Chapter 26 CHAPTER 26
Ethan hadn’t slept a wink.
He’d spent the night pacing between the tall windows of his chamber and the dying embers of the hearth, his thoughts circling like restless wolves. Celestine’s words still echoed in his mind— “She is near. Blood of your blood, her light is close.” It should have brought peace, but instead it had unraveled something deep within him.
And then there was what Liam had said.
A young woman. Golden aura. Unmarked.
He had replayed that description a hundred times, piecing it together with the priestess’s prophecy until he could no longer tell which had started the storm inside him - the hope, or the fear of losing it. Could it really be her? Could his sister be alive after all these years, hidden somewhere in the world while he’d nearly stopped believing she existed?
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw flashes of that night long ago - the witches’ fire curling across the castle walls, the sound of his mother screaming his name, and his baby sister’s cries fading into the dark. He’d been ten. Old enough to remember everything, too young to stop it.
Now, nearly two decades later, a stranger’s words had reopened every wound he’d tried to heal.
By the time the first blush of dawn touched the windows, Ethan was still fully dressed. His cloak hung loosely over his shoulders, his hair tousled from running his hands through it all night. He stood before the mirror, staring at the reflection of a man who carried both the burden of a crown and the ache of an orphaned boy still waiting for his family to come home.
A soft knock sounded at the door. His butler, Tomas, peeked in.
“Your Majesty, forgive the intrusion, but you asked me to wake you by sunrise. Breakfast will be served shortly.”
Ethan turned. “Not today. I’m not eating.”
Tomas hesitated. “You haven’t eaten since….”
“I said not today,” Ethan cut him off gently, softening his tone with a sigh. “Tell Liam I’m ready.”
The butler blinked. “Sir Liam is already waiting outside with the convoy.”
Ethan’s brow lifted. “Of course he is.”
He grabbed his coat and strode out of the room, boots echoing through the quiet corridors of the royal residence. The morning air outside was sharp and cool, smelling faintly of pine and rain. The courtyard was alive with guards preparing the cars, their dark uniforms gleaming under the rising sun.
Liam stood beside the lead vehicle, tall and sharp-eyed, his arms folded as if he’d been waiting for hours.
“You’re early,” Ethan said as he approached.
“I knew you wouldn’t sleep,” Liam replied, a faint grin tugging at his lips. “Your Majesty.”
Ethan shot him a look. “Liam, I’ve told you to drop the title when it’s just us.”
His friend only chuckled. “You may be my childhood partner in mischief, but you’ll always be the king. Some habits don’t die easy.”
Ethan exhaled a quiet laugh, though the weight in his chest didn’t lift. “You talk too much for a soldier.”
“And you brood too much for a king.”
For a moment, the old familiarity between them flickered - warm, teasing, grounding. It was the only kind of peace Ethan had left.
They climbed into the car, Liam at the wheel, Ethan in the passenger seat. The city lay two hours east of the Lycan Court, and as the convoy rolled past the towering gates, Ethan rested his hand against the glass, watching the forest glide by in streaks of gold and green.
“Tell me again,” he said quietly. “About the girl.”
Liam’s voice was thoughtful. “Like I said, she works at Pauline’s Café. New, just started yesterday. She was supposed to be a waitress, but the chef was out sick and she took over the kitchen instead. She is a good cook, seems like she is experienced.”
“Are you sure about her aura?” Ethan asked, turning his gaze to him.
“Certain, it was Golden,” Liam said without hesitation. “Not faint - strong. It startled even me. I’ve never seen anything like it outside the royal family.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened, his heart skipping once. “So, what are the chances that she might be my sister?”
“I honestly don’t know. But I feel that we should check it out.”
Silence stretched between them.
Ethan looked down, fingers curling against his knee. “I hope by the goddess name that she is…”
Liam nodded. “Your sister? Me too.”
The car hummed quietly along the winding road. Birds cut across the morning sky above them, their wings catching sunlight like scattered shards of hope. Ethan followed one with his eyes until it vanished into the horizon.
“I’ve imagined finding her so many times,” he murmured. “In every vision, I tell myself what I’ll say when I finally see her. But now…” He trailed off, swallowing hard. “Now I don’t even know if I should believe it.”
“You should,” Liam said softly. “You’ve waited long enough. And if it isn’t her, at least you’ll know. No more wondering.”
Ethan gave a faint nod. “Still, it feels unreal. After all these years, after every failed lead, suddenly the Moon Goddess sends me this?” He smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m afraid to hope.”
“Hope’s the only thing that’s kept you alive,” Liam said. “Don’t start doubting it now.”
Ethan looked at him, and for a heartbeat, he wasn’t the king- just the boy Liam had grown up beside, running through the palace corridors with scraped knees and wild laughter.
“I’ll hold you to that,” he said quietly.
They drove the rest of the way in silence, the road narrowing as it cut through the city outskirts. By the time they reached the cobblestone street where Pauline’s Café stood, the sun had fully risen. The scent of fresh bread and roasted beans drifted through the air, mingling with the hum of early city life.
Ethan’s pulse quickened.
Liam parked the car outside the small café, where a woman – Pauline - was just unlocking the door, her apron already tied around her waist. Alina stood beside her, arms full of folded tablecloths.
Ethan’s hand froze on the door handle. His chest tightened, and he found himself staring at the small, ordinary entrance as if it were a threshold between past and future.
“She’s not here yet,” Liam said, reading his thoughts.
Ethan nodded, trying to breathe evenly. “Then we’ll wait.”
Pauline noticed them and smiled politely, recognizing the familiar convoy. “Good morning, gentlemen. You’re early today. We haven’t even opened yet.”
Liam managed a courteous smile. “Yes. We are here to see Cindy - the new chef. And I think we are a bit early" he chuckled sheepishly. “Do you mind if we wait inside?”
“Of course not. The private room is ready, as always.”
They followed her inside. The café was warm and homely, filled with the comforting scent of butter and spice. Ethan’s eyes traced the walls, the counter, the narrow window leading into the kitchen - wondering if she’d stood there yesterday, unaware of who she might be.
When Pauline left to fetch tea, Liam looked over. “You’re nervous.”
Ethan gave a humorless laugh. “Is it that obvious?”
Liam smirked. “To me? Always.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair, eyes on the door to the kitchen. His heart thudded, each beat echoing with years of unanswered prayers. He didn’t know what he’d find when she walked through that door - truth or disappointment - but for the first time in years, he dared to believe that the past might finally be within reach.
Outside, the morning light spilled through the café windows, soft and golden - like a promise.
After what seemed like eternity to Ethan, the bell above the cafe door chimed softly, and the room seemed to shift with it. Even before he turned, he felt it, an invisible current brushing against his senses, commanding his attention - the golden aura Liam had talked about.