The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 65: Eating with others

Chapter 65: Eating with others

Reneira woke up to the soft patter of rain against the window, stretching her arms as she blinked away sleep. Her eyes searched the room until they landed on Ogain, nestled snugly in the large basket. Last night, after Kaisun left, Gloria had brought in the basket, and they had lined it with a thick blanket. Ogain had been exhausted, curling up after devouring fresh pieces of raw lamb.

Gloria had been a bundle of nerves to approach him, both excited and terrified. She had dared to touch the fledgling once, only for Ogain to snap his tiny, sharp beak at her hand in warning.

Smiling, Ren slipped out of bed and padded over to the basket. Ogain stirred, shifting in his sleep, looking so small and endearing that warmth bloomed in her chest. Everything about this mythical creature melted her heart and the fact that Kaisun had gifted him to her as a wedding present provoked something hot and restless deep within. She recalled the moment Kaisun had cupped her face, his touch achingly tender. Was she truly going to win his heart and make him love her? She hadn’t even begun.

She was in the washroom when a knock on the door snapped her out of her reflection. She washed up quickly and stepped out, just as Arkilla entered the room, her mood a little subdued.

"Gloria was summoned to help clean the feast venue with the others. I’ll assist you with dressing."

Ren offered a small smile and gestured toward the table. "Set Ogain’s food on the floor and sit down. Before I came here, I always took care of myself. I know how to get dressed."

She disappeared into the dressing room and returned shortly, finding Arkilla smirking.

"Training won’t be easy today!"

Ren shrugged. "I know!" Her gaze flickered toward Ogain. "If you hurt me, I’ll have him take my revenge on you."

Ogain stirred, his long lashes fluttering as he lazily opened his eyes. The moment he spotted the dish of food near the basket, he leaped out and began devouring it ravenously.

"Wow! He eats like a wild thing."

Ren giggled. "Yes, and poops even wilder. I had to clean up his mess earlier. I need to teach him not to dirty his own space."

Arkilla chuckled, standing. "Let’s go eat in the dining hall with the others. Stop isolating yourself like a stranger, Your Grace."

Food. That reminded her, had Kaisun eaten anything? "They haven’t returned, have they?"

"No, but they should be back soon."

A shadow of unease settled over her. Through the bond, she could feel Kaisun’s emotions, his sadness, anger, and pain. Even from afar, their souls remained tethered. What had made him so furious that she could even sense Shadow?

"Can you braid my hair?"

Arkilla stepped forward and began weaving her hair into a neat braid. As she worked, Ren hesitated before asking, "Arkilla, how much do you know about His Highness’s Shadow?" She fiddled with a red ribbon in her hand, eyes cast downward.

"Why don’t you ask His Highness?"

"I feel like it would be rude."

Arkilla sighed. "I don’t know much, but Rail does. That said, I still think you should ask His Highness."

Rail? No, she wouldn’t ask him. It was better to wait for Kaisun.

She handed Arkilla the ribbon, and the woman tied it at the end of her braid. Ren then scooped Ogain up from the floor, preparing to hand him over to his caretaker.

"When will he talk to you?" Arkilla asked.

"According to the book I read, Griffins begin communicating after forty days. That means Ogain will talk to me in ten days."

The idea still felt surreal, but after experiencing the mind link with Kaisun and Arkilla, accepting another form of magical connection no longer seemed so far-fetched.

By the time they reached the dining hall, the tables were already full.

"The elders are leaving tomorrow after their tour through the Moon City!" Rail announced to Orgreve before catching the scent of Luna’s perfume. He waved a hand, grinning.

The moment Ren stepped inside, murmurs filled the hall. Heads turned, eyes widening as they took in the little fledgling in her arms.

"That’s a Griffin!" a bird shifter whispered excitedly.

"So the rumors are true, she has the power. Thegara is blessed to have her."

"Our elders are fools if they don’t fully accept her," a wolf shifter near Orgreve muttered.

"Enough! You’re making her uncomfortable," Orgreve grumbled.

Rail gestured toward a seat. "Come here, Luna Reneira. Your favorite person saved you a spot."

Ren smiled at his consideration and took her seat. For once, the people around her greeted her warmly. This time, the dining hall was filled not only with the wolf shifters but also bear shifters, feline shifters, serpent shifters, bird shifters, and even the deer guards of the wood. Everyone had gathered.

"We heard you’d be eating here today. Hope you don’t mind," a white tiger shifter said. He was the commander of the western fortress guards near the infirmary, his sharp blue eyes and cropped white hair making him stand out.

"Not at all. I’m honored to sit at one table with all of you. I only wish His Highness was here too."

As the meal continued, Ren noticed Orgreve eating heartily, yet she recognized the act. He was masking his sorrow.

The doors swung open, and Calisa hurried in, slipping into the empty seat next to Ren.

"Calisa? Good morning!"

"Good morning, Luna Reneira."

Rail eyed the young hawk with a raised brow. "What are you doing here, birdy?"

"I joined the military academy! I’m a newbie now. And I’m Calisa, not birdy."

Rail dropped his fork in exasperation, it clanked with protest. "Great. Now I have to see your ugly face every day."

Calisa smirked, mischief flashing in his eyes. "Yeah, you better watch your ass."

Laughter erupted around the table, except from Rail, who groaned as Orgreve clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Rip, brother."

"I’ll roast this little birdy!" Rail menaced.

Ren watched them, warmth filling her chest. They were happy, and carefree, but why had they suddenly started treating her differently?

’Arkilla, what changed?’

Arkilla smirked devilishly, thickening her voice to mimic Shadow’s growl. "I dare you to disrespect My Woman!" swooning over the words in her mind.

A shiver ran down Ren’s spine, her cheeks burning. That voice, those words. Shadow had called her His Woman. Was he revealing Kaisun’s true feelings? The thought sent a rush of heat through her, making her appetite return with full force.

As the meal ended and they were walking to the door, a human servant approached and handed Ren a rolled parchment. Recognizing the girl, Ren’s expression darkened at the bruises on her neck. She was one of the serpent elder’s servants. That pervert filth.

Unrolling the parchment, Ren read the contents, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"What does it say?" Arkilla asked.

"The female courtiers of Thegara have invited me for tea."

Arkilla choked on her saliva, coughing violently. Ren patted her back.

"Oh, gods! You can’t be serious!"

"I am. I’ll join them in the evening."

Arkilla gawked. "My lady!"

Ren remained stoic, though her heart pounded. She would regret this later, but in Kaisun’s absence, she was in charge. Avoiding them would be a sign of weakness, revealing her fear of them or even worse making them feel she was a hazard and looked down on them.

"Alright," Arkilla relented, voice jagged with disbelief. "Let’s head to the training hall. We’ll drop Ogain off at his nest on the way."

~°*°~

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~Winter.

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