CHAPTER 257: I WAS WORRIED FOR YOU

Raegar continued fighting with his grandfather and father until the three were exhausted, the older men were catching their breath, and he rubbed his arm as the blade of Alaric’s sword hit him. Just then, Griffin surged forward, catching him off guard as the two traded blows, making the older man beam. ’’That’s it! Show me what you can do, boy! Push beyond your limits!’’

His muscles burned as he pushed himself to the edge, trading furious punches with Griffin in a storm of raw power. The training ground pulsed with energy, their Aethers blazing, Raegar’s fiery red clashing against the older man’s electric blue. Each blow sent shockwaves through the air, kicking up dust and scattering debris.

While the fighting was getting more intense, his grandmother, mother, and father stood stunned, their eyes wide at the sheer force of the duel. The girls on the sidelines gasped as the two bounded across the arena, their fists a blur of speed and strength, weaving a stunning display of crimson and azure.

Raegar’s lungs seared, but Griffin’s wild grin drove him forward. ’’Dig deeper, lad!’’ the older man bellowed, his fist skimming his cheek. He answered with a blazing hook, his Aether flaring brighter, forcing the old man to dodge. The crowd’s whispers faded as the two pushed beyond their limits, their Aethers thrumming.

Following that, Elysia appeared in the middle of them, her presence calm yet commanding, her silver Aether glowing softly. The air stilled, the clash of red and blue fading as her power gently forced them apart. ’’Enough,’’ she barked.

Raegar and Griffin halted, chests heaving, their Aethers dimming as they lowered their fists, the training ground falling silent under her unwavering gaze. The older woman then smiled. ’’Come, Raegar, we need to talk.’’

Afterward, his grandfather deflated but agreed with his wife as she led him toward the nearest tent. The two of them walked together as Eylsia glanced at him. ’’Thank you for encouraging Zahara to heal me, she said it was your determination that spurred her on.’’

As they stepped into the warmth of the tent, Raegar flopped into a cushioned chair, letting out a sigh as his body was hurting thanks to the fight. The flickering glow of a nearby Aether lantern cast soft shadows across his tired face, highlighting the lines of concern that had etched themselves there over time.

He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, and fixed his gaze on his grandmother. ’’I was worried for you,’’ he began. ’’When I heard you were affected by the Devil Poison, it felt like the ground had fallen beneath me. You’ve always been the heart of the Vaelthorne Family alongside grandfather.’’

Raegar remembered when he heard about her getting attacked, the thought pissed him off to know end. He shook his head and continued speaking. ’’But when she told me she had the strength to heal you, that spark in her eyes returned, and it was like a weight lifted from my chest.’’

His lips curved into a faint, relieved smile, and he shook his head as if still marveling at the moment. ’’I couldn’t just stand by after that," he continued. ’’I did whatever I could to lend a hand. Anything to make sure you’d pull through. When I noticed Zahara’s determination, I couldn’t help but feel that same hope myself.’’

When Eylsia heard this, a big smile appeared on her face before she responded. ’’Very good, Rae, I’m glad you helped her, but now you mustn’t let that girl go or the other families will swoop in and court her.’’

The air in the tent instantly changed when Raegar listened to the older woman, and he quickly retorted. ’’No one will touch her, she’s mine and only mine.’’

His grandmother laughed as the dark-skinned blonde appeared, a big smile on her pretty face when hearing his anger. Zahara moved forward and suddenly hugged him as she whispered. ’’I’m your Rae, I’m not going anywhere. Especially to some random family in the empire.’’

Raegar was going to reply, but his grandmother exclaimed. ’’Very good! I shall invite your family to the mansion once it’s fixed. I want to get to know the parents of the young lady who saved me.’’

Zahara couldn’t help but become embarrassed at her words, but she shyly nodded before they were dismissed. ’’Now go rest with the others, I need to talk to Griffin and your parents about some important business.’’

