Alex, Adam, Aria, and Demian were standing a little apart from the adults, closer to the edge of the garden, where the tree branches cast a light shadow over the grass. Laughter and music drifted from the center of the courtyard, but here the atmosphere was more intimate—like a small island of calm amid the noisy celebration. They were chatting among themselves when the conversation unexpectedly turned toward the history of how their parents had met.

  Alex tilted his head, hands in his pockets, and asked,

  “So, how long have your families actually been friends?”

  Demian thought for a moment, then replied with mild enthusiasm,

  “Our father has known Aunt Luna since their school years. They were fifteen back then. And when they entered the Academy, that’s where they met Uncle Astarion. I think he was in his second year at the time…”

  “Third,” Adam corrected him with a light smile. “It was during one of the parties the Academy used to host. That’s when he first met Mom and Uncle Arthur. And, as he likes to say, they quickly found common ground, so from that evening on, Dad became part of their group.”

  Adam smiled involuntarily, warmth seeping into his voice.

  “And since he was already friends with Miss Elizabeth back then, he pulled her in too. Then, a few months later, Mom and Dad fell in love and started dating.”

  Aria smiled and took up the story with interest.

  “And the following year, when my mom enrolled at the Academy, Dad noticed her almost immediately—literally in the first few days. If you believe Mom, he fell in love at first sight. So just a few days later, he deliberately found an excuse to introduce himself to her.”

  She sighed briefly and rolled her eyes.

  “At first, they had secret meetings he didn’t tell anyone about. Then, a month later, he brought Mom into the group. By that point, she was already in love too, even if she didn’t admit it right away. But after a few conversations with Aunt Luna and Miss Elizabeth, she finally gathered the courage to confess first. And that’s the whole story of how our families became close,” she concluded with a warm smile.

  Alex smiled as well.

  “That’s an interesting story.”

  Suddenly, a new voice sounded behind them. Calm, but laced with barely concealed mockery.

  “It really is an interesting story… Too bad it isn’t entirely true.”

  All four turned sharply toward the voice and saw a man standing barely two steps away from them, arms crossed over his chest, a sly smile on his pale face. He was tall and slender, with long black hair falling in messy strands over his shoulders. His skin was unnaturally pale, almost lifeless, dark circles clearly visible beneath his eyes, while his brown eyes gleamed ominously in the light of the magical lanterns. He wore classic black trousers and a light short-sleeved shirt, his hands hidden beneath thin black gloves.

  “You retold the story quite well,” he continued, his voice calm, though each word seemed to pierce the space between them. “But… there are a few gaps in it. And those gaps are precisely what make it incomplete. Without those little details, you might have been calling me ‘uncle’ as well.”

  Before the teens could even react properly, a magical circle flared beneath their feet. The world around them blurred, and the next moment all four were standing beside their parents. A glowing magic circle still shimmered in Arthur’s palm, confirming that it was he who had instantly moved them away from the stranger.

  “Kael!” Astarion’s voice thundered with fury. “What the hell are you doing here?!”

  The man laughed, covering his face with one hand. His laughter was loud and unsettling, as though he were reveling in his own performance.

  “Oh, Astarion,” he drawled, lowering his hand and looking at the count with insolent amusement. “I’d advise you to watch your tongue when you speak to me. Have you forgotten your place? Or have twelve years finally given you some courage?”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Astarion’s magical aura surged sharply, pressing down on everyone present, and he repeated the question with cold steel in his voice,

  “I’m asking you for the last time. What are you doing here?”

  Kael snorted, tilting his head to the side.

  “So you really have grown bolder. Very well. I came to see Luna. When I heard she had finally awakened from her long sleep, I was… endlessly happy. And when I learned you were throwing a party in her honor, I eagerly awaited an invitation. You can imagine my disappointment when I realized there would be none. Still, please don’t worry about that, Astarion. I understand perfectly. We haven’t seen each other for twelve whole years—you might simply have forgotten about me.”

  He shifted his gaze to Luna, his tone turning falsely sorrowful.

  “But the worst part is that you forgot about me too. I never would have imagined that…”

  Luna barely parted her lips to respond, but Astarion stopped her with a raised hand, never taking his eyes off Kael.

  “Not inviting you was my decision,” the count said sharply. “And you know exactly why. So get off my estate. Immediately. Or else—”

  Kael burst into laughter again, cutting him off.

