Four days passed.
Four beautiful, strangely quiet days. The forest remained calm. The twins behaved. No dead birds, no strange laughter in the night. Just soft meals, gentle laughter, sleepy arms around Cael's waist.
It was almost enough to make him believe they were just children again.
Almost.
⸻
Then the knights came.
A line of black horses through the trees, armored riders gleaming under the morning sun. Swords at their sides. Tension in their shoulders. The air changed when they arrived—heavier, like the forest itself held its breath.
Cael stood outside his cottage, hand resting lightly on Viel's head. Eryx was standing beside him, eyes narrowed at the approaching strangers.
When the commander dismounted, his expression was grim.
"We've come to retrieve the princes," he said, voice stiff, rehearsed. "On royal orders."
Cael smiled softly, patting Viel's shoulder. "You hear that? You're going home."
⸻
But the twins didn't move.
Viel turned, burying his face against Cael's side.
Eryx stepped forward, chin lifted in defiance.
"No."
The knights blinked.
Cael froze. "...What?"
"We're not leaving him," Eryx said. His voice was calm—but dangerous. "We live here now."
"That's not how this works," the knight stammered.
"Then make it work," Eryx snapped, his red eyes glowing faintly. "You're the king's dogs, aren't you?"
Viel nodded, still clinging tightly to Cael. "We're staying. With him."
⸻
Cael's soul wilted.
"Just go away, you brats..."
He didn't say it aloud. But he thought it so loud it hurt.
I just want my quiet life back.
My garden. My home. My peace.
But there were two children beside him now—children who weren't children at all.
And they'd chosen him.
The knights looked at each other in disbelief.
Devil princes—creatures who tore assassins apart without blinking—were standing beside a man with brown hair, sun-warmed skin, and soft eyes, and acting like spoiled children who didn't want to leave their favorite toy.
They were terrified of the twins.
But more terrified of taking them away from him.
How had he survived this long?
More importantly...
Why did the devils seem so enchanted by him?
⸻
The knight commander, Sir Hallen, stepped forward slowly.
"...You," he said to Cael, "will have to come with us."
"What?" Cael blinked.
"It's the only way. If we force them, someone will die. Probably us. Possibly the forest. Maybe the village."
"I can't," Cael said, almost pleading. "I—I don't belong in a palace. I'm not anyone."
"You are to them."
⸻
Eryx looked smug. Viel looked hopeful.
Cael... wanted to disappear.
So he smiled, sweet and tired. "Let me pack. I'll follow you in two days. I need to say goodbye to the village. To my home."
The twins both frowned.
"No," Eryx said immediately. "We'll wait."
"I won't run," Cael lied. "You can trust me."
Viel stared up at him with big, watery eyes. "Promise?"
"I promise."
The younger boy hesitated, then hugged him. Tight. Quiet. Like it would hurt to let go.
Eryx hugged him from behind, arms locked around his ribs with a possessiveness that felt almost choking.
He didn't say a word. But his heartbeat—Cael could feel it racing.
"You said two days," Eryx whispered in his ear. "If you don't come... we'll come for you."
"And we won't be this nice next time," Viel added, softly.
⸻
And then they were gone.
Gone with the knights. Into the trees. Out of his clearing. Out of his life.
Cael stood there, breathing too hard, hands shaking slightly as the sunlight warmed the empty space where they'd just stood.
"Goodbye," he whispered to the wind. "Please... don't come back."
He turned, walked inside, and began packing.
Because he knew—if he stayed, they'd find him.
And this time... they wouldn't leave alone.