Chapter 34: Steer the Conversation.

Ezra and Helios settled into the wooden chairs at the center of the hidden garden. There was no tea this time.

No small plates of sweets the way there used to be.

And yet, sitting there with the glow of the blossoms around them, it felt strangely familiar. Comforting.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply sat, listening to the quiet and letting the space fill itself.

Then Helios broke the silence.

“So,” he said gently, “how is Lior doing? Is he faring well?”

Ezra stiffened at the sound of Lior’s name, the reaction instinctive before he could stop it. He turned his gaze aside, pretending to focus on one of the glowing plants.

“He’s doing well,” Ezra replied after a beat. “He had some… concerns about me leaving for a few hours. But Fizzy handled it well. Gained his trust. Lior was okay staying with him.”

Helios smiled. “Fizzy has a way with children. He volunteers at an orphanage from time to time, or so I’ve heard.”

His expression softened. “I’m glad Lior is doing well. Yesterday, he seemed so distressed just being away from you for a few minutes. I was worried.”

Ezra let out a small, awkward laugh. “He doesn’t really know anyone but me. So… he got attached.”

“Mhm.” Helios leaned his chin against his hand, eyes thoughtful as he studied Ezra. “Though it doesn’t seem like he’s the only one who’s attached.”

Ezra’s fingers curled slightly in his lap.

’Is he suspecting something?’ he thought, a flicker of panic rising. But when he looked at Helios again, there was no sharpness there. Only curiosity.

’You’re overthinking it,’ Ezra told himself. ’Just answer.’

“It’s not hard to get attached to him,” Ezra said quietly. “He’s… a smart boy. Considerate. Kind.”

His nails dug lightly into his thigh beneath the table.

“At this point,” Helios said lightly, “you might as well consider adopting him.”

Ezra choked on a breath and coughed, clearing his throat quickly.

’That was sudden.’

“Adopt? Why would I adopt him? I don’t need a child.”

“And yet,” Helios replied, tilting his head, “you took him in. I know that beneath that lone wolf exterior of yours, you’re a gentle person. Perhaps you just needed a child.”

“Like… an omega?” Ezra blurted out before he could stop himself.

Helios’s eyes widened. “Ezra, no. That’s not what I meant—”

“I know,” Ezra cut in, laughing softly. “Don’t worry. I’m not offended. I’m just…”

His voice trailed off, the smile on his face a little too quick, a little too practiced.

’…want t steer it somewhere safer,’ he told himself. ’Anywhere but there.’

“…you know I prefer to avoid anything remotely related to me being an omega,” Ezra continued lightly, forcing a scoff. “And having a child. Becoming some sort of… maternal figure?” He waved a hand dismissively.

“Can you imagine?”

Helios didn’t answer right away.

He just looked at Ezra.

Not sharply. Not accusingly. Just quietly, thoughtfully, for a second longer than was comfortable.

Ezra felt his shoulders tense.

’Please don’t look at me like that,’ he thought.

Then Helios turned his gaze away, resting his forearms on the table.

“Whether you’re an alpha or an omega,” Helios said slowly, “don’t you ever think about parenthood? In general.” He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. “Being a father.”

Ezra blinked.

“I have,” Helios went on, voice lower now. “Especially at my age. I wonder what I would be like. If I would be any good at it.”

There was something in his tone that made Ezra’s chest tighten.

’Is he…longing? To be a father?’ Ezra wondered, startled. ’Since when?’

Helios had always spoken about duty. Responsibility. The idea of being crown prince.

Never this.

“Is that because of the throne?” Ezra asked carefully. “Or…?”

He had to know.

There were only two ways this would end. Either the king named a crown prince, or Helios produced an heir.

A son.

Ezra knew Helios had refused to do the latter before marriage. Alyce’s culture demanded the same. And Ezra respected that.

Still.

Helios let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “It would certainly make things easier. Having a son would secure my position.”

He glanced back at Ezra, expression wry. “Though I’m not sure I deserve it, considering how things have gone while you were away.”

Ezra frowned.

“But,” Helios continued, softer now, “I genuinely want a child. I have for years.” He hesitated, then added, almost shyly, “Maybe someone smart. Kind. Like Lior, from the way you describe him.”

Ezra went still.

His breath caught before he could stop it.

’Careful,’ he warned himself. ’Careful.’

There was too much in Helios’s words. Too many things Ezra wasn’t ready to touch. He felt like if he pulled on the wrong thread, everything would unravel.

So he chose the one question he could ask.

“What happened?” Ezra repeated quietly. “In the five years I was gone, I…”

He let out a slow breath. “…I’ve heard a lot of things, Helios. Not all of them good.”

Helios’s smile faltered.

Just a little. But Ezra noticed. He always did.

“I figured you would hear about it sooner or later,” Helios said, forcing a light chuckle. “I just didn’t expect you to ask so directly.”

He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands together. “Responsible as always. That’s exactly why Father and I didn’t hesitate to leave the captain’s position open for you.”

Ezra stiffened.

’He’s saying it again,’ Ezra thought, a strange weight pressing against his chest. ’Like it was obvious. Like it wasn’t insane to keep it vacant for five years.’

He leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the table. “Helios,” he said again, softer this time. “What happened?”

Helios didn’t answer right away.

He met Ezra’s gaze, really met it, and for a moment Ezra felt like he was thirteen again, standing too close, looking into those same golden eyes that had always made him feel seen in a way that was almost uncomfortable.

Helios inhaled slowly.

Then he spoke.

“You left.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep