As King Kai lay in bed next to Elena, his mind refused to quiet. The weight of the day’s events lingered heavily on his chest, but it wasn’t Samael’s impending threat or Tay’s unpredictable strategies that kept him awake. Now it was the thoughts of his son, Kaian.
Elena’s soft, rhythmic breathing beside him was usually enough to lull him into sleep, but tonight it only highlighted the stark contrast between the warmth of their chambers and the harsh reality Kaian was facing. Kai had spared his mate the full truth earlier, not wanting to upset her further, but he couldn’t shake the knowledge of just how deeply their son was struggling.
When Kaian had left the palace, his departure had been filled with bravado, pride shielding him from acknowledging the uncertainty that lay ahead. Kai had
