Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three
Avery sat beside Kael on the edge of the bed, their knees touching, the soft lamplight turning the room into a cocoon of warmth and quiet. Kael’s shoulders were still tense, his eyes fixed on the floor like he was afraid to look up and see pity. Avery nudged him gently, “Talk to me. What did you dream about when you were little?”
Kael huffed a humorless laugh, “Being tall.” Avery elbows him, “Kael.” He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, “I don’t know. I gues… I wanted to be everything. A knight. A hero. A protector. Someone who mattered.” Avery softens, “You, Do, matter.” Kael swallows hard, “Yeah, but… not because of anything I chose. Everything I’m good at? It’s because someone told me to be. Military tactics. Combat. Strategy. I didn’t pick any of it. It was just… my role.”
Avery leans closer, “Okay. Then what pulls you now? What makes your chest feel warm? What makes you curious?” Kael blinked, thinking, “I like helping people. I like making you guys laugh. I like… being useful. Being needed.” Avery nods, “That’s not a passion. That’s heart. And yours is huge.” Kael’s throat bobbed, “But that’s not a ‘direction’ Ave. Riven has medicine. Lucien has plants. Molly’s learning to cook. You’re… you. And I’m just–”
Avery put her hand over his, “You’re Kael. and that’s not ‘just’ anything.” He looked at her then - really looked - and the sadness in his eyes hit her like a punch. She squeezed his hand, “We’ll figure it out. Together. You don’t have to know right” Kael’s voice cracked, “What if I never find it?” Avery shook her head, “You will. Because you’re searching. And because you're brave enough to admit you’re lost.” Kael let out a shaky breath, “I don’t feel brave.” Avery, “That’s how I know you are.” He leaned into her then, forehead against her temple, breathing her in like she was the only steady thing in the world.
Out in the living area, Riven and Lucien were laying out the fairies report, organizing the training report into neat stacks. Molly was helping, though she kept glancing toward the hallway. Lucien paused mid-sentence, “...Do you feel that?” Riven’s head snaps up instantly, “Kael.” Molly’s eyes widened, “He’s sad.” Lucien nodded, jaw tightening, “It’s heavy. Like he’s trying to hide it.” Riven didn’t wait another second. He stood, “Let’s go.” They didn’t hesitate. They followed the emotional pull straight to the bedroom.
Avery and Kael looked as the door opened quietly. Riven stepped in first, eyes softening the moment he saw Kael’s expression. Lucien followed, worry etched across his face. Molly slipped in last, her voice gentle, “Hey… what’s going on?” Kael stiffened, wiping at his eyes quickly, “Nothing. I’m fine.” Riven sat on his other side without asking, “You don’t have to be.” Lucien knelt in front of him, taking one of Kael’s hands, “We felt you.” Molly sat on the floor at his feet, resting her chin on his knee, “You’re allowed to be sad, Kael.”
Kael looked around at them - all of them - surrounding him with warmth and concern and love he didn’t feel like he deserved. His voice broke, “I just… don’t know who I’m supposed to be.” Avery wrapped her arm around him again, “That’s why we’re here. To help you figure it out.” Riven leaned his head against Kael’s shoulder, “You’re not alone in this,” Lucien squeezed his hand, “We’ll explore everything. Every option. Every path.” Molly smiled up at him, “And we won’t stop until you find the thing that makes your soul light up.”
Kael’s eyes filled again - but this time, not with sadness. With relief, Love and Hope. He let out a breath he’d been holding for years, “...Okay.” Avery kissed his cheek, “Okay.” And the five of them stayed like that - tangled on the bed, wrapped in warmth and quiet understanding - until Kael’s breathing steadied and the weight in his chest finally began to lift.
The five of them drifted out of the bedroom together, Kael looking lighter then he had in days. Avery kept close to him, shoulder brushing his, and the others formed a loose protective ring around them as they walked. Kael stretched his arms over his head, ‘Okay. I need to veg out. My brain is mush. Mario Kart. Now.”
He shot Avery a pointed look - the kind that said ‘I challenge you, chosen one’. Avery raised a brow, “Oh, you’re on.” Riven clapped Kael on the back, “After we go over the report.” Kael groaned dramatically, “Fine. But only because I love you all.” Molly looped her arm through his, “And because you know Avery will destroy you if you stall.” Kael gasped, “Rude. True. But rude.”
They settled into the living area. Riven and Lucien had already laid out the fairy report on the coffee table - neatly organized, color-coded, and annotated. Molly nudged Kael, “We can talk about the training report tomorrow. Tonight is decompression night.” Kael sagged with relief, “Bless you.”
Avery picked up the top page, scanning the fairy script and the neatly printed summaries. Her expression shifted - eyebrows drawing together, lips pressing into a thoughtful line. Her mates noticed instantly. Lucien leaned forward, “You found something.” Riven nodded, “What is it?”
Avery took a breath, then began reading aloud - the extremist profiles, the threat levels, the magical readings, the fairy recommendations. When she finished, she set the papers down slowly. The room went quiet. Kael was the first to speak, “You’re thinking what I’m thinking.” Avery nodded, “We can use this.” Riven leaned forward, elbows on his knees, “A trap?” Lucien frowned thoughtfully, “But not one that endangers the summit.” Molly tapped her fingers against her thigh, “We need something subtle. Controlled, Something that exposes them without giving them a chance to lash out.” Kael snapped his fingers, “Containment zones.”