CHAPTER 6 - THE PRINCE REVEALED
Night settled heavily over Prince's Rest, but sleep refused to touch Lyria. She sat near the wide stone window of the inner chamber, watching the lantern vines pulse with soft blue light. The healer had insisted she rest. The guards insisted she remain "contained" for now.
Contained.
As if she were a threat.
Maybe she was.
She curled her knees up to her chest and let out a shaky breath. The silver flame inside her pulsed faintly, restless.
Behind her, Aiden lay in the healer's cot-no longer pale, no longer trembling. He slept soundly now, his chest rising and falling in steady waves. She had watched over him for hours. Even when the guards suggested she leave, Aiden had refused to let her be removed.
"She stays," he had said, each time with quiet certainty.
But she didn't know why.
Not truly.
Not until the moon moved behind a cloud and a soft groan escaped his throat. Aiden pushed himself upright, rubbing his eyes.
"You're still awake," he murmured, voice thick with sleep.
Lyria shook her head. "I didn't want to disturb you."
"You couldn't disturb me," he said, smiling faintly. Then the smile faded. "Lyria... tomorrow changes everything."
She tensed. "Because of Lady Seraphina?"
Aiden's jaw clenched. "Yes. She's... complicated."
Lyria lowered her gaze. She had no right to feel anything about the prince's betrothed-or whoever Seraphina was-but the thought of Aiden being pulled away tightened something painful around her heart.
"Who is she?" Lyria whispered.
Aiden hesitated long enough that she knew the answer wasn't simple.
"She's a high enchantress of the royal court," he said finally. "And the king-my father-promised I would marry her for the stability of Neverland."
Lyria's pulse stuttered.
But Aiden kept speaking.
"I've obeyed every duty since I could walk," he said, staring out the window. "Every expectation. Every demand. Until today."
His gaze shifted back to her.
"Meeting you... was the first thing that felt like mine."
Her breath caught. She looked away quickly, fighting the warmth rising in her cheeks.
"You don't even know me," she whispered.
Aiden shook his head. "I know enough."
Royal Truths
Their conversation was cut short by the sound of clattering armor outside the chamber. The door swung open and several high-ranking guards stepped inside, wearing the silver sigil of the crown.
Lyria stiffened. Aiden's expression hardened immediately.
"Your Highness," the captain said, bowing, "protocol demands that we escort you to the royal carriage at dawn, and ensure all individuals in your proximity are properly vetted."
His eyes flicked to Lyria-sharp, evaluating, suspicious.
Aiden stood up straighter, ignoring the slight pull of his healing wound. "She saved my life. She travels with me."
The captain cleared his throat. "Forgive me, Prince Aiden, but we must evaluate all threats. Her magic is unregistered. Unbound. And she carries no citizenship papers. Her presence near the heir-""-is my choice." Aiden's voice cut with quiet danger. "She comes."
The guards exchanged uneasy glances.
"She is to be escorted under royal watch," one of them finally conceded.
Aiden nodded but the tension didn't ease.
The moment they left, Lyria exhaled shakily. "You don't have to... defend me like that."
"Yes," Aiden said gently, "I do."
A Name That Bends Fate
Aiden turned to her then, his expression serious. "There's something you need to know before we reach the capital."
Lyria nodded slowly.
"In Neverland... names carry power. A royal name carries burden. So before we go any further, I want to tell you mine."
She frowned in confusion. "Your name is Aiden."
He gave a small, almost guilty smile. "Aiden is my middle name. The one I prefer. The one only those I trust use." He took a breath as if bracing himself.
"My full name is Crown Prince Aiden Thorne Everhart of Neverland."
The air seemed to shift.
A soft pulse went through the room-the silver flame in her chest flared.
Aiden Everhart.
Her heart murmured the name like it had always known it.
Lyria swallowed. "You're the heir. The future king."
Aiden nodded slowly.
But he stepped closer-not with arrogance, but with vulnerability.
"And I'm the man whose life you saved," he said softly. "The man who owes you more than I can ever pay. And the man who... feels drawn to you in ways I can't explain."
The world seemed to still.
Her wolf pressed against her ribs, recognizing truth.
Lyria whispered, "I feel it too."
Aiden's eyes softened with something dangerous and beautiful.
The Shadow of Seraphina
Before the moment could deepen, loud shouting echoed outside the chamber door.
"Prepare for entry!"
"Lady Seraphina approaches!"
Aiden's eyes widened in alarm.
"She's early," he whispered, panic threading his voice. "She wasn't meant to arrive until dawn."
Lyria stiffened. The silver flame inside her flickered anxiously.
"Will she be angry that you aren't alone?" Lyria asked quietly.
Aiden let out a harsh breath. "Seraphina is powerful. And possessive. She believes she already owns my future."
"Does she?"
"No," Aiden said sharply. He stepped close-too close-his voice low and fierce. "She does not own me. Not my choices. And definitely not my heart."
Lyria's breath hitched. But she had no time to react.
The chamber doors slammed open.
A gust of perfume and cold magic swept inside.
A tall woman strode into the room, cloaked in black and gold. Her eyes glowed like molten emeralds. Her beauty was sharp, unnatural-too symmetrical, too perfect.
Lady Seraphina.
Her gaze swept the room before landing on Lyria.
And when it did-the air froze.
"Who," Seraphina said slowly, dangerously, "is this?"
Aiden moved immediately, instinctively standing between Seraphina and Lyria.
"This," he said fiercely, "is the girl who saved my life."
Seraphina's lips curled.
"A wolf-blooded stray? Near the heir? That is... unacceptable."
Lyria stiffened, her pulse hammering.
But Aiden didn't move.
"She stays," he said. "End of discussion."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed, flickering with magic that crackled like green fire.
"And what," she whispered, voice deadly sweet, "makes her so... important?"
Lyria felt Aiden's hand brush hers-subtle, protective, grounding.
"She matters to me," he said quietly.
Lyria's breath caught.
Seraphina's eyes turned poisonous.
In that moment, Lyria knew:
This woman was not simply a political threat.
She was a danger laced in silk. A storm wrapped in beauty.
And she had just marked Lyria as her enemy.
Aiden stepped back, his voice low.
"Lyria," he murmured, "stay close to me. No matter what."
And for the first time, Lyria realized-the danger of her exile was nothing compared to the danger of being loved by a prince.
