Love The Way He Lied

The stars hung still in the night sky as Velmoria slumbered. In a quiet house tucked away from the palace's watchful eyes, Eva stirred restlessly in bed. Kyel lay beside her, his breathing deep and even, but her soul felt anything but at peace.

Then it happened again.

"The dream".

The golden sands stretched endlessly beneath her feet, warm and shifting. The desert was as silent as ever, but a figure sat at its center—small, steady, working with his hands.

It was the boy again.

He had black hair, Blue Eyes, tousled and shining beneath a pale dreamlight. His back was to her as he shaped something in the sand, completely focused.

"You came again," he said softly, without turning. "Welcome back."

Eva took a step closer, the sand cool beneath her dream-bare feet. "What are you doing?"

"Building a castle," he replied.

As she got closer, her eyes widened in recognition. The sand structure he shaped with surprising detail was unmistakable.

"That… looks like Velmoria's royal palace."

He didn't answer. His hands kept working.

"I'm going to rule this castle," he finally said. "I will become the king."

Eva blinked in surprise, half-smiling. "You're just a kid. It's good to have big dreams, but you can't be king. You're not of royal blood."

He looked up at her at last.

"I know I'm not a kid, Eva," he said calmly. "But you are." Eva said

"Why are you alone?" She asked instead.

She hesitated. "And what about your parents?"

"Papa is busy with work," he said with a soft voice. "And… Mummy—"

He stopped.

Eva took another step forward. "What about your mother, Leo? Why would she leave you here alone?"

Leo walked toward her, small feet crunching softly in the sand.

"Mummy is right here," he whispered.

Then he wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly.

Eva's whole body froze. Her mouth went dry.

"What did you just call me?" she asked. "Mother? No—No, I'm not your mother! Get off me!"

She struggled, confused and disturbed. "How could I be a mother when I've never even had my wedding night with my husband?!"

Leo clung to her.

She eventually stopped resisting, her hands falling uselessly to her sides.

"Fine," she sighed. "It's just a dream. Call me whatever you want."

Trying to distract herself, she asked, "Who do you look like more? Your mother or father?"

"Father," he said cheerfully. "Your eyes and hair are nothing like mine."

Eva rubbed her forehead. "Stop confusing me."

Leo's smile faded. "You're mad…"

"I'm not," she said gently. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"Okay," he said, grinning again. "I forgive you, Mother."

She groaned quietly. "Why did you bring me here again, Leo?"

Leo grew serious. "Do you like swords?"

That caught her off guard. "What?"

"Swords," he said again. "Do you like them?"

"I suppose I do," she said hesitantly. "Why?"

Leo's voice dropped. "Then you should learn to use one."

Eva blinked. "You want me to learn how to fight?"

"Yes," he said simply.

"Why?"

He looked down. "You won't believe me."

"Try me."

He met her eyes. "Because your life depends on it."

The words sent a cold shiver through her. "My… life?"

Leo nodded. "It's about life and death."

She tried to reason with herself. It was just a dream.

And yet… it didn't feel like one.

"Then I'll try," she whispered. "But who could teach me?"

Leo smiled faintly. "Maybe someone close to you already can. Look around."

And then the wind blew—and he was gone.

Eva shot up in bed, breath catching in her throat.

The space beside her was empty. Kyel had already left.

A note rested on the pillow:

'Going to work. Made breakfast. Please eat.'

But Eva's mind was still caught in the haze of the dream.

"Someone close to me… Kyel?" she muttered. "But… he couldn't. Could he?"

In the imperial palace, a report landed on Eyan's desk with grim urgency.

"Your Majesty," Hans said, "we received a tip. There's a trafficking ring operating in the lower south district."

Eyan's eyes narrowed.

"That's dangerously close to where she lives."

His voice was low. "We end this. Tonight."

Night fell over Velmoria.