  “Or else what?” he asked mockingly, narrowing his eyes. “Even if you wanted to, you couldn’t do anything. And you know it. Just like everyone else here.”

  His tone suddenly became almost casual, as if he were talking about something entirely ordinary.

  “Don’t worry. I’m here only to see old friends. It’s been far too long since we were all in the same place.”

  He slowly swept his gaze over the gathering, naming each of them.

  “Elizabeth. Celeste. Arthur. Luna… Even you, Astarion. I’m glad to see you too. Though, as always, you irritate me.”

  His gaze moved on to Emma and Gabriel, standing a little behind the others. A new, even slyer smile curved his lips.

  “Oh? Well, well… new faces in our little circle. What a discovery.”

  He lightly tapped his temple with the base of his palm, as if recalling something, and adopted the air of a carefree gentleman.

  “Where are my manners? One should introduce oneself to newcomers.”

  Kael inclined himself in a graceful, theatrical bow.

  “Kael Daskreit. Delighted to make your acquaintance.”

  Straightening, he fixed his gaze on Emma and Gabriel, a provocative playfulness ringing in his voice.

  “And now, perhaps you’ll tell me your names as well?”

  Gabriel stepped forward, positioning himself beside Astarion and Arthur, leaving Emma behind with Luna, Celeste, Elizabeth, and the children. His voice was even, but edged with steel.

  “My name is Gabriel. This is my wife, Emma, and over there behind us is our son, Alex.”

  “Gabriel… Emma… Alex…” Kael repeated slowly. He nodded, then added in a calm, almost indifferent tone, “Very pleased to meet you. Though… I suspect I’ll forget your names in a few minutes.”

  His gaze abruptly fixed on Luna. A predatory glint sparked in his brown eyes, and a twisted expression of feigned surprise crossed his face.

  “Luna…” he drawled, savoring her name. “Is that… fear I see in your eyes?”

  His voice grew quieter, almost gentle—and all the more unsettling for it.

  “Are you really afraid of me? Of me, your closest friend from childhood? That can’t be possible. After all, my Luna…” He took a step forward and theatrically pressed a palm to his chest. “My Luna knows I would never harm her. My Luna would never look at me the way you’re looking at me now…”

  His face twisted, his voice snapping into a shout.

  “My Luna would have said something by now! She wouldn’t be hiding behind Astarion’s and Arthur’s backs!”

  “Enough of this circus!” Arthur snarled, stepping forward. “There’s no one here who’s going to fall for this cheap performance.”

  Kael’s smile vanished instantly. He snapped his gaze toward Arthur, and his voice dropped low and ominous, heavy with threat.

  “I don’t recall giving permission for weaklings to open their mouths. Do you even understand who’s standing in front of you? Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?!”

  His shout rang across the courtyard.

  “How did trash like you, Arthur, ever become an aristocrat?! Talentless! Powerless! A worthless nobody!”

  Not a trace of Arthur’s former restraint remained. His eyes burned with fire as his hand jerked upward—and a crimson magic circle flared to life in his palm.

  Around Kael, dozens of fiery spheres formed as if out of thin air. They hovered in the air, poised to launch at a single gesture.

  “Say that again,” Arthur said coldly, fury ringing in his voice. “Unless, of course, you’re afraid of becoming a charred corpse in the next instant.”

  But before the fire could surge forward, Celeste appeared beside Arthur. Carefully, almost gently, she took his hand. Tears glistened in her eyes, yet her expression was firm and resolute.

  Arthur froze. The rage contorting his face dissolved under her gaze. He let out a heavy breath, clicked his tongue softly, and lowered his hand. The fiery spheres faded away as if they had never existed.

  Kael laughed again—loud, hoarse, wholehearted.

  “Oooh, would you look at that! Twelve years have passed, and the picture hasn’t changed at all. Astarion at least grew a spine… but you, Arthur, are still Celeste’s little lapdog. Just as you always were. Pathetic.”

  Alex glanced at Arthur. He stood there with fists clenched so tightly his fingers trembled, his hands shaking from barely restrained fury.

  “Sirena, did you find anything?” the boy asked silently.

  “Still searching,” her reply echoed back. “Give me a few more minutes…”

  But her words were drowned out by another voice.

  “Enough!” Luna cried out.

  She stepped decisively out from behind Astarion, Arthur, and Gabriel, stopping directly in front of them, her gaze locked on Kael.