By the following morning, the story of Lyra Dain had spread far beyond Havenrock.Her reunion with the Valcrest family was no longer a private family matter. People across Asterra were discussing the missing heir who had been found after twenty years. Images recorded by villagers had spread through phones, crystal-link communicators, and personal video devices. Every new recording brought another version of the same story.Lyra had been stolen as a child. Lyra had been raised by poor villagers. Lyra had finally been reunited with her wealthy biological family. Lyra was never a weakling. Her true bloodline had now awakened.The public was fascinated by the story, especially after the Valcrest family confirmed that Lyra carried their bloodline.The family did not need to organize a press conference. Their influence already reached thousands of information channels throughout Asterra. Within hours, the reunion had become one of the most discussed events in the country.Akeel sat alone i

By the time they reached Asterra, the sky was already dark.Akeel brought his family straight to the apartment.Bram and Hester went into the larger bedroom without much discussion. They had shared a room for years, and neither of them saw any reason to change that now.Marius took the second bedroom.He put his bag on the bed and looked around."It isn't very big," he said.Akeel set the rest of their things near the wall. "It's enough for now."Marius opened the closet and looked inside."I suppose."Hester came out of the other bedroom after putting away what little they had managed to bring with them."We'll need new clothes," she said. "Most of ours were ruined.""I know," Akeel replied.Bram sat down in the living room and rubbed his face."We need to replace more than clothes. We lost almost everything.""I'll take care of the expenses," Akeel said.Hester looked at him. "Can you afford all this?"Akeel nodded."I've been supporting this family since I was fifteen. Food, bills,

Danaya looked down at Akeel's hand on her arm.Then she looked at him.Akeel had just called her Honey in front of the Valcrest family, their guards, and half the people who had come to welcome Lyra.He didn't look embarrassed.Danaya understood why almost immediately.Their marriage was still legal.Whatever agreement existed between them in private didn't matter here. As far as the law was concerned, Akeel was her husband.Danaya placed her hand over his."You're late, husband," she said.Akeel looked at her.For a second, even he seemed surprised that she had gone along with it.Lyra stared at them."Husband?"The people behind her went quiet.Lyra looked at Akeel, then at Danaya. "What do you mean, husband?"Danaya answered her calmly. "I mean exactly what I said. Akeel is my husband."Lyra's face changed."No. That's impossible."Akeel said nothing. He stayed beside Danaya and let her deal with it.Lyra shook her head. "He can't be your husband. He was supposed to marry me."Seve

Several days passed after the incident at Crownspire.Akeel remained at the Valcrest estate while the thirty-day marriage period continued. Things had finally become quiet enough for him to focus on the question he actually cared about.Danaya had shown him a man with his face.Not only his face. His name too.Akeel Corvain.That afternoon, Akeel returned to the guest room he had been using at the estate and locked the door.He raised one hand.A faint light spread from his palm and ran across the walls, ceiling, and floor. The sealing technique closed around the room, blocking sound and preventing abilities from listening through the walls.Only after the seal was complete did Akeel take out a small communication mirror.The dark surface brightened when he touched it.A few seconds later, Orwin appeared on the other side."Sir," Orwin said. "You contacted me earlier than usual. Is there a problem?""I need you to look into someone," Akeel replied.Orwin waited.Akeel sat at the desk a

Late that night, Akeel was still awake in the hidden guest room connected to Danaya's bedroom.Almost nobody in the estate knew the room existed. As far as the Valcrest family was concerned, Akeel had been sleeping in Danaya's room since returning to the estate.The arrangement had worked so far.Akeel was reading when he sensed a familiar aura approaching.Danaya.A moment later, the hidden door opened without anyone touching it.Akeel looked up.Danaya stepped through the doorway while the door moved aside under her Dominion."Get up," Danaya said. "My grandmother is coming."Akeel glanced at the time before looking back at her. "At this hour?"Danaya walked farther into the room. "She's already crossing the eastern residence with her nursing attendant. If she finds you sleeping in here, we're going to have a problem."Akeel put down what he was reading.The Valcrest estate was enormous. Seraphine was still far enough away that an ordinary person wouldn't have known she was coming.