After the party finally came to an end, Kaius made his way to his assigned guest room, feeling more than ready to put the night behind him. The air outside was crisp, the distant howls of wolves echoing through the mountainous terrain of Gavi’s northern kingdom, a stark contrast to the opulent and celebratory atmosphere he had just left behind. As much as he had been happy for Gavi, the night had been draining, and the brief, strange encounter with the servant girl still lingered in the back of his mind, unsettled and unanswered.
Once inside his room, he discarded his formal attire, rolling his shoulders to relieve the built-up tension before collapsing onto the large bed. He should have been exhausted. He was exhausted. But for whatever reason, sleep eluded him.
He lay there, staring at
