As Kaylin hands the small jar of ointment to Soren, they shoot a concerned look at Brycen, who subtly shakes his head. The tension from last night still lingers between the three of them- Aaron, Brycen, and Kaylin- but none of them are eager to bring it up again, especially with the others around.

Soren chuckles, taking the ointment with a grateful nod. "Thanks, Healer. You're always prepared, aren’t you?" Kaylin dabs some gently on Soren's eye, making the man flinch slightly. "This should come in handy. Paladins aren’t the gentlest bunch, as you know."

Kaylin’s face may be obscurred by their mask, but Brycen can see the worry in their eyes. "What happened?  Brycen told me that it's been calm in Duskbrook.

Soren shrugs, trying to play it off. "Training accident. Nothing too serious." He shoots a quick look at Aaron, who stands stiffly to the side, arms crossed and jaw tight.

Brycen lets out a slow breath. It’s obvious that the black eye isn’t the result of some training accident. It is more likely an outcome of Aaron’s temper flaring after last night’s confrontation. Soren, ever the loyal friend, must have tried to diffuse the situation after Brycen slipped away to see Kaylin.

Aaron clears his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. His gaze lingers on Kaylin before he turns his steely eyes to Brycen. "We should get moving if we want to make good time back to Aerenthal," he says curtly, avoiding any further mention of what had happened.

Brycen stiffens slightly but nods. "Right. We’ll be ready in a minute."

The air feels heavy with the unsaid, but no one presses further. Kaylin hands out the last satchel of food to Lyra, who grins and thanks them, before stepping back beside Brycen. Their hand brushes against his, and Brycen instinctively squeezes it in return, a silent gesture of comfort.

"Thank you for the food," Brycen says softly to Kaylin, his voice low enough so only they can hear. "And for everything else."

Kaylin looks up at him, their amethyst eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions- affection, concern, and a trace of lingering fear after last night’s altercation with Aaron. "Be safe," they whisper. "And come back soon."

"I will," Brycen promises, his heart tightening in his chest. He wishes he could stay longer, but duty calls, and he knows he’ll be thinking of them every step of the journey back to Aerenthal.

The other Paladins are already mounting their horses, preparing to set off. Brycen sighs, reluctantly stepping away from Kaylin to join his comrades. He swings himself up onto Shadow, glancing over his shoulder one last time to see Kaylin standing there, watching him with a soft, hopeful smile.

Soren nudges his horse closer, giving Brycen a knowing look. 

"Take care of yourself, Brycen," Kaylin says quietly.

Brycen nods. "You too."

As they begin to ride out of Greystone, the village slowly fading behind them, Brycen can’t shake the weight of everything that’s happened- the confrontation with Aaron, the lingering tension in his squad, and most of all, his growing bond with Kaylin.

He casts one more glance over his shoulder, hoping that soon, he’ll be able to return not just to Greystone but to the life he’s slowly building with Kaylin. For now, though, all he can do is focus on the journey ahead and the inevitable challenges waiting for him in Aerenthal.

---

"Did Aaron do that to you because I snuck off?" Brycen confronts Soren that evening as he's dabbing some of Kaylin's ointment to his swollen eye.

Soren gives a nonchalant shrug, wincing slightly as he applies more of Kaylin’s ointment to his bruised eye. "Don’t worry about it, Bry. Aaron just needed to blow off some steam, that’s all."

Brycen’s jaw tightens. "You didn’t answer my question."

Soren meets Brycen’s eyes, pausing for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, alright. He wasn’t exactly thrilled when he realized you snuck off to see Kaylin.  I tried to cover for you, but he's perceptive."

Brycen clenches his fists, his stomach churning with guilt. "I didn’t mean for you to get involved. I should’ve-"

"Bry," Soren cuts him off, holding up a hand. "You don’t need to apologize for me. Aaron’s always been... intense, especially when it comes to her. We both know that." He dabs a bit more of the ointment, the cool salve reducing some of the swelling. "It wasn’t the first time I’ve had to step in when he's in a temper, and it probably won’t be the last. Besides," he grins, "I got a few good hits in myself."

Brycen’s brows furrow. "That doesn’t make it okay."

"I didn’t say it did," Soren replies, his voice softening. "But you know Aaron. He thinks he’s protecting her, even if he’s going about it all wrong."

