He passed the old portraits of royal ancestors and the flickering sconces casting amber light on ancient stone, his mind locked on only one thing: Raya.
When he reached his chambers and pushed through the door, he inhaled sharply, the familiar scent of sandalwood and herbs from earlier lingering faintly in the air. But he didn’t pause. He crossed the space, then reached for the second door, the one that led to her room.
He raised his hand and knocked gently, his heart already racing, not from nerves but from anticipation, from something primal stirring in his chest that he refused to silence any longer.
“Raya?” he called softly, hoping she was still awake. “It’s me.”
--
Kaius stood before her door, his knuckles still resting against the wood, his breath low and quiet as he listened fo
