Chapter 267: Episode 267.

Aire had not left Alaric’s side since he woke.

Well, he had not exactly woken up. His body had returned to the world, his heart was beating, and his chest rose and fell beneath the blanket.

He could breathe on his own now. But his eyes remained closed.

And somehow, that was enough for Aire.

She sat beside him on the bed, her back against the headboard, while Alaric rested beside her.

The room was quiet.

The candles burned softly along the walls, their flames trembling whenever the wind slipped through the slightly open window.

Aire had asked for it to remain open.

She didn’t know why. Perhaps she simply needed to hear something other than silence.

Her silver hair spilled over her shoulders and down her back.

It no longer glowed. Its strange light had disappeared after the moment Alaric’s heart began beating again.

Her hair had returned to its normal silver.

Her skin had returned to its normal color. Even her eyes looked the same. But Aire did not feel the same.

She hadn’t felt the same since she opened her eyes five days after the battle.

She had seen too much, remembered too much. And every time she closed her eyes, she could still see it.

The moon.

The woman beneath it. The blood. The ancient forest. The magic. The truth. The truth she had spent centuries being rejected for.

Aire lowered her eyes to Alaric.

His face was peaceful. Too peaceful for someone who had nearly died.

She carefully moved a strand of dark hair away from his forehead.

Her fingers lingered there. “You did well. You were brave.” she whispered.

Alaric didn’t answer.

Still, Aire smiled faintly. Then her smile suddenly disappeared. There was something else she needed to say.

A knock sounded at the door.

Aire looked up.

King Elijah entered. Nate and Xander followed behind him. Elijah’s gaze immediately went to his son.

His expression softened.

He had become accustomed to seeing Alaric lying unconscious.

But even now, every time he saw his chest move, something inside him seemed to loosen.

“He is still breathing,” Elijah said quietly.

Aire nodded.

Elijah looked at her.

She had become so quiet since returning. That frightened him more than her strange magic, and silver hair had.

She barely spoke unless someone asked her something about Alaric. And even then, her answers were short.

Elijah stepped farther into the room. “The witches are still here.”

Aire’s eyes moved toward him.

“I have spoken with them.” He went on.

She waited.

Elijah sighed. “You asked that they remain within the castle.”

“I did.”

“And I have allowed it.”

Aire said nothing.

Elijah studied her face. “But only for a few days.”

Her fingers slowly tightened around the blanket. “Thank you.”

“You have not told me why.”

Aire’s gaze lowered. “I have questions for them.”

Elijah’s brows furrowed. “What kind of questions?”

Aire didn’t answer immediately.

She looked at Alaric, then at the floor. “Questions I need answered.”

There was something in her voice that made Elijah stop. He had learned, recently, not to force her.

Not after what he had done. Not after almost killing her with suppression magic because he had believed she was cursed.

He still remembered the sight of her silver hair glowing over his son.

And the realization that the girl he had condemned might have been the very person who saved his son.

Elijah nodded slowly. “Very well.” He turned toward the door, then stopped. “Aire.”

She looked up.

“If there is something you need from me…” He paused. “Ask.”

Aire held his gaze for a moment. Then she nodded. “I will.”

Elijah left.

The door closed behind him, and the room became quiet again.

Aire looked toward Nate.

Nate was already watching her.

Xander stood beside him, his arms folded loosely across his chest.

Aire looked at Alaric again. Then she shifted slightly. Her back remained against the headboard.

Alaric’s head rested close to her thigh. For a moment, she simply watched him breathe.

Nate eventually spoke. “You haven’t been yourself.”

Aire didn’t answer.

Xander glanced at Nate.

Nate didn’t take his eyes off Aire. “You’ve barely spoken since you woke up.”

Aire slowly ran her fingers through Alaric’s hair.

Nate’s expression changed.

He knew her. Not perfectly, but enough. He knew when she was hiding something. And Aire was hiding something now.

Something enormous.

Aire drew in a slow breath. Her eyes remained on Alaric.

“I know you would have felt it.”

Nate straightened. His full attention went to her. “Felt what?”

Aire finally looked at him. “I know you would have felt it.” She repeated.

Nate frowned. “Felt what?” He asked again.

Aire swallowed. Her lips parted, then closed again. For several seconds, she couldn’t speak.

Xander’s expression became serious. “Aire.”

She looked at him, and then she lowered her eyes.

“I kissed a Dark Fae.”

Nate’s face changed.

Xander went completely still.

Aire exhaled softly. “I…” Her voice failed.

Nate took one step toward her. “Were you forced?”

Aire swallowed. Her eyes met his. “No.” She shook her head. “No.”

The word came out softer the second time.

“I wasn’t.”

Xander’s jaw tightened.

“I knew him in this realm.”

Nate said nothing.

Aire’s fingers continued moving through Alaric’s hair.

“I thought he was human.” Her voice became quieter. “The same way I thought Marsili was a human child.”

The moment she said Marsili’s name, her voice broke. She stopped. Her fingers froze in Alaric’s hair.

Nate saw it. Xander saw it. Neither interrupted.

Aire stared at the blanket. “Marsili.”

She whispered the name again. A tear gathered at the corner of her eye. She quickly wiped it away.

“His name was Lyse in this realm. Then, I was hungry.”

Nate’s expression softened.

“I was rejected.” Her voice shook. “And I was left at the corner and starving most times.”

She gave a tiny laugh.

Aire looked toward the window. “And I spent a lot of time with him.”

Nate’s brows drew together.

“Lyse?”

Aire nodded. “Yes.” She looked back at him. “Lyse.”

She said his name like it hurt to say it. “I didn’t know what he was.”

Xander slowly unfolded his arms. “How long?”

“A few months.” Aire’s gaze fell again. “He would find me whenever I was alone. We shared a tent.”

She smiled faintly. “He never asked me questions about my hair, or step away.”

Nate remained silent. A pang of guilt slapped him, and Xander felt the same.

“He didn’t care that I was dirty.” Her smile disappeared. “He didn’t care that I was hungry.”

Aire’s voice became softer.

“Sometimes, I would bring food, and sometimes, he would.” She looked almost embarrassed. “I thought he was just kind.”

Nate stared at her.

Aire continued. “He would sit beside me while we ate. It was mostly the best time for me to be alive.” She paused.

Her fingers curled into the blanket. Aire looked at Alaric. “I think I talked because I had no one else.”