Brycen stands up and begins pacing the small camp, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I just... I hate that you got hurt because of me. Because of this whole situation." He stops and faces Soren, his voice full of frustration. "It’s my problem with Aaron. I should be the one handling it."

Soren waves him off, grinning through his bruised face. "You think I’m fragile, Bry? Come on. I’ve been dealing with Aaron’s temper for years. Besides, it’s not like he put me in a hospital bed. Just a bruise or two."

"Still," Brycen mutters, his shoulders slumping slightly as he leans against a tree. "This whole thing between me and Kaylin... I didn’t think it’d turn into such a mess. Aaron's making things more complicated than they need to be."

Soren snorts. "Aaron's making everything more complicated. But let’s be honest, you knew it wasn’t going to be simple when you got involved with Kaylin. Aaron's clearly got a thing for her, and that’s always going to make things tricky."

Brycen pinches the bridge of his nose. "I get that. I just didn’t expect him to try and ruin my entire relationship." He lets out a bitter laugh. "Or throw punches at anyone who doesn’t agree with him."

Soren looks at Brycen carefully, his playful demeanor fading as he takes in his friend’s frustration. "You’re serious about Kaylin, right?" he asks, his voice quieter now.

Brycen meets his eyes, his expression firm. "Yeah. I am."

Soren studies him for a moment before nodding. "Then you’re going to have to figure things out with Aaron. Sooner rather than later. You can't keep sneaking around like this. Not just for your sake, but for Kaylin's too.  I don't know what's going on between them, it's not my business, but clearly they have something that needs to be figured out."

Brycen nods, his mind racing. He knows Soren is right. He can’t keep avoiding the inevitable confrontation with Aaron, and it’s not fair to Kaylin either. They deserve to be with someone who isn’t constantly worrying about keeping secrets from their family.

"I know," Brycen says, his voice heavy with determination. "I'll talk to him. And this time... I won't let him push me around."

Soren grins, despite the pain in his eye. "Now that’s the Brycen I know." He claps his friend on the shoulder. "Just be careful, alright? You know Aaron's not going to make this easy on you."

Brycen gives a small nod, his expression hardening. "I’m not expecting him to." He glances at Soren’s black eye one last time, guilt gnawing at him. "And if he ever touches you again-"

"I’ll be fine," Soren interrupts, waving him off again. "I can handle myself. I may not be some big tough Alpha, but we trained at the same Academy, side by side.  I'm a fighter. Worry about Kaylin. She's the one who needs you right now."

Brycen takes a deep breath, the weight of the situation settling over him once again. He’s not sure what his next step will be, but one thing is clear- he’s not going to let Aaron stand in the way of what he has with Kaylin. Not anymore.

"Thanks, Soren," Brycen says, his voice quiet but sincere.

Soren grins again, the mischievous spark back in his eyes. "What are friends for, huh? Now get out of here. I’ve got a bruised ego to nurse along with this black eye."

Brycen chuckles, shaking his head. "Just take care of yourself, alright?"

"You too, lover boy," Soren teases, though there’s warmth in his tone.

With that, Brycen leaves Soren to rest, but the weight of what’s ahead lingers in his chest. It’s time to stand his ground- for himself, for Kaylin, and for their future together.

Brycen confronts Aaron that evening after Lyra and Soren have retreated to their tents. He takes him away from their small camp where they're set up for the night. Aaron is guarded, still looking ready for a fight. 

"Aaron, we need to talk. It's not right that you attacked Soren." 

Aaron's expression flickers to that of regret momentarily, before hardening again. "He provoked me, trying to keep me from you.  You need to stay away from Kaylin."

"Kaylin has accepted my courtship," Brycen says after a deep, steadying breath.

Aaron's eyes flash red, his instincts flaring. His whole body tenses, fists clenching at his sides, and Brycen can practically feel the wave of anger and frustration coming off him in thick, suffocating waves.

"They what?" Aaron growls, voice low and dangerous. "You mean to tell me that Kaylin- my Kaylin- accepted your courtship, and you thought I wouldn't have anything to say about that?"

Brycen stands his ground, even as Aaron’s towering frame inches closer, the tension between them crackling in the air. This confrontation has been a long time coming, and Brycen knows that if they don’t resolve this now, it will only get worse. He’s prepared, no matter how intense Aaron gets.

