The golden hue of twilight draped itself over the rooftops of Taolin, casting long shadows across the streets. The town bustled with the last remnants of market day, merchants getting ready to retire for the day while some had not even considered leving yet, and distant melodies of a street musician echoing through the air.
Emily sat quietly inside the royal carriage, the leather seat creaking gently beneath her as she leaned toward the window. Her eyes swept over familiar sights, the crooked chimney of Mrs. Hartley's bakery, and the flickering lanterns that lined the marketplace. Despite the soft grandeur of the carriage, the world outside felt more like home.
The carriage slowed, its wheels crunching over the stones before coming to a halt in front of a modest jewelry store.
"I'll just be a moment," King Timothy said, already adjusting his cloak.
Emily shifted slightly, folding her hands in her lap. "That's fine, Your Highness," she said with a polite nod. "But I'd like to get down here. I wouldn't want to impose any further."
Timothy's hand paused on the door handle. He turned back to her, a warm smile breaking across his face. "You're not imposing, Miss Emily. I'd be happy to see you home."
Her smile was gracious but firm. "Don't worry, Your Highness. I can make my way from here."
Before the king could answer, Kai leaned forward from his seat beside him, voice calm but deliberate. "King Timothy, do you have a cloak Miss Emily could use? The evening air is quite chilly."
Timothy raised an eyebrow at the interruption, then chuckled softly. "I should have one." He nodded toward the driver's compartment. "Bring something warm, dark."
"I'm really fine," Emily interjected, but the cloak was already being fetched.
Moments later, the driver returned with a heavy black cloak lined with velvet. Emily hesitated but accepted it with a quiet "Thank you," drawing it over her shoulders. The fabric was warm and elegant, far too regal fir someone like her to wear, but she appreciated the gesture nonetheless.
Turning to Kai, she tilted her head. "Where are you headed now?"
He met her gaze evenly. "Home."
"In Westfield?"
He nodded. A smile played on her lips. "Then I'll definitely see you again."
As she opened the carriage door, Kai stepped out with her and took her hand. Gently, he lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of her palm. The gesture was brief, but it sent a soft chill up her arm. Emily smiled at Kai and then dipped her head in thanks to the king, then disappeared into the crowd.
Back inside, King Timothy leaned against the carriage wall and let out a sigh. "What a lovely love story."
Kai closed the door and settled back into his seat. "Shut up."
The king chuckled, unbothered. "I thought you hated traveling in carriages."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Trying to make sure you don't eat her alive."
Timothy's brow lifted in mock offense. "What do you take me for?"
"Exactly what you are," Kai said flatly, though the corner of his mouth twitched.
After a pause, the king asked more seriously, "What was she doing there in the first place?"
"Thomas almost had her killed."
Timothy's head turned sharply. "I thought he was smarter than that."
Kai didn't respond immediately. His gaze drifted to the window, lost in the swirl of movement outside. The flicker of torches and lamplight played across his face. "Didn't expect to see her again after all these years," he murmured.
King Timothy studied him for a moment, then shifted topics. "I'm sure I didn't come all the way to be a chaperone."
"I need control of the east dungeon." Kai said curtly, trying not to prolong why hed asked Timothy here.
Timothy raised an eyebrow. "The east dungeon? Why not the west?"
Kai gave him a wry look. "My big brother's obsessed with the west. Thought I'd let him keep it… while I take the east for myself."
The king laughed softly. "You two really are something."
As he spoke, he caught the gleam in Kai's eyes. He leaned forward, squinting slightly. "Why are your eyes red?"
Kai's answer was quiet. "This is Kai, not Roman."
A grin spread across Timothy's face. "I've always loved Kai more.
"We'll meet at the palace." And just like that, Kai vanished, no flash of light, no sound. Just the barest ripple in the air, like a breath held too long.
Timothy leaned back with a sigh and knocked twice on the window. The carriage jerked forward again. He closed his eyes, resting his head against the cushion.
"I wonder what's going on in that head of his."
Emily moved quietly through the narrow streets of Taolin, her footsteps muffled by the hum of twilight settling over the town. She kept her head bowed, the velvet cloak drawn tightly around her shoulders and pulled low over her face. Shadows clung to her like a second skin as she slipped between lamplight and darkness, careful not to draw attention.
It had been a year since everything fell apart, since her name, once whispered with affection, had become something else entirely. Recognition could ruin everything now. The cloak, a simple gesture of kindness from the king, served a greater purpose of protection, anonymity, safety.
Her destination was clear, her aunt Camille's modest home on the south end of town. But just as she passed a corner, a warm, familiar glow caught her eye. Mr Sawyer's shop. Light spilled through the windows in soft amber streaks, and for a moment, Emily hesitated.
Her feet changed course before her mind could stop them.
The bell above the door gave a cheerful jingle as she stepped inside, the sound tugging at memories of better times days when laughter filled this little shop, and her world had not yet unraveled. She stood in the quiet, glancing around. The counters were dusted, the shelves neatly arranged with beautiful dresses kind up tools but no customers in sight.
A voice rang out from the back. "Mrs. Thompson, are you back already for...?"
The voice cut off as a boy emerged from behind the curtain. He froze mid-step, staring. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Emily," he breathed.
Luke.
Before she could say a word, he rushed forward and enveloped her in a hug. She laughed, surprised by the sudden warmth of his embrace.
"I've missed you guys so much," she murmured, her voice catching on the edge of joy and nostalgia.
She pulled back, scanning the shop. "Where's Mr. Sawyer?"
Luke stepped back, a quiet pride rising in his expression. "I'm not apprenticing anymore. I've nearly saved enough to open my own shop soon. But for now, Mr. Whencher left this place in my care. He's not in Westfield, went to a little holiday in the north."
Emily's eyes softened. "I'm so happy for you, David. That's wonderful."
His smile flickered, and the conversation shifted. "How have you been? Were you... released?"
Her face grew more serious, the shadows of the past year creeping in. "It's a long story," she said, glancing toward the door. "I'll tell you everything...but first, I need to get to my home first."
David reached out and gently took her hands in his. His tone changed...quiet, urgent.
"You can't go there right now, Emily."
Confusion knotted her brow. "Why not?"
He hesitated, eyes darting toward the window, as if afraid someone might be listening. "It's not safe. I don't know who might be watching. We should wait until nightfall. I'll walk you there once the streets are clear."
Something in his voice made her pause. A warning she couldn't yet understand. She nodded, trusting him more than the world beyond that door.
David moved around the shop, drawing the curtains and locking the front entrance. He worked quietly, but Emily could see the tension in his shoulders. Whatever danger lingered outside, it was close.
Time passed slowly, the sun dipping fully beneath the horizon as the market outside emptied. The sounds of town life dimmed, replaced by the soft hush of night.
When the last of the lanterns had gone out and silence settled over Taolin like a blanket, David unlocked the back door. "Come on," he whispered. "Let's get you home."
With her cloak wrapped close and David walking at her side, Emily stepped into the night, uncertain of what lay ahead, but grateful for the hand that had reached out to steady her in the dark.