Chapter 143: Are You Two Arguing?
"Why so sour?" Kaelis asks, resting his head against the carriage window, his tone light like nothing was wrong. "Is it still because you argue with Helios?"
Ezra stiffened.
"How did you—" he starts, his eyes narrowing in surprise.
He and Helios had gone deeper into the forest. No one was supposed to hear that. No one was supposed to see that.
"It was a wild guess," Kaelis answers easily, like it didn’t matter, like it was obvious. His hand comes up to rest on Lior’s head, idly smoothing his hair as Lior sits on his lap, quiet for once.
’Wild guess, my ass.’ Ezra thought, his jaw tightening. ’He probably followed us.’
But that didn’t make sense either.
Kaelis had been with Lior.
Ezra didn’t know which bothered him more, the idea that Kaelis somehow knew without being there, or the possibility that he had still managed to piece it together anyway.
Still, Ezra chose to believe Kaelis was just being a creep again.
It was easier that way.
"First taste of an angry Helios?" Kaelis continues, glancing at him. "I get why you’d be frustrated. This is probably the first time he’s actually gotten cross with you."
Ezra’s fingers curled slightly against his sleeve.
"Why do you make it sound like that’s who he is?" Ezra says, his voice sharper than he intended, though he still holds himself back from snapping completely.
"Because it is," Kaelis replies without hesitation. "I love my brother, but he’s hardly the saint you paint him to be. Even he’s aware of that."
"We had a small disagreement," Ezra says through gritted teeth, his gaze turning away for a moment. "And respectfully, what do you know, Prince Kaelis?"
Kaelis lets out a chuckle.
"Wow," he mutters, amused. "I wonder how you would’ve said that without the ’respect.’"
Ezra shoots him a look.
He didn’t want to argue.
He really didn’t.
But the entire reason that the argument even happened was that Kaelis had dragged him into this mess. Because Lior got involved. Because everything spiraled the way it did.
And now—
Now Ezra had to deal with all of it.
The stress.
The exhaustion.
The way his chest still ached from what Helios said.
’I’m tired.’
’I’m so tired.’
So no, he wasn’t going to be the bigger person right now.
"Why does this seem amusing to you, Your Highness?" Ezra asks, his tone steady, but there is an edge to it now. "Does my frustration entertain you?"
"Amuse me?" Kaelis lifts a brow, sitting up slightly. "No. Why on Aurethys would you think that?"
’Is he serious?’
Ezra stares at him for a second, trying to read his expression.
It didn’t help.
Kaelis always looked like he was playing some kind of game.
"You seem pretty joyful at my expense," Ezra says.
Kaelis exhales, shifting slightly in his seat. "No, that’s not... I was just trying to lighten the mood."
That answer only made Ezra more annoyed.
’What a bastard.’
"Based on your face, I’m guessing you don’t believe me," Kaelis adds, glancing at him again.
"Well, it’s hard to believe that," Ezra replies flatly, "when you were just insulting Prince Helios and laughing at me."
"I wasn’t insulting my brother," Kaelis says, tilting his head slightly. "Why would I? I’m just telling you the truth. Helios can be difficult when he’s angry. Just because you’ve never seen that side of him doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist."
’That’s not true.’
Ezra clenched his jaw.
’Helios is mature. He has his emotions controlled. He’s not... like that.’
But the memory from earlier flickered in his mind anyway.
The way Helios raised his voice.
The way he looked at him.
Ezra looked away.
"Whatever you say, Prince Kaelis," he mutters. "I’m tired. You’ve already uncovered whatever secrets I have, so I don’t see a reason to pretend anymore."
"Pretend?" Kaelis echoes, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "When have you ever pretended to be nice, Ezra Belloren?"
Ezra’s eye twitched slightly. "I’ve never been outright rude to you, have I?"
Kaelis lets out a quiet scoff, shifting a little as he rests back. "Oh, that’s where you’re wrong. You have everything written all over your face. Do you think you’re the master of—"
"Are you two fighting?"
Both of them stopped.
Ezra’s gaze dropped, and Kaelis looked down as well, since Lior was still sitting on his lap.
Lior was staring at them with wide, curious eyes, his expression completely innocent, like he had just caught them doing something they weren’t supposed to do.
Ezra sighed, the tension in his shoulders loosening just a bit.
Kaelis inhaled quietly.
"No," they both said at the same time.
Neither of them looked at either.
"Liars," Lior says, crossing his arms over his chest with a small huff.
Ezra pressed his lips together.
Kaelis lets out a soft breath, then reaches up to ruffle Lior’s hair. "We’re really not, kid. I was just teasing your ’maman,’ and he misunderstood and thought I was insulting him."
Ezra narrowed his eyes immediately.
"Actually, Lior," Ezra cuts in, his tone calm but pointed, "I think Prince Kaelis, being a prince, doesn’t understand social cues. So he thinks the way he acts is acceptable for everyone, or maybe he’s just used to people pretending to like him."
Kaelis turns his head toward him, unimpressed. "You know, you shouldn’t overexplain to a child. They stop listening the moment you start talking too much."
"He’s my son," Ezra replies, lifting his chin slightly. "As you’ve already figured out, I’d think I know him better than—"
"WAIT!"
Lior suddenly throws both his hands out between them, his small body leaning forward like he was physically trying to stop the argument.
"I don’t understand," Lior says, his brows furrowing, "but you’re both fighting. No fighting!"
Kaelis glances at Ezra, giving him a look that clearly says, ’I told you so.’
That only made Ezra more irritated.
’I swear—’
Ezra exhales, cutting himself off before he could say anything else.
He gives up.
He opens his arms toward Lior instead. "Come here so I don’t argue with him," he says.
Lior brightens immediately. "Okay!"
He slides off Kaelis’s lap without hesitation and runs toward Ezra, his small steps quick and eager.
The moment he reaches him, Ezra lifts his hips, settling him securely in his arms.
The familiar weight grounded him almost instantly.
"You should always be on my side," Ezra murmurs, lowering his voice as he leans slightly closer to Lior. "I’m your maman, and he’s just some guy. Okay?"
"I heard that," Kaelis says from the side, his tone dry. "I’m still a prince, Ezra Belloren."
Ezra doesn’t even look at him.
"Let’s pretend we can’t hear him," Lior whispers back, his voice small but serious as he leans closer to Ezra.
Ezra pauses for a second.
Then, despite everything, a small smile forms on his lips.
’...I like that idea.’