Chapter 26 I will work hard
~Kael’s POV~
I dragged my tired ass back to my room with the kind of slow steps that came from weariness sinking into bone. The moment I reached the bed, I collapsed on it without thinking. Sleep claimed me almost instantly, like darkness pulling a curtain over my mind.
Hours later, I woke up feeling a little lighter. The exhaustion was still there, lingering like smoke after a fire, but it no longer weighed down my limbs. I pushed myself to the bathroom and stepped under the hot water, letting it run over my shoulders until my muscles loosened. When I finally came out of the shower, I dried my hair lazily while staring blankly at the wall, my mind still foggy with leftover sleep.
A knock sounded on my door, sharp and disruptive. I tied a towel around my waist and went to open it. Brenda stood outside, and the moment I saw her, the memory of our appointment returned to me. I could only hope whatever she wanted to discuss would justify dragging me out of the only peace I had felt today.
She smiled brightly. “Hi Kael. Can I come in?”
I stepped aside and allowed her to enter. She moved into the room with a familiar ease, her eyes drifting around as if absorbing every detail of a place she had missed.
“I have missed being in here,” she said, a soft note of nostalgia in her voice before she settled onto a sofa.
“You said you wanted to discuss something very important,” I reminded her. I stayed at a distance, leaning against the wall on my left, unwilling to give her the impression that I was relaxed or receptive.
“Yes,” she answered with excitement that did not match the heaviness of my mood.
“And you came in a night dress,” I pointed out, because her outfit, which barely counted as clothing, was difficult to ignore.
She frowned immediately.
“You moved our meeting to night time, Kael. What exactly am I supposed to wear at night? A ceremonial dress?”
“What did you want to talk about?” I asked, deciding to leave the matter alone. I had only mentioned it because her outfit was extremely provocative and I was not in the best frame of mind to deal with whatever she thought she was trying to do.
“The land dispute between Moon Crest and Freeland,” she said.
I remembered the issue clearly, and I also remembered the conversations I had already had with her father regarding the same matter.
“What about it?” I asked, bracing myself for a twist. Instead, she repeated the same old problem.
“My dad said it is escalating quicker than expected and the people of Freeland are refusing to let go. You know they are mostly humans and we are not allowed to engage in a fight with them. He said he needs your input before he decides on the next step.”
“I already told your dad to leave the Freeland people alone. They have been on that land for ages.” My voice hardened as I repeated what I had said before. I wondered if her father actually sent her or if she had chosen this topic as an excuse to be here.
“But the land belongs to Moon Crest,” she insisted.
“There is no document to back up that claim. The river already created the boundary. Moon Crest on the right, Freeland on the left. The land they are fighting over is too insignificant to stain our hands or destroy our reputation. Tell your father to let it go. We have more serious issues to face.” I forced myself to keep my tone neutral even though the discussion felt like a heavy stone rolling over my patience.
“Alright. I will relay the message,” she said, sounding defeated.
“Would that be all?”
“No.”
“What else?”
“We need to talk about us, Kael,” she said, and I nearly clenched my teeth. There was no us. There had never been an us. There would never be an us. Her delusion had stretched long enough.
“I have been here for days and whenever we meet, you act like I do not exist.”
“Brenda,” I called, but she pressed forward without giving me space to speak.
“I understand that you have been busy with everything happening, and I may not seem important to you yet, but if you give me a chance I can prove that I can be everything you want.” She shifted on the sofa and leaned forward, her pleading eyes fixed on me as if she hoped her desperation would drag a confession from my chest.
“Listen to me, Brenda. You are very beautiful and you have the qualities to make a great leader in the future. But I do not want you holding onto false hope because we are not meant for each other,” I said, praying the words would finally settle the matter.
Her brows knitted into a confused frown and she tilted her head slightly.
“Why would you say that?” Her voice dropped to a fragile whisper.
“Because I cannot give you the love and happiness you deserve. You should be with someone who adores you and worships you.”
I meant every word. I did not hate her, and I did not resent her. She just needed to understand reality.
“No. Do not say that, Kael.” She shook her head violently and stood from the sofa, her breath trembling. “You cannot dismiss me like that. I love you, Kael.”
“I am sorry.”
“No. I will not accept that.” Her voice cracked and her eyes filled with tears. She stepped toward me and I straightened instinctively, preparing for the moment she would break. Hurting her felt like stepping on thorns, but letting her continue to delude herself was worse.
“Please, Kael, do not do this to me. Please. Did I do something wrong? Was there something I said that you did not like?”
“No. Do not twist this, Brenda. It is not about you. I just know it will not work between us.”
“It will work. I know it will. If you give us a chance it will.” She stood right in front of me now and reached out to touch my chest, but I caught her hand sharply, frowning.
“Stop.”
“No.” She pulled her hand free and stepped back, her teary eyes glistening with determination. “I am not accepting no for an answer. I will work hard to be the woman you want. I will earn your love, Kael. I will do everything it takes.” She delivered her vow with trembling conviction, then turned away and stormed out of the room, leaving the door wide open behind her.
I stepped outside and looked left and right, but she was gone. The silence she left behind felt heavy. I was about to return inside when my gaze drifted to Lyra’s door. My feet moved on their own, carrying me across the hall before I could think about stopping them.
I hesitated for a moment at her door, breathing steadily, gathering myself. Then I pushed it open gently and stepped inside.
She was asleep. Her back faced the door and her breathing rose and fell in a steady, peaceful rhythm that instantly calmed something inside me. The room felt warmer because she was in it.
I moved closer to look at her face. A small smile touched my lips. When my hand rose to touch her cheek, I paused. I held my breath. Then I let my hand fall back to my side and forced myself to walk away, leaving the room quietly.
Her breathing stayed with me long after I closed the door behind me.