Chapter 35 CHAPTER 35
The ride from the city should have felt routine, yet Ethan couldn’t quiet the rhythm of his heart. The steady hum of the engine did little to steady his thoughts. After years of searching, of prayers that seemed unanswered, his sister was finally within reach - only an arm’s length away in the back seat.
He glanced through the mirror. Cindy sat beside her human friend, hands clasped in her lap, eyes fixed on the receding skyline. There was an innocence about her that both humbled and frightened him. She looked nothing like the infant he’d once cradled, and yet, somewhere beneath that quiet composure, he could feel the pulse of their shared blood - the same royal energy, only gentler, purer.
Liam drove in silence, respectful as always, the faintest grin tugging at his mouth each time the human girl –Isabel- opened hers.
“Don’t look so tragic,” Isabel said, tilting her head toward Cindy. “You’re going to be a princess. I, on the other hand, am going to be eaten by wolves.”
Ethan hid a smile behind his hand. Bold little thing. Most humans would have sat frozen in the presence of Lycans, afraid to breathe too loudly. Not this one. She tossed words like pebbles into deep water just to see how far they’d ripple.
Cindy gasped, scandalized. “Isabel!”
“What?” Isabel grinned. “It’s a legitimate concern.”
Liam’s low chuckle filled the car. Ethan shook his head slightly. “You’ll be quite safe, young lady. We don’t eat guests.”
“Good to know,” she said, leaning back. “Because I forgot to pack pepper.”
Liam laughed again, but Ethan’s smile faded into quiet reflection. She jokes because she’s nervous, he thought. Or maybe because she’s brave enough to hide it behind laughter.
He’d known warriors who couldn’t mask fear half as well as this human teenager. It spoke of a strength that wasn’t physical - a resilience earned by surviving in a world that looked down on the small and powerless. He respected that.
Still, beneath the amusement stirred a flicker of worry. Not everyone at the Court will be kind to her. There were some among the old families who still saw humans as lesser - useful for trade, work, but not equals. Ethan would have to watch that closely. Protect her, and make sure she never sensed the undercurrent of prejudice that still haunted certain halls.
He caught Cindy’s reflection again - her soft smile, the hint of awe as she watched the passing landscape. For years he’d carried guilt for failing to find her sooner. She had lived as an orphan while he ruled as king. That guilt sat beside him now like a silent companion.
“Your Highness,” Isabel whispered dramatically, elbowing Cindy. “Do you prefer ‘Your Grace’ or ‘Your Shiny-Majesty-of-the-Moonlight’?”
Cindy groaned, covering her face. “Stop it.”
Ethan couldn’t help but laugh, low and genuine. “Actually,” he said, glancing back, “she’ll need an official title soon. There will be a coronation ceremony to introduce her formally to the Lycan Court.”
Cindy’s head shot up. “A what?”
“A ceremony,” he replied. “Tradition demands it. We’ll keep it simple.”
“Simple?” Isabel muttered. “Crowns? Trumpets? People bowing? Sounds so simple.”
Her dry tone earned another small chuckle from Liam. Ethan shook his head again, the sound easing his nerves. The humor between them filled the car with something he hadn’t felt in years - normalcy.
Still, as the laughter faded, his mind returned to duty. They don’t yet understand what it means to live within the Court’s walls. The politics, the expectations, the rules sharpened by centuries of power. They would see only the smiles and ceremonies, unaware of the caution he wore like armor. And he would keep it that way. Cindy didn’t need to know how easily admiration could turn to envy, or how some would whisper about the human girl who’d followed the lost princess home.
He would bear that burden quietly. That was what kings did.
“Do you think they’ll like me?” Cindy’s soft voice cut through his thoughts.
“They already do,” he said, turning to meet her gaze. “They’ve waited for this day longer than you can imagine. The people are good, Cindy. You’ll see that soon.”
She nodded, still uncertain. The city melted behind them, replaced by open roads and the vast calm of the countryside. The scent of pine thickened; magic lingered in the air like memory.
When Liam finally spoke again, his voice held reverence. “We’re leaving the human territories now, Your Majesty.”
Ethan watched as the first trees of the border forest appeared, towering and silver-lined. “From here,” he said, “everything belongs to the Lycan realm.”
He felt the change immediately - the hum beneath the soil, the pulse of ancient wards welcoming their king home. Cindy straightened in her seat, eyes wide. Isabel leaned toward the window, whispering, “Feels different.”
“It is,” he answered quietly. “You’re crossing into old magic.”
The convoy turned down the final stretch, the forest parting to reveal the valley below. Even after all these years, the sight still took his breath - the vast estate, the glinting rooftops of smaller homes, the central manor rising like a living memory of their lineage.
He glanced at Cindy’s stunned face and felt his chest tighten with pride and worry in equal measure. Welcome home, little sister.
As the vehicles slowed, guards along the drive bowed in synchronized motion, armor catching the light. Word would spread fast - the lost princess had returned.
The cars rolled through the great gates. Children in the nearby gardens paused in their games; elders watched with quiet reverence. Cindy’s hand twitched toward the window, as if tempted to wave, but she withdrew quickly.
When they stopped before the main house, Ethan exhaled. The mansion’s old stones gleamed beneath the sun, ivy trailing down its columns. Liam stepped out first and opened the rear doors.
“Welcome home, Your Highness,” he said softly.
Cindy hesitated at the threshold. Ethan caught the scent of her nerves - salt and fear wrapped in awe. Isabel squeezed her hand before stepping out boldly. “Well,” she whispered, “it’s bigger than the café.”
Ethan bit back a laugh. “Come,” he said. “There will be time to see everything soon.”
Inside, the manor was alive with motion. Servants and guards lined the halls, bowing as they passed. Ethan introduced the essential staff - housekeepers, guards, and Ivan, his trusted steward who had managed the estate for years.
Tomas bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, Your Highness - it is an honor. We’ve prepared the east wing for the ladies.”
Ethan watched Cindy’s wide eyes trace the vaulted ceilings and marble floors. To her, this must have seemed like stepping into a dream too bright to trust.
Two adjoining rooms had been prepared - one lavish, draped in silks of royal blue, the other simpler but still elegant. Before Ivan could finish explaining, Cindy turned, glancing at Isabel.
“Would it be possible for us to share a room?” she asked softly. “At least for now.”
Tomas looked to Ethan for approval. Ethan smiled. “If that’s what you want.”
“Yes,” Cindy said quickly. “It feels… easier that way.”
“Then it’s settled,” Ethan said. “Tomas, arrange it.”
Isabel grinned. “See? Perks of being best friends with a princess.”
Ethan’s chest warmed at the sight of their laughter echoing in the high-ceilinged hall. Maybe, just maybe, the Court would soften for their presence.
As Tomas led the girls toward their shared room, Ethan lingered at the doorway. The corridor glowed with afternoon light; their footsteps faded down the hall. For a long moment, he simply stood there - king, brother, guardian - watching the fragile beginning of something he hoped would last.
Dear goddess, let this place be kind to them, he prayed silently. Let them never see the shadows I’ve had to keep at bay.
Then he turned toward his study, the weight of both relief and responsibility settling across his shoulders. Behind him, laughter echoed faintly - soft, human, and alive - and for the first time in years, the old house felt like home again.