Serene washed her hands and face and tried to calm her beating heart. She then stepped outside and found everyone had gathered in the living room. Boys had placed a sheet over the dari carpet and all the utensils and dishes had been placed on it while everyone sat around them, chattering.

Ralph was chatting with Kilamin who seemed calm and collected. Zavrian, Rian and Rumais were sitting on their opposite side, deep in their own conversation. While Zeph sat with his mother, the left side was vacant for Serene so she slipped right next to him.

Zeph’s mom had prepared numerous dishes native to Folkels Realm, including Biryani ( a special rice dish with chicken, potatoes, mint, spices and eggs) and whole chicken roasted with vegetables.

Serene’s mouth began to water as several aromas hit her nose. "Let’s say grace," Zeph’s mom said as all of them raised their hands to one true Deity they believed in, thanking Him for all His blessings.

Zeph placed a plate in front of Serene and offered her a spoon and fork. While she noticed that rest of them were eating with their hands and weren’t using spoons. She placed the spoon down as well and tried to eat rice with her hand as well. It was not a good idea as she began to spill them.

"Use the spoon, it’s alright. We are used to eating with our hands, you are not." Zeph whispered to her making her blush as he placed the spoon back on her plate.

"Are you liking our food, Princess Serene?" Zavrian asked her excitedly. "Yes, it’s very delicious. Your cooking is exceptional, ma’am." She addressed Zeph’s mom.

"Thank you dear and call me Ana, it’s short for Anarisia." Serene nodded. The lunch was filled with laughter and jokes. Ralph and Zavrian didn’t let any chance fly by to not roast Zeph. They told Serene his embarrassing incidents and Serene sighed with relief that Zian wasn’t here or he would have been doing the same.

"Once there was this girl who had such a crush on Zeph, she brought him a flower and instead of accepting it he stared at her so angrily that she ran away never to return anywhere near him." Ralph snorted out making everyone laugh except Zeph. Serene bit her lower lip to stop herself from laughing but a smile crept out on her lips.

"I was twelve so give me a break." Zeph glared at him.

"Rumias is twelve, ever seen him scare away a girl?" Zavrian shrugged.

"Boys boys, cut it out. Leave your brother alone, Serene is here for the first time and what will she think about all this behaviour?" Anarisia scolded them.

"Enjoy it, of course, won’t you Princess Serene?" Zavrian asked cheerfully before she could answer Zeph shot her a look and she quickly shut her mouth pressing her lips together but it was so hard to suppress the laughter she was holding. She let out a guffaw of laughter making others join in while Zeph got up and stormed toward the main door of the house, sulking.

"Hey, I am sorry I didn’t mean to laugh at you but it was so fun imagining your face." Serene laughed again calling him out but he didn’t stop and banged the door behind him, leaving everyone cackling. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Boys, cut it out. Help me put away the dishes." Ana scolded them lightly. They instantly began to help her clear away the dishes. Serene began to gather the plates around her as well when her eyes fell on Zeph’s plate which still had plenty of food left. He had left his lunch, unfinished.

"Serene, we will gather the dishes. Please, you must be tired from the journey." Ana took the plates from her hand. Meanwhile, Serene picked up Zeph’s plate and decided to take the food to him.

"Princess Serene, please stay near the house and don’t wander away," Kilamin called behind her. "I will Kilamin don’t worry," and she stepped outside.

Looking left and right she found him in the stable rubbing his hand over his horse’s mane. His expression was sombre. She approached him with the plate in her hand shutting the stable door behind her and stopped a few feet from him.

"Sorry, it was not my intention to hurt you." He acted like he hadn’t heard her. She glanced at the majestic horse. "What’s his name?"

"Her," he replied between gritted teeth still not looking at her. "Ahh, it’s a mare and here I thought it was a stallion."

"She is so gorgeous, what’s her name?"

"Lala, it means night," Zeph replied curtly. She stepped forward and slightly stroked her muzzle. The horse neighed in approval making Serene smile: "Hey, beautiful girl nice to meet you. Seems like I have competition when it comes to his affection." Zeph instantly shot her a serious look.

"I am truly sorry Zeph the way I left things with you, trying to push you away. I was hurting so bad at that time that I thought it was the right course of action. I realize I was wrong. That’s why I came here to apologize. Can you forgive me? Pleaseeeee." Serene took another step toward him placing the plate on a stable stall. She stopped inches away from his face and with a flick she opened her majestic wings startling the horse which took a step back from them. Zeph looked at her with astonishment as she wrapped her wings around him gently pulling him closer to her.

He extended his end to touch the silver lines of her wings, tracing them with his index finger. They were silky to the touch but were much more durable than they appeared. The tips of her wings were touching his back as she held them in position while he continued caressing them to her back from where they magically appeared to the tiny slots in her clothes kept especially on the points from her wings emerge. He traced his finger to the point with curiosity while she kept observing him. "They are beautiful and so are you. It’s hard to stay mad at you but next time don’t you dare discard me. We stick together through thick and thin." He was now tracing his fingers along her facial features while she nodded at him.

She then wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in to brush his sumptuous lips with her rosy ones. He felt as if she had cast a spell on him and he was dreaming. It felt too good to be true as he leaned forward to return her kiss cupping her face softly with his right hand while sliding his left into her silky tresses. They seemed to have forgotten the world around them as they embraced each other, lost in a realm of their own. Her wings wrapped tightly around him shielding him from the world.

When the door of the shed flew open and someone shouted: "Hey! lovebirds."