Chapter 12 He Called Me His Wife
Brea's POV
Rayne didn’t speak during the drive back. He sat beside me in the back seat, looking out of the window.
His jaw was tight and his chin muscles shifted every few seconds like he was clenching his teeth. But his face stayed calm.
If someone looked at him casually, they would think nothing was wrong.
I knew better, his hands rested on his thighs. I had never seen Rayne this still unless he was thinking too much.
I could see flashes of the city pass outside the window. People walked along the streets as life went on like nothing had happened.
But inside this car, everything felt strained. I wanted to ask him what he was thinking. I wanted to ask if he regretted last night.
I wanted to ask if the way I reacted to the sorcerer’s words had changed something in him.
But the way he sat there straight-backed, and distant made it clear he didn’t want to talk.
When the car pulled into the palace courtyard, the gates opened immediately as guards bowed. The driver stepped out to open the door.
Rayne exited first. He adjusted his coat, smoothed the front of it once, and started walking toward the entrance without waiting for me.
I followed him inside. Servants greeted us as he acknowledged them with small nods, polite as always.
Nothing in his behavior suggested anything was wrong. But he still hadn’t looked at me.
Halfway through the entrance hall, he stopped. I almost walked into him, but he didn’t turn fully around. Just enough so his voice could reach me.
“I would prefer to be left alone this afternoon.” His words were calm.
I stared at him. “This afternoon?”
“Yes.” He looked past me slightly, not directly into my eyes. “I need space, Brea.”
There was no anger in his tone, but there was distance and that hurt more.
He didn’t wait for my response. He turned and walked down the east corridor, long steps steady and controlled.
I watched him go, he didn’t look back. The palace felt different after he left, it felt too quiet and too open to me.
I went to the sitting room first as I sat down, then stood up again after a few minutes.
I tried reading one of the books on the table. I read the same sentence three times and still didn’t process it.
I went to the dining room and asked for tea. I took two sips and left it untouched.
"Why am I restless? He asked for space. So why does this feel wrong?" I walked to one of the balcony doors and opened it.
Everything outside was normal, but inside me, it wasn’t. After nearly an hour of pacing between rooms, I stopped pretending.
I needed to know where he went. The butler stood near the west corridor, as usual. Hands folded behind his back with a neutral face.
He bowed slightly when he saw me. “Where is Rayne?” I asked directly.
His expression did not change. “His Highness requested privacy this afternoon.”
“I didn’t ask what he requested.” I replied to him as he made a small pause.
“He is not to be disturbed.” He was loyal. I could see that clearly. That his butler wasn’t someone who would betray Rayne easily.
So I changed my tone. “I am his fiancée,” I said calmly. “I have authority in this house.”
“You do, my lady.”
“Then I am asking again. Where is he?” He hesitated this time, slightly.
“He is safe.”
“That isn’t what I asked.” I stepped closer, lowering my voice.
“If something were to happen to him while I remained unaware of his location… and I later found out you knew… how would that look?”
His eyes flickered as he finally gave out, “He is at the Cathedral,” the butler said quietly.
"The Cathedral?" That surprised me.
“I will prepare the car,” he added, then straightened. “However, you are not permitted to leave the palace.”
I looked at him carefully. “I’m not leaving.” He frowned slightly.
“You are.” His eyebrows lifted.
“You will escort me,” I continued calmly. “If I leave alone, that is negligence. If you escort me, it is my duty.”
He stared at me for several long seconds. He knew I was right.
Finally, he gave a small sigh. “Very well.”
Finally, getting to the Cathedral.. it was not what I expected.
It wasn’t dark. It wasn’t some hidden vampire council building, but it was a school.
The building was large, old stone, but the courtyard was filled with children.
Young children around four-year-olds running across the grass. Small voices laughing. Two teachers standing nearby watching them.
They were all Vampire children. I stepped out of the car slowly. The afternoon sun was bright and warm. This was the last place I expected Rayne to be.
We walked past the courtyard toward an open field behind the building and then I saw Rayne.
He wasn’t standing like a prince. He wasn’t giving orders. He wasn’t cold.
He was sitting on the grass. His coat was off and his sleeves rolled slightly. Two very small children, maybe two years old sat in front of him.
He was holding a small wooden toy in one hand, moving it as he spoke. He was smiling and it had been a while since I saw him this happy and relaxed.
“…and the prince thought he understood power,” he was saying calmly, “until he met a girl who wasn’t afraid of him.”
The children listened closely. “She didn’t bow properly. She didn’t speak carefully. She didn’t look at him the way everyone else did.”
One of the children giggled. “And instead of punishing her,” Rayne continued, voice lower now, “he found himself thinking about her. Even when he didn’t want to.”
My chest tightened. The story wasn’t about a random girl because it was about me.
But, he didn’t know I was standing there. One of the children suddenly turned their head, their small nose twitched slightly.
Then their eyes locked onto me. I could tell they had heightened vampire senses.
They heard my heartbeat. Before I could step back, a little girl stood up and ran toward me.
She grabbed my hand without hesitation. “Auntie!" she said happily.
I froze, she pulled me forward. “Uncle Rayne!” she called loudly. “Is this your wife?”
Rayne looked up as his eyes widened slightly when he saw me standing there and for the first time that entire day… He looked surprised. And I felt my face grow warm.