The journey to Portia's estate was long, winding through the darkened outskirts of Noctis Haven. The further they traveled, the stronger the presence of old magic became. The trees whispered secrets in the wind, and the shadows moved just a little too naturally.
Melly had seen magic before—felt it in her blood—but this was different. This was something ancient. Something that had been here long before any of them.
Arkins walked beside her, his expression unreadable. "She'll like you," he said, almost as if he was trying to convince himself.
Melly smirked. "She better. I don't do well with bad first impressions."
Ezra chuckled, while Zyren just shook his head. "Trust me," Zyren muttered, "Portia's not the type you want to get on the wrong side of."
Selene, who had been walking silently until now, suddenly spoke. "Wait… Portia?" Her gaze snapped to Arkins. "You mean Portia Raventhorn?"
Arkins gave her a sideways glance. "Yeah?"
Selene blinked. "The Portia Raventhorn? The Matriarch of Shadows? The High Seer of the Bloodline?"
Zyren snickered. "Yep. That one."
Selene looked genuinely unsettled. "And you just casually call her Grandma?"
Arkins shrugged. "She prefers it."
Melly raised a brow, amused. "I don't know whether to be nervous or impressed."
Ezra smirked. "A little bit of both would be wise."
A Grandmother's Welcome
Portia's estate was unlike anything Melly had ever seen. The mansion itself was carved into the side of a massive obsidian mountain, its towering spires reaching into the sky. The air shimmered with unseen enchantments, and the very ground hummed with power.
The doors opened before they could even knock.
A woman stood in the entryway, her presence commanding.
She was tall, draped in flowing black and deep crimson robes, her silver hair cascading down her back like liquid moonlight. Her eyes—piercing and sharp—settled on Arkins first.
"My dear boy," she murmured, stepping forward and cupping his face with surprising gentleness. "You've grown strong."
Arkins tensed for a moment before relaxing under her touch. "It's good to see you, Grandmother."
Then her gaze shifted—to Melly.
Melly wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but she definitely hadn't anticipated the sheer warmth that suddenly radiated from Portia's expression.
"Oh, my stars," Portia whispered, stepping forward. "It's you."
Before Melly could react, she was suddenly wrapped in an embrace—tight, overwhelming, genuine.
Melly stiffened. She wasn't used to people touching her so freely. But Portia held her as if she were something precious—something long lost and finally found.
"You have no idea how long I've waited to meet you," Portia whispered.
Melly swallowed hard, unsure of what to say.
Portia finally pulled back, her hands still gripping Melly's shoulders as she studied her. "You are extraordinary."
Melly let out a breathless laugh. "I try."
Arkins rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh… Grandmother, you're kind of overwhelming her."
Portia waved a hand dismissively. "Nonsense. She can handle it."
Melly smirked. "He's right, though. You're a lot."
Portia grinned. "Good. You'll need to be strong for what's coming."
Selene, who had been watching in stunned silence, finally found her voice. "Wait… you know her?"
Portia turned to Selene, raising a perfectly arched brow. "Know her? My dear, this girl is bound to our fate more than you realize."
Selene narrowed her eyes. "How?"
Portia glanced back at Melly, something unreadable in her gaze. "Because she is more than just Arkins' mate."
Melly's stomach flipped. "Wait—mate?"
Selene looked just as shocked. "Hold on. What?"
Arkins tensed. "Grandmother—"
Portia smiled knowingly. "Oh, come now, Arkins. Did you think you could hide it from me? A bond as strong as yours?" She turned back to Melly, her eyes twinkling. "And you, my dear, are just as drawn to him, aren't you?"
Melly opened her mouth, closed it, then turned to glare at Arkins. "You knew about this?"
Arkins sighed. "It's complicated."
Selene looked completely dumbfounded. "Melly is your girlfriend?"
Melly crossed her arms. "Surprised?"
Selene scoffed. "Uh, yeah. You two bicker like war generals. I thought you hated each other at first."
Ezra chuckled. "That's how you know it's real."
Portia smiled knowingly. "Indeed. True bonds are forged in fire."
Melly groaned. "This just got way more complicated, didn't it?"
Portia's gaze softened. "My dear, everything about you is complicated. But that's what makes you powerful."
Melly wasn't sure whether to be reassured or more concerned.
Arkins sighed. "Let's just focus on why we're here."
Portia's expression darkened slightly. "Yes… there are things you need to know."
She gestured for them to follow.
As they stepped into the depths of her estate, Melly had the strangest feeling.
She had walked into this place as an outsider.
But she wasn't leaving the same way.
A Question of Fate.
The grand chamber was dimly lit by floating lanterns, casting flickering golden light on the walls of the vast estate. The air hummed with power, the weight of centuries pressing down on them. Melly sat across from Portia, her fingers tapping against the wooden armrest of her chair.
Arkins sat beside her, his expression unreadable, but she could feel his tension. Ezra and Zyren stood off to the side, watching the conversation unfold with quiet curiosity. Selene, on the other hand, still looked stunned, her arms crossed as she observed with sharp eyes.
