Chapter Seven : Tension in Time
The afternoon sunlight filtered softly through the healer's wing, warm but insufficient to soothe Lysander's aching shoulder. He sat upright in the narrow bed, His hand hovered nervously near the princess's sleeve, who had her golden-hazel eyes fixated on the healer kneeling beside her.
Callum adjusted the bandages around his shoulder, fingers unintentionally brushing against the princess's hand. "You need to hold still," he said calmly, eyes gentle.
Lysander sulking because of the way they were close to each other responded with a deathly glare. Before he could react, the princess wrenched herself backward, hissing in pain after she'd been pricked one of the needles she had been holding for Callum.
Lysander lunged instinctively, catching her wrist before she hurt herself further. "Careless!" he snapped, pain flaring sharply in his shoulder.
Callum, also worried that the princess was badly injured tried getting a closer look at her cut. Lysander's jaw clenched. "Do not touch her." The growl in his voice was low, guttural, and dangerous. "I'll manage it."
The healer froze, hands raised in protest,"You're not steady," Callum tried reasoning, tilting his head, a faint smirk touched his lips.
The prince barely noticed, his focus locked entirely on the princess. His heart raced, not only from his injury, but from the sudden, unexplainable fear of seeing her harmed.
The princess looked up at him, startled, flushed, and for a heartbeat, the world held its breath. Lysander's stormy-grey eyes burned with a possessive fire, the same ancient jealousy that had lingered in the bloodlines for generations.
Callum, calm yet cautious, stepped back. "You're supposed to be resting," he reminded softly, voice threaded with curiosity and unspoken warning.
Lysander ignored him. His hands didn't release hers until the threat of another accident passed. "I will not let anyone touch her carelessly," he muttered, almost to himself.
The princess blinked, tension curling through her chest. Something unspoken hung in the air, a warning, a promise, a memory of what was yet to come.
The next day, the university was buzzing with excitement. Students streamed past exhibits carefully arranged for the opening of the school museum, showcasing relics from the ancient kingdoms: sword hilts engraved with forgotten sigils, royal decrees in ornate calligraphy, and delicate jewelry that had once belonged to monarchs whose names were now whispered only in history texts.
Aurelia swept through the crowd with Amara, their voices rising above the hum of chatter. "I can't believe they actually have the crown of King Augustus," Amara whispered, eyes wide. "And wait until you see the jade dagge-"
"I know, I know," Aurelia said, laughing, barely containing her excitement. Her wrist tingled faintly, though she ignored it for now. Today was meant to be fun.
At the entrance, Cal Rivers waited patiently, leaning casually against a display stand. As Aurelia and Amara approached, a jostle in the crowd sent her stumbling slightly. Cal was quicker.
"Got you," he said smoothly, hands steady around her elbows as he helped her regain balance. His gaze flicked to her wrist. The rose mark glimmered faintly beneath the sleeve. He blinked. Where have I seen that before? he wondered, a sense of déjà vu threading through him.
Aurelia flushed lightly. "Thanks," she said, stepping back but not out of reach.
Professor Ardyn entered at that moment, tall, composed, and immediately scanning the crowd. His eyes found her, Aurelia instantly. His breath caught as he noticed her wrist for just a moment, faintly glowing beneath the fabric, a familiar echo stirring in him.
His gaze then dropped to Cal, who still held her hand a moment longer than necessary. A twist of possessiveness flared inside Ardyn, subtle yet sharp. Walking near them, "Miss Vale," he called, voice firm, drawing their attention.
Cal jumped slightly, instantly releasing her hand. "Professor Ard..." Ardyn's storm-grey eyes fixed him in place,silencing him mid-sentence.
Annoyed with Cal's presence, he turned to Aurelia, "Do not forget our upcoming research project. It begins this Friday," he added casually, but the edge in his tone was unmistakable.
Aurelia blinked, cheeks warming, while Cal mumbled, "Right. Of course, Professor."
The tension in the air dissipated as Ardyn walked away, yet the look he cast over his shoulder lingered, just enough to make both students uneasy.
Amara leaned in, whispering conspiratorially. "Nice timing, Professor. A little dramatic, don't you think?"
Cal shook his head, a grin breaking through. "You've got to admit, it was impressive."
Aurelia tried to laugh, brushing off the lingering warmth in her chest. "I- yeah, very… dramatic," she muttered, glancing at her wrist, it was tingling faintly again. Why does this also happen around him? she wondered.
Amara nudged her shoulder. "Come on, let's see the crown before someone else steals it. You can think about Mr HotProfessor later." She teased her friend who was already red as a tomato.
Aurelia followed, heart still pounding. Her mind wandered briefly back to the strange, possessive pull she had felt. It was confusing, almost unfair, but thrilling in a way she couldn't articulate.
She glanced at Cal as they passed the exhibits, noticing the quiet intensity in his gaze as he admired her mark again. Something unspoken passed between them, a mixture of curiosity and recognition.
Aurelia's cheeks warmed as she replayed the moment in her mind. The way Cal's hand had brushed hers, the brief pressure on her wrist, it all felt oddly familiar, yet completely new.
Her heart fluttered, and she couldn't help comparing it, just for a second, to the dream she'd had of the princess and the two men. How she wished she could see their faces. The memory made her pulse quicken, leaving her flustered and oddly bashful, as if she were caught between two lifetimes she barely understood.
She shook her head softly, hoping no one noticed the faint pink creeping across her face, but the echo of that dream and the strange, fluttering connection lingered, like a secret she wasn't ready to share.