Brycen stirs in the bed, trying to settle himself back into sleep. His body is still aching, and every breath comes with that dull, heavy pressure in his lungs. His body feels on fire.  A fever?  Should he call for Kaylin?  Is he even strong enough to call for Kaylin?  But then he hears muffled voices coming from down the hall.  He tries to ignore them, earnestly, shifting between the blankets, but the tone of the conversation grows sharper, more heated.

Aaron and Kaylin.

He knows he shouldn’t eavesdrop.  He turns his face towards the window, hoping to block out the sound.  But the voices cut through the thin walls of the cottage.

“I don’t like this, Kay.  Leaving you here with him…he’s an Alpha.”

“You’ve made that point abundantly clear already.  You’re the one that brought him here.”

“But I didn’t think any of them would be staying behind without me!  You shouldn’t be alone with him- what if he loses control? What if he turns on you?  What if-”

“Enough!” Their voice drops, low but fierce, “Listen, Aaron, I’m not some weak Omega who needs constant watching from an Alpha.  Especially not from my younger brother.”

Brycen’s pulse quickens.  Omega?  The realization hits him hard, making his heart pound in his chest. The quiet, capable healer who has so effortlessly commanded the room, the person who has kept him alive, is an Omega? He can feel the old teachings from the Academy, the rigid expectations of how Alphas and Omegas are supposed to behave, rise up in his mind. But nothing about Kaylin fits those rules. Nothing at all. He had assumed the woman with the beautiful eyes was perhaps a Beta, considering he couldn’t get any clear scent off of her, but for them to be an Omega?  They weren’t like any Omega he’d ever- nothing about their calm, steady demeanor suggested the vulnerability that Aaron seemed to be so obsessed with.  Plus, they live out here all on their own.  In the city, all Omegas had to be registered with their Alpha and they would need their permission to do anything.

“I’m not trying to control you,” Aaron says, tense but more pleading, “But damn it, Kay, you know what it’s like out there.”

“I do know what it’s like.  Better than you do.  But I can tell Paladin Vardell isn’t like that.  You told me yourself how he risked his own life to save those people.  I can tell that he’s a good man.  And I can take care of myself.  I’ve always taken care of myself.”

There’s a long pause, or perhaps they’re talking too quietly for Brycen to overhear past the heavy footsteps pacing back and forth, the floorboards creaking under Aaron’s boots.

“I don’t feel safe, Kay.  Leaving you here alone…with him.  I just don’t.”

“You’re always on edge, Aaron.  You’ve been this way ever since- I don’t want to talk about it,” Kaylin says abruptly.  “But you can’t watch over me forever.  I need you to trust me.  Paladin Vardell isn’t like the others who have caused issues in the past.  He’s different.  And if he does step out of line,” her voice sharpens, “he’ll regret it.  I can make more than healing remedies, as you might recall.”

Brycen swallows hard, a cold sweat forming on the back of his neck that has nothing to do with his fever.  He hadn’t realized just how much his presence here worried Aaron.  The idea of being a danger to Kaylin- it made his stomach churn.  He thought back to his father, the way he constantly treated Omegas beneath him.  He thought back to the Academy, to the rigid expectations of how Alphas and Omegas were supposed to behave.  But nothing about this place, nothing about Kaylin, fit into those rules anymore.

“Kay…” Aaron sounds truly frustrated.

“You’re leaving for Duskbrook in the morning, with your other two Paladins.  Focus on that.  Paladin Vardell needs more time to heal.”

Aaron says softly, almost defeated, “I’m not leaving you unprotected.”

“I don’t need protection from my patient.”  A pause.  “I need you to trust me, Aaron.”

The footsteps stop, and Brycen imagines Aaron standing still, maybe running his hand through his hair like he does when he is frustrated.

“I always trust you,” Aaron says, with a defeated sigh.  “You’ll send word if anything happens, though, right?  We’re only a half day’s ride away.”

“Nothing will happen, but of course I’ll keep in contact.

The conversation ends, and Brycen hears the soft sound of a door closing, followed by the faint creaking of the floor as Kaylin moves through the house.  Brycen lays still, his mind reeling.  The conversation left him with more questions than answers.  Aaron’s protectiveness is definitely rooted in something deeper than sibling care- there was fear in his voice.  Fear of what might happen if Kaylin’s status as an Omega got out, or if Brycen couldn’t be trusted.

As Kaylin’s footsteps fade, Brycen feels a strange mixture of relief and unease. Aaron’s absence would give him space- room to recover without the constant pressure of the Alpha’s watchful eyes. But the unease gnaws at him. He had overheard the argument, after all. He knows what Aaron feared, and the weight of that trust rests heavier on his chest than the lingering strain of the mist.  He isn’t sure what unsettles him more: the fact that Kaylin is an Omega, or the weight of the trust they were placing in him without them even realizing it.

And now, he knows that trust could easily be shattered.

---

The sun has barely risen when Brycen stirs, his body still aching, but the tightness in his chest has lessened significantly.  He breathes in slowly, testing his lungs, and is relieved to find his breathing easier- the sharp edge of pain dulling.  Kaylin’s medicines are working.

As he sits up, a soft knock comes at the door, and he looks up to see Kaylin standing there with a tray of steaming tea and a few rolls.  Their black braid is neatly tied back as always, the same soft mask covering their face, but Brycen can see a faint smile in their eyes.

“Good morning,” they greet, stepping inside.  “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” Brycen replies, his voice still hoarse, but stronger.  “The medicine is definitely working.”

Kaylin nods, setting the tray on the small table beside the bed.  “I’m glad to hear it.  I’ve brought a light breakfast.  Eat slowly- your body is still recovering.”

Brycen watches them as they move with quiet efficiency, pouring the tea into a small clay cup.

“You’ve taken such good care of me,” he says, his tone softer.  “I don’t think I’ve ever had this kind of attention.”

Kaylin pauses briefly, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.  “You’ve likely never needed it before,” they reply, handing him the cup.

Brycen accepts the tea, the warmth of it spreading through his palms.  He sips it carefully this time, not wanting to waste the comfort of its heat.  “I remember one time when I was a child, I got incredibly ill.  I don’t remember what I had.  My family’s butler would come and bring me medicine, but he never stayed long.  I begged him to bring my mom or dad, but they wouldn’t come.  Even though their kid was sick, they were far too busy.”  What is he saying?  He never told anybody that story.

Kaylin inclines their head, but doesn’t reply.  Instead, they pull a stool closer to the bed and sit down, their hands folding neatly in their lap.  For a moment, there was only the sound of the birds outside and the faint rustling of the morning breeze through the curtains.  Brycen looks at Kaylin, curious to fill the silence.

“Have you heard from Aaron?”

“I have.  They left yesterday.  Paladin Ashford and Paladin Valhart are well, and the other Paladins that were left behind in Duskbrook have also recovered.  Aaron says that they have been patrolling the town, looking for the source of the attack and ensuring that another attack doesn’t occur.  It may be a bit longer before they’re able to come collect you.

Brycen nods, not surprised by this news, but something in his chest tightens.  He truly had expected to leave with them originally, to return to his duty as quickly as possible.  But now, with Aaron gone, the realization has settled in: he will be here for the foreseeable future.”

“I suppose I’m the last one,” Brycen says, trying to sound light-hearted.

Kaylin’s eyes meet his, their gaze steady.  “You were the worst off,” they remind him.  “You’ll still need a few more days before I’m comfortable letting you ride by to Duskbrook alone.”

Brycen frowns.  “A few days?  I thought I was recovering quickly.”

“You are,” Kaylin says calmly, “but pneumonia isn’t something you can rush through.  If you push yourself too hard now, you’ll relapse.  And next time, I might not be around to heal you.”

There is no room for argument in their voice, and Brycen sighs, realizing they aren’t going to let him leave until he is fully recovered.  Still, part of him doesn’t mind.  Not entirely.”

“Alright,” he concedes, leaning back against the pillows.  “I’ll rest.  But what will you do with me while I’m stuck here?”

Kaylin’s eyes crinkle again, that hint of a smile visible despite the mask.  “I’m sure I’ll find something to keep you occupied.”

As the days pass, Brycen finds himself falling into a quiet routine under Kaylin’s care. They are attentive, always checking his breathing, offering herbs and teas, making sure he eats and is rested. But beyond the practical care, there is something else- something quieter and more intimate- that begins to develop between them.

In the afternoon, when the sun hangs high in the sky, Kaylin brings Brycen outside, helping him sit on a bench in the garden.  The air is warm and fresh, the scent of flowers and herbs hanging lightly in the breeze.  Brycen inhales deeply, grateful for the chance to be outside after days of being cooped up inside.

Kaylin sits next to him, their eyes scanning the garden, silent for a long moment before they speak.

“My papa is an amazing gardener.  He gave me a lot of the clippings I use now in my garden.  Most of my plants are medicinal, but some I just keep because they’re beautiful.”

“It is such a beautiful garden.  I’ve never seen anything like this in Aerenthal.”

“Did you grow up in the capital?”

“I did.  It’s beautiful there, but in a different sort of way.  Have you ever been?”

Kaylin hesitates.  “My parents live in the capital.  I’ve been a few times to visit them, but it’s always so overwhelming, I don’t get to visit as much as I would like.  I struggle around so many people.”  They sigh.  “You’ve never asked me why I wear the mask,” they say, their voice thoughtful.

Brycen glances at them, caught off guard.  “I figured it isn’t my place to ask.”

“That’s considerate of you.”  There is a pause as they look back over their garden, the flowers swaying gently in the wind.  Brycen waits, sensing that Kaylin has more to say.  

“I wear it because it’s easier,” they continue, their voice soft but steady.  “People don’t see me for what I am when I wear it.  They don’t question.  They don’t pry.”

Brycen frowns slightly, feeling a pang of empathy.  “But isn’t it exhausting?” he asks quietly.  “To hide all the time?”

Kaylin’s eyes meet his, the violet depths unreadable.  “It is,” they admit.  “But…it’s safer.”

Brycen holds their gaze, something shifting in his chest.  He understands now why Kaylin had britled at Aaron’s earlier concerns, why they were so guarded.  But sitting here, in the quiet of their garden, Brycen realizes that Kaylin isn’t just hiding from the world- they are protecting themself from something far deeper.

“You don’t have to hide from me,” Brycen says softly, his voice low and sincere.  “Not here.  Not ever.”

Kaylin doesn’t reply immediately. They turn their gaze back to the horizon, but there’s a slight tremble in their shoulders, the faintest hesitation in their posture. For a moment, Brycen wonders if they’ll pull away- if he’s overstepped- but then, their shoulders relax. Slowly. Like a breath released after too long held.  For a long moment, they sit in silence, the only sounds are the gentle rustling of the leaves and the soft hum of the wind.  And though no words were spoken, Brycen knows that something between them had shifted.