"You don’t get a say in this," Brycen replies evenly, keeping his voice calm despite the fire raging in Aaron’s eyes. "This is between me and Kaylin. They’re not yours, Aaron. They can make their own choices."

Aaron’s lips curl into a snarl. "They are my sibling. And you're just going to waltz into their life and act like you can protect them better than I can? You're a Paladin, Brycen, not some simple mercenary. You have a dangerous life. How long before you’re killed in some battle and Kaylin’s left alone to pick up the pieces?"

Brycen clenches his jaw, the sting of Aaron’s words hitting harder than expected. "I know what my responsibilities are," he says, voice firm. "But I like Kaylin. And I would die before I let anything happen to them. Just because I have duty as a Paladin doesn’t mean I can’t protect my mate-"

"Your mate?" Aaron barks, incredulous. "You think you’re going to be a good mate for Kaylin? You're a soldier, Brycen. Your life revolves around fighting and danger. And Kaylin? They’ve been through enough. They deserve someone who can actually be there for them, someone who isn’t constantly getting called off to fight a war or to handle a mission far from home. They need peace, Brycen. Not this."

Brycen’s heart clenches at that. He knows Aaron has a point- his life as a Paladin isn't exactly ideal for settling down. He’s seen too many of his comrades struggle with maintaining relationships when their work takes them away for months at a time. But this... this is different. Kaylin is different.

"I get it, Aaron," Brycen says, his voice softer now. "I understand why you’re protective of Kaylin. But you’re suffocating them. They’re strong. They’re capable. And more importantly, they chose me. Just like I chose them."

Aaron’s fists tighten, his knuckles turning white, but he doesn’t strike. Instead, he turns his head to the side, the Alpha dominance in his eyes flickering between fury and something else- something closer to fear.

"You don’t know them like I do, Brycen," Aaron grinds out. "You don’t know what they’ve been through. You think you do, but you don’t. They need someone who understands-"

"Then let me understand them," Brycen interrupts, stepping closer, his voice steady. "Let me be the person who learns everything about them, who helps them heal and grow. Kaylin doesn't need you hovering over them, making their decisions. What they need is someone who respects them, someone who sees them as an equal."

Aaron stares at Brycen for a long moment, the fury still evident in his red eyes, but the words seem to sink in. There’s hesitation now, uncertainty flickering in the hard lines of his face. Brycen can see the cracks in Aaron’s armor- the fear beneath the anger. Fear of losing control, of losing Kaylin.

"You think you're worthy of them?" Aaron finally asks, his voice hoarse, stripped of some of its earlier bravado. "You think you’re good enough?"

Brycen’s breath catches. That’s the real question, isn’t it? The one that’s been buried under all of Aaron’s anger. It isn’t just about protecting Kaylin- it’s about whether Brycen is worthy of them. Whether he’s good enough to be their boyfriend, maybe someday their mate.

"I don’t know if I’m worthy," Brycen admits, his voice soft. "But I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be. I like them, Aaron. And I believe we deserve the chance to see if that can develop into something more."

Aaron’s eyes flicker, the redness dimming as his Alpha instincts wane. His jaw tightens, and for a moment, Brycen thinks another explosion of anger might come. But instead, Aaron lets out a long, shaky breath, his shoulders slumping just slightly.

"You better not break their heart," Aaron says quietly, though the threat in his voice still lingers.

"I won’t," Brycen promises.

For a long moment, they stand there in tense silence, the air between them heavy with the weight of everything unspoken. Finally, Aaron looks away, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky.

"This isn’t over," Aaron mutters, but his voice is softer now, more resigned. "But for Kaylin’s sake... I’ll back off. For now."

Brycen nods, feeling the tension in his chest begin to ease, though he knows this is far from a resolution. Aaron may be backing off, but the road ahead won’t be easy. There’s still so much to navigate- so many hurdles to overcome. But for now, Brycen is grateful that Aaron’s anger has subsided, even if just temporarily.

"Thank you," Brycen says quietly.

Aaron doesn’t respond. He just turns and walks back toward the camp, his shoulders stiff with tension. Brycen watches him go, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion wash over him.

As he returns to the camp, he knows that while this was just one battle, the war for Kaylin’s future is far from over. But no matter what happens next, he won’t give up. He won’t let anything come between him and the person he might love.

No matter the cost.