Space warped slightly, then it opened. Lilith and Atheline stepped out of the portal. As expected they were met with silence.

Night had already settled over the palace. The corridors beyond the private teleportation chamber were empty with occasional footsteps from the patrolling guards a few steps away.

The veins in the walls glowed softly a welcome from the constant bustle they had been in. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

For a moment neither of them moved. Both of them just took in their surroundings, the slightly cold air, and the familiarity.

Atheline exhaled softly.

"We’re back."

The words sounded simple, but they weren’t. It felt like a sort of release of a burden to both of them.

They had gone through more things than they had both expected. The near-death experience, the island, the battle, the things they have taken... and those that might have escaped the island.

She stepped forward first, her steps slow and measured as they echoed through the empty hall.

Her gaze swept over once twice then a satisfied smile graced her lips.

"We’re back," she repeated his words.

Atheline smiled stepping forward, following her.

"I miss our bed," he said almost to himself.

She briefly glanced up at him, her shoulders relaxed and the tension she always carried with every step.

"Come on."

She waved him forward, gesturing to the space next to her.

Atheline moved towards her, rolling his shoulder once as if to ease the tension that hadn’t quite left his body. The journey hadn’t exhausted him but it had changed something inside of him.

They walked without an escort. Their arrival had been secretive and no one knew they would be coming back to the palace at that moment.

Walking down the corridor Atheline couldn’t help but feel the subtle change. The corridors felt vaguely unfamiliar and smaller.

It wasn’t really physical but that feeling one gets when you leave a place for a while and return home only to find it unfamiliar but it only lasts for an hour or two.

A servant appeared at the far end of the corridor. Young, clearly half asleep and carrying folded linen.

She froze the moment she saw them, her eyes widening.

"You’re..."

Her voice caught, clearly unprepared for their appearance.

She dropped in a hurried bow, the linens slipping slightly from her grip.

"My apologies! I didn’t know ..."

"It’s fine," Atheline cut her off saving the girl from embarrassing herself even more.

She stayed low anyway, her body trembling. He walked past her but Lilith didn’t, her gaze rested on the servant for a second longer than necessary.

The servant felt it. Her shoulders tensed, breath held too tightly, as if any movement might draw the attention she didn’t want.

Then, Lilith moved on and the pressure lifted as suddenly as it had come.

Atheline never commented on anything despite noticing what she had done.

They reached their chambers without interruption. Their appearance surprised the guards at the door who immediately straightened, their eyes widening before they hurriedly bowed.

"My queen... your highness"

Atheline nodded in response but Lilith ignored them. The door was pushed open with a low creak, revealing the interior that was untouched since their departure. The faint scent of jasmine and cooling incense lingered in the air.

The moment the door closed behind them, a small relieved breath left Atheline.

Lilith moved towards him and caught his sleeves pulling him towards the couches.

"I’ll be meeting the council tomorrow, " she quietly said.

He looked at her, studying her for a fraction.

"Am I allowed to come?" He quietly asked.

She was quiet for a moment then shook her head.

"There is no need for that, "she replied, her fingers lightly touching his skin," but you can come if you want. "

Atheline nodded, he genuinely wanted to go to the meeting and see how it went.

"I’m sure by tomorrow word would have already spread... are they going to give you a hard time, especially for the crystals?" he asked.

His hand came up, resting lightly over hers where it held his sleeve, and lightly squeezed it.

"They will," she said, her tone carrying nonchalance.

A small smile curved his lips. He knew exactly what would happen when they pushed her over the limit.

Her free hand shifted again, slower this time, and rested briefly against his chest, right over his heart as though confirming something.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Eventually, he pulled back just enough to breathe without her hand pressing against his chest.

"We should rest," he quietly said," you have a long day tomorrow. "

She held his gaze for a moment then fully stepped back from him and walked towards their wardrobe.

Atheline didn’t follow her immediately; instead, he turned his attention to the small things.

Checking their room for anything, lighting the dying incense, and preparing the bed from its pristine state.

This was a movement that didn’t require much thought.

Behind him, he heard her shift. Fabrics rustling softly, undoing the pieces of her clothing.

"Stop moving around," she lightly said.

Atheline stopped ruffling with the pillow, which he had been stuck on for some time.

He sat carelessly and leaned back on the head of the bed, arms crossing loosely.

"I’m trying to be a gentleman," he said, a smirk on his lips.

She chuckled softly, her eyes narrowing.

"I never knew you were this sarcastic, " she said.

Atheline rolled his eyes and stood up, walking towards her. He stepped past her and picked his own nightwear.

She turned away after finishing, walking to the bed. He heard the rustle of fabric then quiet.

"You left this here," her voice came from behind him.

He glanced back at her. She was holding a book, not anything important.

"I should return that tomorrow, " he casually said.

"You always say that."

Atheline chuckled walking towards her.

"This is the longest I’ve stayed with the book."

She placed the book back on the nightstand, turning to him. Atheline pulled her into his arms.

"Rest, you have a long day tomorrow," he repeated.