Eva stirred a pot slowly in her kitchen. The fire crackled. Kyel still hadn't returned. With a sigh, she reached for her basket and slipped out to fetch a missing herb from the market.

At the same time, in the shadowed streets, Eyan and a unit of his most elite knights crept through the alleyways.

Three dark shapes moved silently among them—Talon, Fen, and Mara, the three black wolves of the crown, their glowing eyes sweeping through the shadows.

They reached the target.

"Move in," Eyan whispered.

Steel flashed. Doors burst open. Chaos erupted inside.

Eva heard the sounds—shouting, steel clashing—while returning home.

She turned to investigate just as a man burst from the alley, covered in blood and panic.

Before she could flee, he lunged at her, grabbing her from behind and pressing a dagger to her throat.

"Stay back!" he screamed to the knights chasing him. "I'll kill her!"

Eva's body froze.

"Give me a horse!" he yelled.

He mounted a nearby steed with her as hostage, galloping into the night.

In the struggle, her silver ring slipped from her finger and dropped to the ground.

Back at the scene, a knight picked it up and Showed it to Eyan.

The moment Eyan saw the ring, his heart stopped.

He snatched it with a trembling hand. "Where did you get this?"

"It belonged to the woman taken hostage," the knight stammered.

"Which way?"

"South, sire."

"Talon," Eyan growled.

The black wolf stepped forward from the shadows, massive and silent.

"Find her."

Talon vanished into the night.

The kidnappers arrived at a decrepit stone house, half-buried in vines and rot.

"We're dead," one man muttered. "The Emperor's hunting us."

Another snarled. "Then let's finish this. Kill the girl—after we've had our fun."

They turned toward Eva.

One man grabbed her by the chin.

She spat in his face.

He slapped her viciously. She fell.

He raised his hand again—

—and then a blur of black fur tackled him to the ground with a savage snarl.

Talon's fangs dug into the man's arm. Behind him, Fen and Mara leapt into the room, growling, surrounding Eva.

She stared, trembling. "W-Wolves…?"

The door burst open.

"Lady Eva!"

Eyan stormed in like a vengeful storm.

His eyes locked onto her bruised face. Blood pounded in his ears.

"Who touched her?"

"I did," one man sneered.

"Mara," Eyan ordered.

The third black wolf stepped forward and placed its massive body in front of Eva, shielding her from the horror to come.

She could see nothing. Only the sounds reached her—steel slicing flesh, bones breaking, men screaming.

She covered her ears, sobbing.

When the violence ended, Eyan threw aside his bloodied sword and fell to his knees before her.

He lifted her gently, wrapped her in his own cloak, and carried her out into the cold night air.

He set her down gently in the grass.

"Lady Eva… are you hurt?"

"I thought I was going to die," she whispered. "I—I was so scared…"

Tears poured down her cheeks.

"Don't cry," Eyan said, voice unsteady. "You're safe now."

The wolves pressed close. Talon licked her hand. Fen nuzzled her leg.

"These wolves…" she whispered. "They're yours?"

He nodded. "Yes. Talon, Fen, and Mara."

She reached out and stroked Talon's head, smiling through her tears. She leaned in to kiss him.

But the massive wolf flinched and darted behind Fen.

Eva blinked. "Do they not like affection?"

"They're shy," Eyan replied, chuckling softly.

He stood and offered his hand. "Let me take you home."

She nodded.

They rode together through the quiet streets. At some point, Eva's exhaustion won—her head gently rested against his chest, and she drifted to sleep.

Eyan looked down at her face, framed by moonlight.

"She must be exhausted…" he murmured.

He kissed her forehead tenderly.

The horse came to a halt before her cottage.

"Lady Eva," he said softly. "We're here."

She stirred. "Did I fall asleep? I'm sorry…"

"Don't be. You needed it."

She stepped down and walked to the door. Then paused.

She turned to him slowly.

"Your Majesty…"

He looked up.

"I never told you where I live. How… how did you know?"

Eyan's breath caught.

He said nothing.