Chapter 81: Big Angry Uncle.

“I’ll go in alone,” Ezra told Fizzy quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You get ready. We leave at dawn.”

Fizzy frowned. “Aren’t you nervous? You just returned a few days ago and now you’re facing a massive horde. I don’t even know how you’re going to explain that to the kid.”

Ezra’s gaze softened slightly.

“That’s exactly why I need time alone with him,” he said. He removed his hand from Fizzy’s shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow. And if you can find more clothes that might fit him, bring them.”

Fizzy snorted. “That won’t be difficult. This palace is practically infested with babies.”

That earned the faintest twitch of Ezra’s lips. The king had not slowed down in the past five years. If anything, the nurseries had multiplied.

Ezra nodded.

Fizzy saluted lightly before turning to leave.

Ezra watched him go.

Waited until he was far enough down the corridor.

Waited until the hallway felt quiet.

Only then did he let the composure slip.

’Pull yourself together,’ he told himself softly.

He stood there for another minute, just breathing. Letting the weight of the day settle. The tension. The humiliation. The confusion.

Then he turned.

The door opened with a soft creak.

Light spilled into the hallway.

And before he could even step inside—

“Mama… Master—”

Ezra’s bottom lip trembled despite himself. He quickly shut the door behind him and locked it.

“My baby,” he whispered.

He crossed the room in long strides and scooped Lior up into his arms without hesitation, holding him tightly against his chest.

“It’s alright,” Ezra murmured, brushing his lips against Lior’s hair. “You can call me Maman again.”

He pulled back just enough to look at him properly.

Lior’s eyes were glossy. Bright. The way they always got when he tried very hard not to cry.

And just like that, Ezra felt his own vision blur.

“Maman!” Lior burst out, burying his face into Ezra’s chest.

Ezra tightened his hold instinctively.

For a moment, the world shrank.

No princes.

No missions.

No golden whips.

Just this.

Just his son.

Then—

Lior made a sudden choking noise.

He pushed away abruptly, scrunching his nose as if deeply offended.

“Lior, what’s wrong—”

“Maman…” Lior squinted at him suspiciously.

“You stinky.”

Ezra froze.

“…What?”

Lior leaned back slightly, inspecting him with exaggerated seriousness.

“You smell weird,” he said bluntly.

Ezra blinked once.

Twice.

’Oh.’

Right.

Helios.

Pheromones.

Sweat.

Embarrassment.

He probably smelled like a battlefield wrapped in alpha dominance.

Ezra let out a breath that was half laugh, half groan.

“I see,” he muttered, adjusting Lior on his hip. “That is… unfortunate.”

Lior continued to stare at him, deeply unimpressed.

“Maman smell like a big angry uncle.”

Ezra choked.

“Do not say that,” he whispered urgently. “And absolutely do not repeat that anywhere near the palace.”

Lior tilted his head.

Ezra sighed.

’Of course this is how my reunion goes.’

He pressed his forehead gently against Lior’s.

“I’ll wash,” he promised softly. “Then I will smell like your maman again.”

And just like that, Lior smiled.

“Alright,” Ezra said gently as he set Lior down near the edge of the bed. “Tell me about your day while Maman washes. And be very detailed. I expect a full report, little one.”

Lior straightened instantly, as if he had just been assigned an important mission.

“Yes, Maman.”

Ezra slipped into the bathing room and quickly stripped out of his clothes. The fabric hit the floor in a soft heap. He stepped into the bath and began scrubbing harder than necessary.

’Alpha pheromones… sweat… dirt.’

He could still smell it on himself. That sharp, lingering scent.

No wonder Lior had wrinkled his nose.

’Angry uncle,’ Ezra thought dryly.

He poured water over his shoulders again. And again. Just to be certain.

Outside, Lior’s voice rang through the room, bright and eager.

“Fizzy told me stories! The one where the knight was actually a princess in disguise. And then we played with the wooden soldiers. I made one fall down the stairs and Fizzy said he was dramatic.”

Ezra huffed a quiet breath that almost passed as a laugh.

“I am certain he was,” Ezra replied, running his fingers through his hair.

“And the doctor came!” Lior continued proudly. “He said I am strong. He listened to my chest and I did not even cry. He said I can eat candy again but… uh… mimimal.”

“Minimal,” Ezra corrected gently, reaching for more soap. “And you are very brave.”

“And Fizzy taught me writing!” Lior added, excitement creeping back in. “I tried writing my name. It looked weird.”

“I will inspect it later,” Ezra said.

He stepped out of the bath, water dripping quietly onto the tiles. He dried himself quickly, patting down his skin, making sure no scent lingered.

He pulled on a loose night gown hanging nearby. Soft fabric. Familiar weight.

For a brief second, it almost felt like five years ago.

Before everything had changed.

Then Lior’s voice shifted.

It grew softer.

Slower.

“I waited.”

Ezra paused mid-step.

“I waited and waited,” Lior said. “And the sun was going down.”

Ezra stepped fully out of the bathing room now, towel still loosely in his hand.

Lior was sitting on the floor beside the bed, knees drawn up, small fingers gripping the fabric of his clothes.

“I thought Maman was busy,” Lior continued quietly. “But then the sun went down. And I did not know what was happening.”

His voice wavered.

“I was very worried.”

Ezra felt something twist painfully in his chest.

’Oh no.’

“I thought maybe… maybe you were not coming back.”

That was enough.

Ezra crossed the room in two quick steps and dropped to his knees in front of him.

“Lior.”

The child’s eyes were glossy now. His bottom lip trembled as he tried to hold himself together.

Ezra did not give him the chance to break.

He pulled him into his arms immediately, holding him tightly against his chest.

“I am so sorry,” Ezra whispered into his hair. “I should have sent word. I should have told you.”

He lifted Lior easily and carried him to the bed, sitting down with him still wrapped securely in his arms.

“Nothing in this entire kingdom will ever stop me from coming back to you,” Ezra said softly. “Absolutely nothing.”

Lior sniffed against his chest.

“You promise?”

Ezra pressed his forehead gently to Lior’s, letting their breaths mix.

“I promise.”

’Even if I have to tear the world apart first.’

He rocked him slowly, one hand moving in small circles along his back, steady and warm.

“I had to train today,” Ezra explained, keeping his voice calm. “And tomorrow… we may have to leave very early.”

Lior stiffened slightly in his arms.

Ezra felt it immediately.

“We will leave together,” he added quickly. “You won’t be left behind. Don’t worry.”

Lior’s fingers tightened in the fabric of Ezra’s night gown.

“Are you fighting?” Lior asked quietly.

Ezra closed his eyes for a brief second before answering.

“Yes.”

Lior swallowed.

“Big fight?”

“Yes.”

He did not lie. He never lied about things that mattered.

There was a long pause. The kind that felt too heavy for a child his age.

Then Lior nodded slowly, as if bracing himself.

“You will be a hero like Crimson?” he asked softly.

Ezra’s throat tightened at the name.

“Yes,” Ezra murmured. “Like Crimson.”

Lior’s eyes held only awe. “Can you tell me another story about him?”

“Of course.” He kissed Lior’s hair gently and held him closer.

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