Chapter 129: That Should Be Me
Chapter 129: That Should Be Me
Killian’s POV:
“I shouldn’t have stayed there.”
I told myself that as I stood near the arched doorway of the Torrance residence, lingering in the shadows like a cursed remnant. Rosalyn had just woken up, the color returning to her face, laughter trailing behind the twins like sunlight chasing them into the room. Mikael had been by her side the entire time, her mate. As it should be. Yet I couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with me.
My heart and mind screamed that I didn’t like the way Rosalyn responded to every touch of affection from her husband.
It was far too familiar and made me sick.
They kissed, and something inside me recoiled. I couldn’t name the feeling. It wasn’t anger. Or maybe it was. But it settled too deeply into my bones, spreading into places even centuries of war had never touched.
Jayden, that foolish, ridiculous Alpha, tried to cover the twins‘ eyes with his hands even though they kept peeking through his fingers and giggling. And me? I stood still like a rock on the edge of the shore, waiting to be split open by the approaching waves. Suddenly, a mental link flared to life with Elysian.
“Hey, king. Any second now, you’re going to shoot lasers from your eyes,” she said.
I replied through the link, “Don’t just pop in like that. I’m outside right now.”
“You’re like this all the time. What’s the difference? Besides, I live in your inner world, Killian.” Then she added, “Are you jealous?”
“No.”
Rosalyn didn’t look at me after that. I didn’t even know if she realized I was still there. The moment that thought crossed my mind, I cursed myself. Rosalyn was nothing to me–and more importantly, she was someone else’s wife.
“You alright, King Brood?” Leonidas whispered beside me, his tone deliberately too casual. He never missed a thing. “You’re staring like someone just stabbed your soul with a soup spoon.”
I didn’t answer. I just turned toward the door and gripped the collar of my coat.
“We’d better head back. My leave is over.”
“Yeah, I figured as much.”
He followed me as I stepped outside into the fresh night air, the sky just beginning to bruise with the colors of twilight.
As I inhaled, I caught the scent of wildflowers, fireplace smoke and her. Rosalyn. She smelled like dew drops on flower petals and something deeply nostalgic, something I couldn’t quite place. My fingers curled tighter.
I felt like I was losing my mind. Maybe I really needed to get checked out again after this.
“Leonidas, we’re heading back to the castle. Now,” I said without turning around.
“Understood.” His voice had lost its usual teasing edge. “You sure you don’t want to say goodbye first?”
I was about to answer when the patter of little footsteps interrupted me before my voice could reach him.
“Uncle Killian!”
One of the twins shouted from afar. Anna, I think. I was still learning to tell them apart by voice. She ran toward me like a missile, and I had just enough time to turn and catch her.
Then, in the other one, Alice rushed me like a second wave. “Are you already leaving?”
Their big, pleading eyes looked up at me like two sweet bunnies begging for carrots. I’ve stared down warlords, monsters, and ancient gods. But these tiny bundles of sweetness?
They had utterly defeated me.
I crouched down, easily adjusting to their height. “That won’t work on me, you sneaky bunnies.”
“We are not!” Anna pouted. “Look at you right now. You’re trying to leave without saying goodbye!”
“Anna’s right! You’re mean!” Alice nodded earnestly. “And that’s super rude for a grown–up.” Leonidas snorted behind me, barely holding back his laughter “They got you good.”
Successfully unlocked!
“I wasn’t trying to be rude,” I said, with exaggera
Anna crossed her arms in protest. “Well then, you’re not allowed to leave yet.”
to be efficient.”
“Yeah!” Alice clung to my arm like a tiny leech. “We haven’t even shown you our new riddle yet! There’s a dragon in it!”
“I can’t stay tonight, kids,” I said softly. “But I have something for both of you.”
1/2
Chapter 129: That Should Be Me
I pulled a small envelope from the pocket of my coat, something I’d prepared without knowing why. Royal parchment, written in golden ink. Sealed with the personal crest of the crown.
“What’s this?” they asked in unison.
“An official invitation,” I said, the corner of my mouth lifting slightly. “If either or both of you miss me terribly, you’re welcome to visit the castle. I’ll make sure you have dragons, riddles, and all the food the kitchen staff can give you.” The twins gasped as if I’d offered them the moon.
Alice accepted the envelope like it was a sacred artifact. “You promise?”
“Yeah.”
Anna stared at me, her eyes far too wise for a child her age.. “Will you be sad without us?”
I was struck silent. Not once in my life had a child ever asked me that. Sometimes I wondered if the dark aura around me had faded just enough to let them get this bold. They were so much like their mother.
“I’ll miss you,” I admitted.
They both hugged me again, and for a moment, I froze. Then Rosalyn’s laughter echoed from a nearby window. It stirred something uncomfortable in my chest. I stood, gently placing the twins back on the ground.
“Go on now. Your mother needs you.”
They each planted a kiss on my cheek and waved their little hands at me. Now and then, Anna and Alice would glance back. I watched until they were gone.
Leonidas appeared beside me, arms crossed, a grin tugging at his lips.
“You’re getting all soft these days,” he remarked.
“I am not.”
He leaned in a little closer. “Oh, come on. I may have lost one eye, but I’m not blind. I’m surprised you haven’t melted from the warmth.”
“Sometimes you forget my status, Leonidas.”
“Of course not. You’re a big ol‘ teddy bear under all that brooding,” he shot back mockingly.
I sighed, offering no response. I didn’t have the energy for it. And the longer I stayed here, the closer I drifted toward memories I had spent millennia trying to bury.
“Come on, Leonidas. The kingdom awaits its king.”
