Rhen finally woke up, but the first thing he did was shoot upright and frantically look around the room.
"Riven?" he whispered, breath trembling. "Papa… where's Riven?"
Rin immediately moved to his side. "Rhen, easy… you're still recovering—"
But Rhen pulled away, eyes already swelling with tears. "Where is he? Papa, why isn't he here? Is he still taken because of me? If—if only I—"
"Rhen." Rin cupped his face firmly. "Listen to me. None of this is your fault. Do you understand? Not a single bit of it."
"But—"
"It's not your fault," Rin repeated, voice soft yet absolute, the kind that brooked no argument. "Riven would be upset if he heard you say something like that."
Rhen bit his lip, trying to hold back his tears when the door suddenly opened.
Alaric rushed in, stopping dead the moment he saw Rhen awake. Without any hesitation, he knelt beside the bed and pulled the trembling boy into an embrace.
"You did well, Rhen," Alaric whispered, voice warm and steady. "You were brave. Thanks to you we know what happened. Thanks to you, Riven will come home. I promise you that."
Rhen's shoulders shook, but he clung tightly to him. "Daddy… you have to get Riven. Please."
"We will," Alaric assured him. "We'll bring him back. Both of your papas will bring him back."
Rin's eyes softened—just a little—at the sight of the two. For a moment, the room felt lighter.
But the light didn't last long.
---
Later, inside the duke's study, maps, stones, and hastily collected reports were spread across the table. The atmosphere was suffocating—determination sharpened with fury.
They spent hours laying out every possible route, every hidden passageway, every guard rotation that Alaric remembered from the palace, and every insider detail Rin knew from his time serving as a palace herbalist.
When the plan was finally settled, Alaric stood and strapped on his sword.
Rin immediately frowned. "I'm going too—"
"No," Alaric said, tone final. "Rhen still needs someone. He needs *you*."
Rin opened his mouth again, but Alaric stepped forward and placed a hand on his cheek.
"I'll be fine. But I need you to stay with him." His voice lowered, firm yet gentle. "Rhen can't lose both of you."
Rin froze.
Then, with clear frustration and worry, he grabbed Alaric's collar and yanked him forward. "Fine. But you—" his voice trembled slightly, "—you better come back safely. Or I'll never forgive you."
Alaric's lips curled in a small smirk. "Yes, my beloved tyrant."
"Get out," Rin snapped, ears red.
---
Caelum was woken up by his aide urgently shaking him.
"Your Highness! You're awake! Finally—"
Caelum groaned, feeling like needles were stabbing through his skull. "How… many days have I been asleep?"
"Two days, Your Highness. You collapsed suddenly and…" The aide hesitated, then nervously handed him the small vial left on the bedside table. "…and this was left here by Her Majesty's attendant. They said it was a suppressant—"
Caelum stared at it long and hard.
It was not an alpha suppressant he usually carried for emergencies.
This was… different.
His fingers tightened. "I see."
"Your Highness… what happened?"
"…Nothing." Caelum stood abruptly. "Pack some things. We're going to visit my nephew."
Before the aide could ask which nephew, a loud crash echoed from the window.
Darius dropped inside like a shadow.
"Darius—what are you—"
"My apologies for my intrusion your highness..." Darius cut in, but in a gentle tone as usual. "...But May I know where the queen consort hidden the child of his highness?"
Caelum paused,then walk towards him and lean too close to Darius face then crossed his arms with a sly, dangerous smirk. "And what do I get in return?"
Darius stiffened, and then said shyly. "…I'll do anything you ask, Your highness.... except if it involves putting a harm towards Prince Alaric or his family."
"Tch. Always Alaric," Caelum muttered. Then his expression softened—just a little. "Dint worry. That's not my purpose anymore." He turned. "Also,You're just in time. We're heading there."
The aide blinked.
Darius blinked.
Caelum sighed. "Honestly, do I need to spell everything out? Let's go."
---
Under the cover of deep night, the three of them moved like shadows—quick, silent, precise. The guards around the queen's secret chamber didn't even have time to yell before falling unconscious one by one.
Inside, Riven slept curled on a small mat, hugging a blanket Rin had once made.
Caelum knelt beside him and gently touched his shoulder.
" Wake up, child."
Riven blinked groggily and looked up, eyes widening. "Huh? You're the other man with the scary lady the other day…"
"Yes, but there's no time," Caelum whispered. "Do you want to meet Rhen-rhen and your papas?"
"Yes!" Riven answered too loudly.
Caelum quickly hushed him, a small hand over the boy's lips. "Then come with us. You can continue your sleep, and when you wake up, you'll be with them."
Riven nodded eagerly—and immediately climbed into Darius's arms.
The man blinked as the little boy snuggled against his chest and fell asleep instantly.
"…He sleeps fast," Darius muttered.
Caelum smirked. "Focus. We need to get him out before my mother notices."
And just like that, under moonlight and shadows, they slipped away carrying the sleeping boy—toward freedom.
Toward reunion.
Toward the storm waiting to break.
---