Chapter 64: A new start

Chapter 64: A new start
LILAC

It was the beginning of my second year in Lupin, a fresh start amidst the chaos that had unfolded. And tomorrow—my husband’s coronation as the King of Lycania. It was surreal, thinking of how much had changed in the past year. As we drove in, I stared out the car window, taking in the familiar sights. Lupin looked the same, with its towering buildings and sprawling landscapes that had become a part of me, a constant amid the upheaval.

But today, it wasn’t just about Lupin—it was about Kael, my husband, who sat beside me, hands steady on the wheel. It was the first time I was seeing him in weeks, and the sight of him, right here, felt almost dreamlike. Kael had been so busy with the trials and the endless royal matters that seemed to consume every waking hour. Every night, I would go to sleep with his side of the bed empty, and every morning, I would wake up alone. The emptiness had grown into an ache, a hollow feeling that settled into my chest. And now, here he was, finally. Just seeing him again brought an undeniable comfort.

He parked the car, the hum of the engine fading into silence, and for a moment, I didn’t want to move. I wanted to savor this brief, stolen moment between us, a pause before the world intruded again.

“Princess.”

That single word, so familiar and tender, reached into my heart. I turned to face him, my husband, the man who had called me his Princess from the first moment we’d shared our vows.

“Hey,” I mumbled, the word barely escaping my lips, as I felt my heart stutter in my chest.

Kael reached over, his hand finding its way to my hair. His fingers threaded slowly, reverently through the strands, and I closed my eyes, letting myself lean into his touch. It was as if he were trying to memorize every part of me, as if he feared that by letting go, I would slip away.

“It’s been three weeks since I last saw you,” he murmured, his voice soft, almost a whisper. “If I could have it another way, I swear I would forget this stupid Kingship title and just spend every minute of my day with you. But things have to be balanced, you know that, right?”

His words were laced with a longing that matched my own, and I found myself nodding, even as I felt a pang in my heart. I knew he was right, knew that duty and responsibility would always stand between us, like an invisible wall we couldn’t escape. But in this moment, as his gaze flickered from my eyes to my lips, that wall seemed to crumble, leaving just the two of us, vulnerable and exposed.

“I miss you so much, Princess,” he whispered, his voice trembling ever so slightly as he leaned in. Our noses almost touched, his breath warm against my skin. His gaze held mine, pleading, as if he needed to hear the words I had yet to speak. “Tell me I’m not the only one feeling this way, Princess. Tell me you miss me as much as I do.”

Before I could respond, his lips captured mine, a kiss that was deep, consuming, and filled with all the unspoken words we hadn’t had the chance to share. It was as if he were trying to make up for every moment we had been apart, pouring all his love and longing into that single kiss. I felt my knees weaken, my breath hitch, but his arms held me, grounding me, anchoring me to this moment.

His tongue swept into my mouth, the kiss growing urgent, hungry, as if he feared I might vanish if he let go. I kissed him back, just as fiercely, letting him feel everything I had kept bottled up, every emotion that had threatened to consume me. In that kiss, I told him of the nights I had spent alone, of the longing that had wrapped itself around me, of the love that had grown stronger with each passing day.

When we finally broke apart, our lungs screaming for air, Kael rested his forehead against mine, his breathing ragged. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his hand stroking my hair with a gentleness that belied the intensity of the moment.

“You should go to class,” he murmured, his voice hoarse. “I’ll come pick you up when you’re done. Meet me here, okay?”

“Okay.” My throat felt tight, my voice barely a whisper. I nodded, feeling a strange sense of loss as he released me, as if the weight of his absence had settled over me again. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, his lips lingering for a heartbeat before he pulled away.

“I love you,” he whispered in my ear, the words soft, yet filled with a conviction that made my heart ache.

As I stepped out of the car, I watched him drive away, feeling an emptiness settle in. I turned and made my way to my first class of my second year, aware of the absence of Isabelle, my best friend, who had been by my side every step of the way until now.

“Hey, Lilac!” The familiar voice of Beryl broke through my thoughts, and I found myself smiling as I saw her and Roman waiting by the lecture hall entrance. Over the past few weeks, we had grown close, a bond forged in the wake of shared loss and healing. Beryl, who had once been distant and guarded, had become warmer, softer, though her tolerance for Roman was still tenuous at best. The two of them could barely stand each other, their bickering a constant source of amusement.

“Hi!” I greeted them with a wave, and together, we entered the lecture hall. Moments later, Carla walked in, her presence commanding, yet comforting.

“Morning, class,” she greeted us, her voice steady as she surveyed the room.

I glanced around, amazed at how everything seemed so calm, so normal. It was as if the events that had rocked the royal house, the losses we had endured, had never happened. But the scars were still there, hidden beneath the surface, reminders of the wounds that had yet to heal.

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The coronation.

The realization hit me like a wave, sudden and overwhelming. Tomorrow, Kael would be crowned King, and I would stand beside him as his Queen. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying, a responsibility I wasn’t sure I was ready for. But Kael’s love, his unwavering strength, was my anchor, the one thing that made it all bearable.

“What are you thinking, Princess?” Kael’s voice broke through my thoughts, warm and familiar.

After my classes, he had come to pick me up, just as he had promised. Seeing him waiting by the car, a lazy grin on his face, had sent a thrill of joy through me. I had run to him, wrapping my arms around his torso, clinging to him like he was the only thing keeping me grounded. In his embrace, I had found the solace I had been searching for, the reassurance that no matter what happened, we would face it together.

“Nothing,” I lied, trying to mask the uncertainty that had crept into my thoughts. The car came to an abrupt halt, jolting me from my reverie.

“Why did you stop the car?” I demanded, a hint of annoyance in my voice as I turned to face him.

“Something is bothering you, and you’re not telling me,” he replied, his gaze steady, unwavering.

“Really?” I challenged, raising an eyebrow.

“Really, Princess,” he insisted, his voice soft, yet firm. “We haven’t had enough time together, and now that I’m here, you’re hiding things from me.” His tone held a trace of vulnerability, a raw honesty that made my heart ache.

A grin tugged at my lips as I leaned in, my mouth brushing against his ear as I whispered, “I love you, Kael Aspen.”

He went completely still, his eyes widening in shock, as if he had just been doused in icy water. It was the first time I had said those words, the first time I had allowed myself to voice what I had felt all along.

I loved Kael Aspen. The realization was like a beacon in the darkness, a truth that had been buried beneath layers of fear and uncertainty. It had taken us months to reach this point, months filled with trials and heartache. But maybe, just maybe, the fates had a plan for us, a path we were destined to follow.

“Say that again, Princess,” he demanded, his voice barely a whisper, his eyes searching mine.

“I love you, Kael,” I repeated, my voice steady. “Every part of you.”

“Fuck,” he murmured, his voice filled with a raw, unrestrained passion.

He captured my lips again, the kiss fierce and consuming, his hand tangling in my hair as he pulled me closer. It was a kiss filled with promises, with unspoken words, with a love that defied explanation. When he finally broke the kiss, he reclined his seat and lifted me onto his lap, his hands steady as they held me close.

“I’m going to kiss you again,” he murmured, his voice a low growl. “And then I’m going to drive you home and make love to you. I haven’t touched you since our wedding night, and it’s only right that I ravish you before my coronation.”

His words sent a flush of heat through me, my cheeks burning as I met his gaze. His eyes were darker, filled with a desire that matched my