The fire crackled in the clearing, sending sparks dancing into the darkening sky. The gang had spread out around it, some tending to the flames, others simply sitting in quiet thought. The weight of Callum's revelations lingered, but for a few moments, no one pressed strategy or action.
Alex leaned against Riven, shoulders brushing, the warmth grounding him. "So… if we're going to court openly," he began, fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve, "we'll have to figure out how to tell our parents first. And then, well… high society. Everyone will notice eventually."
Riven tilted his head, dark eyes glimmering. "We could make it simple. Sit them down, explain it, answer questions. Or we could make it dramatic. I vote for simple."
Alex laughed softly. "Yeah… dramatic might terrify them. But we do need to prepare them. And the nobles too. I don't want anyone thinking we're hiding it."
Riven's hand found Alex's, fingers curling around his. "We'll handle it together. Just like everything else."
Alex glanced down at their intertwined hands, then back at Riven. "Even after what Callum told us… about the King, the mystical beasts, and everything… it's… a lot. But at least we have each other. And the gang. That matters."
Riven's smirk softened into something warm. "Exactly. You don't need to have all the answers right now. You just need to trust me, and I trust you. We'll figure out the rest as it comes."
Nearby, Edrin and Kael tossed small sticks into the fire, muttering jokes that made only them laugh. Saphira leaned back against a tree, arms crossed, clearly trying not to smile, while Lady Marriane observed quietly, her sharp gaze softening in the firelight.
Alex let out a quiet sigh, resting his head lightly against Riven's shoulder. "I'm glad it's you," he whispered. "I mean… facing all of this, together."
Riven pressed a soft kiss to the top of Alex's head. "Me too. Always. And the rest of them," he added, nodding toward the gang, "they'll be by our side too. Even with everything going on, we're not alone."
Saphira shook her head, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "You two are hopelessly sentimental. At least someone is taking this calmly."
Edrin grinned. "Better sentimental than reckless. I can live with that."
Kael gave a subtle nod. "Moments like these… they remind you why it's worth standing up, even when everything seems impossible."
Lady Marriane finally spoke, her voice measured but kind. "Remember this feeling. These connections will anchor you when the storm comes. Strength comes not only from power, but from the bonds you share."
Alex rested against Riven once more, feeling the truth in her words. "Together," he said softly.
"Together," Riven echoed, squeezing his hand gently.
The forest night held them in a fragile peace, a quiet bubble where intimacy, trust, and laughter balanced the knowledge of the storm ahead. The gang laughed quietly at each other's antics, teased one another, and shared small comforts. For now, at least, the world's weight was softened by the strength of their connections—and the spark of something tender between two people who had chosen to face it all together.