Portia took a slow sip of her tea before placing the cup down with a soft clink. Then, with a small smile, she asked the question that sent a shockwave through the room.
"So, Melly," Portia mused, tilting her head. "Are you ready to be one of us?"
Melly blinked. "One of you?"
Portia's smile widened. "Bound in blood. In magic. In family." Her gaze flickered to Arkins. "In marriage."
The silence was deafening.
Melly felt her stomach drop.
Selene choked on her drink. "Excuse me?"
Arkins tensed. "Grandmother—"
But Portia continued, undeterred. "You love him, don't you?" Her silver eyes bore into Melly's soul. "Your fates are already intertwined. It is only a matter of time before the bond seals itself."
Melly felt heat rise to her face. She wasn't expecting this—especially not in front of an audience. Her relationship with Arkins was still a tangled mess of emotions. They were connected, drawn to each other in ways she didn't fully understand, but marriage?
"Portia," Melly started carefully, "I think you're skipping a few steps."
Portia chuckled. "Am I?"
Melly sighed, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. "Look, I care about Arkins. A lot. But marriage isn't something you just throw at someone like a casual suggestion." She ran a hand through her hair. "Besides, we have bigger problems right now than planning a wedding."
Ezra snorted, clearly amused. Zyren smirked. Selene just shook her head like she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Arkins finally spoke, his voice firm. "She's right, Grandmother. Now isn't the time for this conversation."
Portia studied them both for a long moment, then let out a sigh. "I suppose you are correct. But sooner or later, this choice will have to be made." She turned to Melly once more, her expression softening. "You may not see it now, but the bond between you two is unlike any I've seen in centuries. Whether you accept it or not, you are already part of us, child."
Melly swallowed hard. Part of her wanted to argue, to push back against the weight of fate pressing down on her. But another part—a dangerous part—wondered if Portia was right.
Because deep down, she knew.
She and Arkins weren't just connected.
They were inevitable.
Later that night, Melly found herself standing on the balcony of the estate, staring out into the misty expanse of Noctis Haven. The stars above seemed closer here, burning brighter against the night sky.
She barely flinched when Arkins joined her. He didn't say anything at first, just leaned against the railing beside her.
Finally, he sighed. "I'm sorry about earlier. My grandmother has… a way of pushing things."
Melly huffed a small laugh. "Yeah, no kidding."
A comfortable silence stretched between them before Arkins spoke again, his voice quieter this time. "What she said… it wasn't completely wrong."
Melly turned to face him, her heart pounding. "Arkins—"
"I'm not saying we have to figure it out now," he interrupted, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "But you know as well as I do—this thing between us? It's not just some passing feeling."
Melly swallowed, her throat tight. She did know. She had known from the moment they met, from the way the universe seemed to pull them together no matter how much they resisted.
Still, she wasn't ready to give in to something she didn't fully understand.
"I just… need time," she admitted.
Arkins nodded, stepping closer. "Then I'll wait."
Melly let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
They stood there, side by side, watching the night unfold before them.
No words were needed.
For now, it was enough.
The air between them grew thick with tension, the night wrapping around them like a cocoon. Arkins' golden eyes flickered with something raw, something undeniable. Melly barely had time to process it before he closed the distance between them.
His fingers brushed her cheek, hesitant yet determined. Melly's breath caught as her heart pounded against her ribs. And then—he kissed her.
It was slow at first, almost as if he was testing the waters, but when she didn't pull away, the hesitation vanished. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, and heat coiled low in her stomach.
Melly responded without thinking, gripping the front of his shirt and deepening the kiss. His touch sent shivers down her spine, every nerve in her body suddenly aware of him—his warmth, his scent, the way his hands moved carefully as if she were something precious.
Just as she was about to lose herself completely—
A loud voice shattered the moment.
"Wow."
Melly froze. Arkins stiffened.
Slowly, too slowly, they pulled apart, turning their heads toward the source of the interruption.
Selene stood at the entrance of the balcony, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. "Didn't mean to crash the lovefest, but wow," she drawled, tilting her head. "That was steamy."
Melly's face burned. Arkins groaned, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
Selene stepped forward, grinning. "So… should I pretend I didn't see that? Or should I start planning the wedding my grandma so desperately wants?"
Melly shot her a glare. "Selene."
Selene held up her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'll back off. But seriously, that was—" She let out a low whistle. "I felt the tension from inside the house. You two have got it bad."
Melly turned away, muttering, "I hate you."
Selene laughed. "No, you don't."
Arkins exhaled sharply, glaring at his sister. "Do you ever knock?"
Selene grinned. "Do you ever lock the door?"
Melly groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Kill me now."
Selene smirked. "Nah. That would be a shame. You're finally starting to enjoy yourself."
Melly peeked at Arkins, who was watching her with an unreadable expression. The moment was ruined, but the emotions still lingered in the air between them, unspoken yet undeniable.
And somehow, despite the embarrassment, she couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at her lips.