The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 62

Insignificant?-3

“My lord,” he said evenly

+25 Points >

The man at the center stopped several paces away. His presence alone seemed to bend the space around him.

His gaze moved first to Caleb.

Then slowly to Iva.

Every instinct in her screamed to lower her eyes.

She did not.

Caleb spoke before the silence could sharpen.

“She is a civilian who wandered too close to restricted territory,” he said calmly. “Curiosity. Nothing more.”

Iva’s heart slammed against her ribs.

The lie was smooth.

Effortless.

Deliberate.

The royal’s gaze lingered on her for a fraction too long. His expression did not change – but the weight of his scrutiny was suffocating.

“And you handled it personally?” he asked.

A subtle question.

A dangerous one.

Caleb did not hesitate.

“She witnessed nothing of value,” he replied. “I was dismissing her.”

The thread between their chests pulsed violently – reacting to proximity, to tension, to proximity of power that should not be this close to a newly awakened bond.

Iva fought the urge to press a hand to her chest.

Caleb’s aura flared almost imperceptibly – not outward, but inward – containing, masking, suppressing

Shielding.

Not her.

The bond.

The royal’s gaze flicked once more between them.

113

Insignificant

Something like suspicion touched his eyes.

“Your control seems strained,” he observed mildly.

For the first time since they arrived, danger sharpened the air.

Caleb met the observation without flinching.

“Residual irritation,” he said. “Intrusion is rarely welcome.”

A pause.

Measured.

Evaluating.

Then the royal stepped closer.

Too close.

Iva felt the instinctive urge to retreat – but Caleb’s presence behind her anchored her in place. Not physically. Psychologically. A wall of will.

The royal stopped directly before her.

“What is your name?” he asked.

Her throat tightened.

She could feel Caleb’s focus behind her – silent, watchful, commanding restraint without a word.

“Iva,” she answered quietly.

“And your pack?”

“I have none.”

A flicker of interest.

+25 Points

“A lone wolf who wanders into royal territory without permission, the royal mused. “Either brave… or foolish… or a spy.”

Before she could answer, Caleb spoke again – voice firm, controlled.

“She will be escorted out.”

Not a suggestion.

A decision.

The royal’s eyes shifted to him slowly.

The tension between them was not loud.

It was heavy.

213

<Insignificantly.

Ancient hierarchy pressing against rising authority.

“And you vouch,” the royal asked softly, “that she is insignificant?”

The word struck like a blade.

+25 Points

Iva’s chest tightened involuntarily as something in the appearance of this man sent her shivers down her spine.

Behind her, something in Caleb went utterly still

When he answered, his voice was iron.

“Yes.”

The thread pulsed once.

Hard.

Painfully.

The royal studied him for several seconds that felt like an eternity.

Then he stepped back.

“As you wish,” he said.

But his gaze returned to Iva one last time – sharp, assessing, unresolved.

“Curiosity can be fatal,” he added quietly.

With that, the three figures turned and disappeared into the treeline as silently as they had arrived.

2

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