Stuck In Between

Chapter Twenty-Three

Y/n stepped back, her hands trembling as she wiped the tears from her face. She lowered her head, her voice soft and uneven. "I'm sorry... for worrying you both."

Solana immediately stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Y/n's back. "Don't apologize, dear," she said warmly, her tone steady and soothing. Venali joined her, his hand firm yet comforting as he rubbed slow circles between Y/n's shoulders.

"Truly, there's no need," Venali added, his deep voice carrying a mixture of concern and reassurance.

Y/n closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, forcing the shaky rhythm of her breathing to steady. After a moment, she raised her head and looked at the royal couple, her lips curving into a soft smile. "I'm okay now," she said quietly.

But even as the words left her mouth, she knew they weren't entirely true. The ache in her chest remained, a weight she couldn't shake. Yet, she didn't want them to worry further.

Venali and Solana exchanged a brief glance, the unspoken concern lingering between them. They didn't press her, sensing she needed the space to collect herself.

Y/n's gaze drifted down to their attire. Both wore fitted riding jackets, polished boots, and light cloaks draped neatly over their shoulders. Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she tilted her head. "Were you planning to go riding?" she asked, motioning to their outfits.

Solana smiled faintly, her hand still resting on Y/n's back. "No, not today. When we heard you were awake, we came as quickly as we could."

Y/n blinked, her lips parting slightly in surprise. "You didn't need to rush for me," she murmured, her voice touched with guilt.

Venali shook his head, his expression softening but remaining firm. "How could we not?" he started, but Y/n cut him off before he could finish.

"What about Cerberus?" she asked, her tone suddenly urgent. "Is he okay?"

Venali's lips curved into a small smile at her concern. "He's perfectly fine," he assured her. "In fact, he's eating right now."

Relief washed over Y/n, her shoulders relaxing as she exhaled deeply. "Good," she said softly, her lips forming a faint smile. "That's good."

A moment of silence passed before Y/n looked up at Venali, her brows slightly furrowed. "What were you going to say before I interrupted?"

Venali hesitated for a second, his gaze flickering to Solana before returning to Y/n. He sighed, his expression turning serious. "I was going to say... you shouldn't do what you did anymore. It scared us—me, Solana, and even the children."

Y/n's heart sank at his words. She looked from Venali to Solana, who nodded solemnly, her eyes filled with worry. Their concern was genuine, their fear palpable, and it struck Y/n deeply.

For a moment, she remained quiet, processing their words. Then, a small, playful smile broke across her face as she extended both of her pinky fingers toward them.

Venali and Solana exchanged confused glances. "What are you doing?" Venali asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Have you ever made a pinky promise?" Y/n asked, her tone light but sincere.

Solana chuckled softly, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. "Not since I was a child," she admitted.

"Then it's about time you made another one," Y/n said. She gently took their pinkies with hers, wrapping her smaller fingers around theirs at the same time. She raised their hands slightly, a determined glint in her eyes.

"This is a promise," Y/n said firmly. "No matter how silly or childish it seems, a pinky promise is meant to be kept."

For a moment, Venali and Solana stared at her, the seriousness in her voice catching them off guard. Then, slowly, smiles spread across their faces.