Chapter 271: Episode 271.

Wolf realm:

The realm was quiet again.

Aire noticed it the moment she stepped out of Alaric’s chamber. For the first time in days, no one was shouting, and no healers were rushing through the corridors.

She stood in the hallway for a few seconds, staring at nothing. She exhaled. It felt strange. Almost wrong.

She had gotten so used to waiting for the next terrible thing that silence made her nervous.

Behind her, the door opened.

“Aire.”

She turned.

Alaric stood there. He was still pale, and still weak. But he was standing.

That alone made something warm settle inside her chest.

“You shouldn’t be out of bed.” She said softly.

He raised a brow. “You said that yesterday.”

“Because you were still out of bed yesterday.”

“And the day before.”

“And you should have listened.”

A small smile touched his lips. “I was unconscious for days. I’m allowed to enjoy standing.”

Aire stared at him for a moment. “Fine.”

Alaric stepped closer. His movements were still slower than before.

Aire instinctively reached for his arm.

He allowed her to steady him.

“I’m going downstairs. To the east wing,” she said.

“Why?”

“Nate and Xander are there.”

“Did they ask you to come?”

“No.”

“Then why are you going?”

She shrugged. “I want to.”

Alaric nodded. “Then I’ll come.”

Aire immediately frowned. “No.”

His brows lifted. “You just told me I shouldn’t be out of bed.”

“Exactly.”

“And yet you’re leaving.”

“I’m not the one who almost died.”

His expression softened. Alaric’s fingers brushed hers. “I’m alive.” He let out a quiet breath. “And you’re still looking at me like I’m going to disappear.”

Aire swallowed. “I thought you were going to.”

The smile disappeared from his face.

Aire lowered her eyes. “You stopped breathing.”

Alaric didn’t answer.

“I thought…” Her voice broke. She stopped.

Alaric moved closer. “Aire.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

He nodded immediately.

They walked down the corridor together. When they reached the stairs, Aire glanced at him.

“You’re really going to follow me?”

“Yes.”

“I can walk.” He added.

“You are holding the wall.”

Alaric glanced at his hand. He was. He removed it immediately.

Aire laughed softly. She stopped, and Alaric looked at her. Her smile slowly faded into something softer.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For waking up.”

He didn’t know what to say to that. So he simply nodded, and they continued downstairs.

…….

Nate and Xander were already waiting in the sitting room. Nate was sitting on the arm of a chair.

Xander was lying across the sofa with one leg hanging over the edge.

The moment they saw Alaric, both of them straightened.

Xander’s eyes widened. “You walked down here.”

Alaric frowned. “Yes.”

“Without falling?”

“Yes.”

Nate stared at him. “You’re getting stronger.” He noticed. He rolled his eyes, but that didn’t hude the fact that he had been waiting for it to happen.

Nate turned to Aire afterwards.

“I hope so.”

Xander stood.

He walked toward Alaric and looked him over carefully. “You still look terrible.”

Aire gasped. “Xander.”

“Aire.”

“You can’t say that.”

“Why?”

“Because he almost died.”

Alaric laughed softly.

Xander pointed at him. “See? He can laugh. He’s fine.”

Nate shook his head. “You’re an idiot.” He said dryly.

It felt strange.

A few days ago, they had been standing outside Alaric’s chamber, waiting for someone to tell them whether he would survive.

Now he was sitting among them.

Weak, and pale. But alive.

Nate looked at him again. “How do you feel?”

“Tired.”

“Anything else?”

Alaric shook his head. “No.”

“No pain?”

“No.”

Nate nodded.

Xander leaned forward. “Can you remember what happened?”

Alaric’s expression changed slightly. “I remember just vines.”

Nate’s face became serious.

“And then, I remember Aire.” Alaric turned to her. “I remember your voice.”

Aire went still.

“I heard you.”

Her chest tightened. “Alaric…”

“I couldn’t open my eyes.” He swallowed. “But I heard you.” He gave her a faint smile.

The room became quiet again.

Aire looked away before anyone could see the tears forming in her eyes.

Xander cleared his throat. “Okay.” Everyone looked at him. He rubbed the back of his neck.

Nate rolled his eyes at him.

For a while, they talked about nothing.

Xander tried to lift the mood. Nate added a few things. Alaric joined in occasionally.

Aire mostly listened.

She liked this. She liked hearing them talk. She liked seeing Alaric alive. She liked not having to think about Dark Fae.

She liked not having to think about her bloodline. She liked not having to think about the strange memories that had been following her.

But eventually, Nate looked at her. “You’ve been quiet.”

Aire looked at him. “I’m always quiet.”

Nate shook his head. “Not like this.”

Xander nodded. “He’s right.”

Aire sighed.

“What do you want me to say?”

“Anything.” She looked at them. Then at Alaric. She swallowed. “I don’t know.” She admitted. She also couldn’t tell them that their mother was alive.

Alaric studied her. “Are you still thinking about what happened?”

Aire knew exactly what he meant. She looked down at her hands. “Sometimes.”

Aire finally decided to speak. “I don’t understand any of it.”

Nate leaned forward. “What part?”

“All of it.” She looked at her hands. “My magic. I don’t understand it.”

Nate nodded slowly.”Do you know what kind of magic you have?”

Aire shook her head. “Just light fae magic.”

“Do you know where it comes from?”

“My bloodline.”

Nate nodded again. “Do you know why your hair changes?”

“No.”

Xander stared at her. “How do you know how to do any of it?”

Aire shrugged. “It’s a bit too much.”

“What do you mean?” He asked softly.

Aire clenched her hand. She blinked twice, and shook her head. “I just do it. It happens.”

“Yes,” Xander agreed. And then, he pushed lightly. “But you must know something.”

Aire swallowed forcefully. She pushed down some memories threatening to come up. “I don’t.”

Xander crossed his arms. “Think.”