Following that, the couple left the tent, and Zahara dragged him toward their own as she revealed. ’’Grandfather gave us a private tent, but he made most of us blush with what he said.’’

Raegar chuckled at this. ’’What did he say?’’

’’Oh, he’s got no patience for all that moaning or wailing,’’ she confided, her voice dropping to a playful whisper as a flush crept across her already rosy cheeks, deepening them to a rich crimson.

Her grey eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and embarrassment, as if she’d let slip a secret she wasn’t quite sure she should have shared. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, glancing away briefly before meeting his gaze again with a shy, conspiratorial smile. He chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement, the corners of his mouth twitching upward as he processed her words.

"Is that so?" he replied, his tone light but laced with curiosity.

Without another word, he turned toward the tent, pushing aside the heavy canvas flap. The warm, amber glow of lanterns spilled out, casting flickering shadows across the ground. But before he could take a single step inside, a blur of motion caught him off guard. Drusilla, the Dark Fairy, launched herself at him with the grace and speed of a tempest.

Her lithe form collided with his, her arms and legs wrapping around him in a fierce, almost possessive embrace. Her wings, shimmering with an iridescent sheen that caught the lantern light, fluttered briefly before folding against her back. She pressed herself close, her breath warm against his skin as she began showering him with fervent kisses.

Each one landed with a soft, deliberate intensity on his cheeks, his jaw, the corner of his mouth, her laughter bubbling up between them like a melody, wild and unrestrained. ’’Missed you,’’ she murmured between kisses, her voice a low, velvet purr that carried a hint of teasing defiance.

Her blue eyes glinted with a mix of affection and something fiercer, something untamed, as she clung to him, her fingers tangling in the fabric of his tunic. For a moment, the world outside the tent seemed to fade, leaving only the warmth of her embrace and the electric hum of her presence.

She stood with her hands on her hips, her lithe figure radiating confidence as she tossed her raven-black hair over one shoulder. ’’Well,’’ she announced. ’’I don’t know about the rest of you, but that fight interrupted something far more interesting.’’

Her lips curled into a wicked grin, and she cast a pointed glance at Raegar, his eyes locked on her with an amused, knowing look. A ripple of laughter and raised eyebrows passed through the group, but Drusilla wasn’t done. ’’My boy and I have unfinished business, and I’m not letting you cat ruin my night."

A chorus of hoots and teasing whistles erupted from the group. Yuki barely stifled her giggles, covering her mouth as her cheeks flushed pink. "Oh, Drusilla, you’re shameless!" she squeaked, her laughter bubbling up like a clear stream, her blue eyes sparkling with delight.

The others joined in, their voices overlapping in a playful cacophony. ’’Unfinished business, eh? That’s one way to put it!’’ Selene teased, a smirk crossing her pretty face.

Alice smirked as she added. ’’Careful, Rae, she might not let you out of that tent till sunrise!"

Drusilla didn’t blush or falter; instead, she sauntered over to Raegar, her movements fluid and deliberate, like a panther stalking its prey. She reached out, her slender fingers curling around the collar of his tunic, and gave a gentle tug. ’’Come on, hero,’’ she purred. ’’We’ve got a score to settle, and I don’t mean the one with those bandits.’’

Raegar shook his head, a grin spreading across his rugged features as he let her pull him forward. ’’You’re impossible,’’ he muttered, but the warmth in his tone betrayed his willingness to follow her lead.

The group’s teasing grew louder as Drusilla led him toward her tent, her hand slipping into his with a possessive squeeze. ’’Don’t break him, Dru!’’ the Demoness shouted, her voice dripping with mock concern as she winked at Yuki, who dissolved into another fit of giggles, her laughter high and infectious.

’’Better set a watch, or we’ll hear them all night!’’ Domiqiue added, dodging a playful swat from Drusilla as the group roared with laughter.

Yuki, still giggling, fanned her flushed face. ’’Oh, gods, you two are going to scandalize the whole mansion!’’ she managed, her voice trembling with delight as she tucked a strand of pink hair behind her ear.