedding is in two days," Caelum says darkly.
I nod slowly.
Cassian immediately shakes his head.
"No."
Confusion flickers through me.
"No?"
"You're leaving with us."
The words come so simply.
So confidently.
Like there is no other possibility.
My chest tightens instantly.
Cassian steps closer again.
"We brought horses," he says quickly. "There are safe mountain paths beyond the western forests. We can have you back across the borders before sunrise."
"You do not have to stay here," Caelum adds quietly. "Not if this is not what you want."
I stare at them silently.
Because for the first time in my life…
Someone is offering me a choice.
No priests.
No prophecies.
No kingdoms.
Just choice.
Cassian's expression softens when I do not answer immediately.
"Elyasan," he says gently, "you deserve a life that belongs to you."
The words hit harder than expected.
My gaze lowers slowly.
A life that belongs to me.
I do not even know what that means.
For a moment…
A dangerous moment…
I imagine it.
Freedom.
The mountains.
No crown.
No marriage.
No terrified palace staring at me like I am a disaster waiting to happen.
My chest aches painfully at the thought.
Then reality returns.
And with it—
Fear.
Not for myself.
For everyone else.
Slowly, I shake my head.
Cassian's face falls instantly.
"No," I whisper softly.
Silence.
Caelum studies me carefully.
"Why?"
I look between them quietly before answering.
"Because they are right to fear me."
Cassian frowns immediately.
"No."
"They are."
The words come calmer now.
Steadier.
"I lost control yesterday."
The memory flashes painfully through my mind again.
The flames.
The panic.
The screams.
"I could have hurt people."
"But you didn't," Cassian argues quickly.
"This time."
The room falls silent again.
I look down at my trembling hands.
"I do not know how to control what I am," I admit quietly. "And if I flee now… if something happens somewhere else because of me…"
My throat tightens painfully.
"How could I live with that?"
Neither brother answers immediately.
Because neither of them can.
Tears burn unexpectedly behind my eyes.
"I was supposed to become a priestess," I whisper. "Someone capable of helping people with this power."
A bitter smile touches my lips faintly.
"Instead, I became something kingdoms fear."
Cassian's expression breaks slightly.
"You are not a monster."
"I know," I say softly.
And perhaps that is the saddest part.
Because I no longer think I am one either.
Just dangerous.
Caelum steps closer slowly.
"You would truly stay here?" he asks quietly.
I nod once.
Not because I want to.
Because I must.
Cassian runs a frustrated hand through his hair before looking away sharply.
"This is unfair."
"Yes," I whisper.
"It should not be your responsibility."
"It already is."
Silence crashes heavily into the room.
Then suddenly—
Cassian pulls me into another hug.
This time I do not freeze.
Slowly…
Carefully…
I hug him back.
And gods—
The warmth of it almost destroys me.
Because I never realized how badly I wanted a family until this moment.
Caelum steps closer too, resting a gentle hand against my head.
And standing there between my brothers for the first time in my life…
I finally understand what it feels like to belong somewhere.
Even if only for a little while.