Chapter 67
Aurora woke early the next morning, still confused, still lost, still feeling like a part of her heart was missing. She sat on her soft bed, touching her chest gently as a strange ache spread through her.
She didn’t know who she used to be.
But something inside her whispered that she had been loved… and hurt… and left behind.
She didn’t know why she felt that way.
She just did.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Aurora? Are you awake?”
It was Kairo’s voice.
She didn’t know why, but her heart jumped a bit.
Not in a romantic way—just in a startled, warm way, like he meant safety.
“Yes,” she called softly.
Kairo opened the door and stepped inside. He wore a simple black shirt, sleeves rolled up, hair messy like he had run his hands through it a hundred times.
His eyes went straight to her face.
“You look pale,” he said, frowning. “Did you sleep?”
Aurora nodded even though it wasn’t true. “A little.”
He didn’t look convinced.
“You had another nightmare,” he said quietly, like he already knew.
Aurora lowered her eyes. “I don’t remember.”
“You screamed,” Kairo said, voice softer. “My room is down the hall. I heard you.”
Her throat tightened. “Oh… I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Kairo said. “Just… tell me next time if you need anything.”
Why did he sound so protective?
Like she mattered?
Aurora didn’t understand.
A Quiet Walk & A Strange Feeling
Later that afternoon, Kairo took her outside to walk through the palace gardens.
The sun warmed the stone paths. Flowers bloomed in soft colors. servants bowed as they passed, making Aurora feel shy.
Kairo walked beside her with his hands in his pockets.
“Do you feel better being outside?” he asked.
Aurora nodded. “Yes. The air helps.”
Kairo watched her face again—he always watched, quiet, calm, but alert, like he was making sure nothing touched her.
“You don’t like being inside for too long,” he said.
Aurora touched her chest again. “It makes me feel trapped. I don’t know why.”
“Maybe you were kept in small places before,” he said gently.
Aurora froze.
A shadow flashed behind her eyes—
a dark room, cold walls, someone crying…
She gasped quietly and held her head.
“Aurora?” Kairo stepped closer. “What happened?”
“I… I saw something. I think.”
Her voice shook. “But it was only a shadow. It disappeared.”
Kairo didn’t push her. He placed a hand on her back, guiding her to a bench.
“Sit,” he said quietly. “Breathe slowly.”
She did. But her chest still felt tight.
Aurora Faints
They continued walking until the world suddenly tilted.
The flowers blurred.
Her knees gave out.
Kairo caught her before she hit the ground.
“Aurora!” he shouted, panic breaking through his calm voice. “Stay with me.”
But everything was fading—
the garden, the sunlight, Kairo’s worried eyes.
Before she slipped into darkness, she saw one last flash—
Hands gripping her arms.
Cold water.
A voice screaming her name.
A man’s voice.
Then everything went black.
THE HEALER ARRIVES
When Aurora opened her eyes, she was in her bed again. The palace healer, a white-haired man with sharp eyes, was examining her wrist.
Kairo stood beside the bed with his arms crossed, face tight with worry.
“She fainted,” Kairo said. “Why?”
The healer hummed. “Her energy is… strange.”
Aurora frowned. “What does that mean?”
The healer looked at her closely—too closely.
“There is something off about you, girl,” he said softly. “Not bad. But unusual.”
Aurora swallowed. “Unusual how?”
“Your energy feels familiar… yet different,” he said. “Like something from an old bloodline. Something powerful. But I cannot place it.”
Aurora blinked, confused.
“I’m not powerful,” she whispered. “I don’t even know my name.”
“That may be true,” the healer said, “but your blood does not lie.”
Kairo looked at him sharply. “Explain.”
“She smells like royal blood,” the healer said. “Pure. Rare. Beautiful. But also… mysterious.”
He leaned closer to Aurora.
“Your power is quiet right now. Sleeping. But it is there.”
Aurora trembled. “Power? I… I don’t understand.”
“You will,” the healer said. “When the memories return.”
Her heart squeezed.
She didn’t want to remember.
But she also needed to.
Something inside her was calling.
Something she didn’t understand.
KAIR0 PROTECTIVE
After the healer left, Kairo sat on the bed beside her. Not too close—just enough that she could feel he was there.
“You scared me,” he said quietly.
Aurora blinked at him. “Why?”
“Because you fell like your soul disappeared for a second.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“I don’t… like seeing you hurt.”
Aurora swallowed. “You barely know me.”
“I know enough,” he murmured.
She looked away, her chest warm and confused. “I don’t want to be trouble.”
“You’re not,” he said firmly.
Aurora looked at him again.
Kairo’s eyes softened a little. “Until you remember who you are… or where you came from… I’ll protect you.”
Aurora’s voice came out tiny. “Why?”
Kairo looked at her for a long moment.
“…Because someone out there didn’t.”
Her breath caught in her throat.
She didn’t know why—
But those words hurt.
Deep.
Like a wound she couldn’t see.