Chapter 36: A Moment Worth Forever

The first light of dawn filtered through the thin, violet-colored curtains hanging over the window of Calen’s apartment. The fabric swayed gently, stirred by the faint morning breeze, and the soft amber glow of the rising sun painted warm streaks across the wooden floor and the cluttered furniture. Dust motes danced lazily in the beams of light, creating a surreal stillness in the air.

On the small bed tucked in the corner of the room, Calen stirred, his torso bare against the crumpled sheets. Livra lay beside him, draped in one of his oversized shirts, the hem reaching just above her knees. The fabric clung to her frame as if it were a dress, the neckline slipping slightly off one shoulder.

Calen blinked a few times, the light tugging him from his sleep. As his vision cleared, his eyes met Livra’s. She was already awake, watching him with a faint smile, her hair tousled and wild from sleep.

“Good morning,” she said softly, her voice still heavy with sleep.

“Morning,” he murmured, his lips curving into a lazy grin. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”

She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed slightly. “You’re terrible at compliments.”

“Maybe,” he teased, leaning forward to kiss her. Their lips met in a slow, lingering kiss, the world around them fading into nothingness.

When they pulled apart, she sighed, nestling closer to him. “I wish we could stay like this forever. No work, no chaos, just... this.”

“Me too,” Calen admitted, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her closer. “But if we’re stopping time, I’d need a bit of warning. I’d probably clean up the apartment first.”

Livra laughed softly, her breath warm against his chest. “Good luck with that. This place would need more than a warning—it’d need divine intervention.”

“Oh, come on,” he said with mock offense. “It’s not that bad.”

She raised an eyebrow, glancing at the cluttered table and the scattered clothes on the floor. “Sure, and I’m a neat freak.”

“Hey, don’t knock it. I like to think of it as ‘organized chaos.’”

“Chaos, sure. Organized? Absolutely not,” she shot back, grinning as she poked him in the side.

He chuckled, catching her hand and holding it. “You’re relentless, you know that?”

“It’s part of my charm,” she quipped before her smile faltered slightly. “Although... I’m still mad at you, you know.”

Calen froze, his brows furrowing in confusion. “What? Mad at me? For what?”

Livra pushed herself up slightly, her hair falling over her shoulders as she gave him a pointed look. “Oh, don’t play dumb. The book, Calen. You saw Sienna, didn’t you? She gave it back to you.”

His mouth opened, then closed, his brain scrambling for words. “I... uh... I mean, yes, she did, but I—”

Livra’s gaze was sharp, though there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. “And you didn’t think to tell me? Why? Were you worried I’d be mad?”

“I—no! I mean, maybe? I just didn’t want to make things worse. I didn’t think it was that important, and—” He stopped, realizing he was rambling, and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Are you really upset?”

Livra held his gaze for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, she burst out laughing, her head tilting back as the sound filled the room.

“Wait,” Calen said, his voice filled with a mix of relief and indignation. “You’re joking? You’re not mad?”

“Of course not,” she said, still laughing as she leaned against him. “I just wanted to see you squirm. You should’ve seen your face.”

“Livra!” he groaned, covering his face with his hands.

She grinned, prying his hands away. “Relax, Calen. I’m not upset. That night, I only pretended to be mad so you wouldn’t follow me. I didn’t want to put you in danger.”

He blinked, his mouth opening slightly in surprise. “You... really?”

She nodded, her smile softening. “I know you didn’t tell me because you were trying to protect me. And I trust you. I don’t care that you saw Sienna—I know it wasn’t anything to worry about.”

Calen let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his shoulders relaxing. “You really are something else, Livra.”

“And don’t you forget it,” she said, giving him a playful nudge before settling back against his chest.

He wrapped his arms around her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I love you, you know.”

She smiled against his skin. “I love you too. Even if you’re a mess.”

They lay there for a while longer, savoring the quiet silence of the morning, the sun climbing higher in the sky as the city below stirred to life. For now, in this stolen moment, nothing else mattered.

The warm aroma of coffee filled the air as Calen and Livra sat at the small, slightly wobbly table in his kitchen. Two mismatched mugs, one chipped on the rim, steamed between them. Livra wrapped her hands around hers, seeking comfort in its warmth as the rays of the morning sun filtered through the apartment’s window.

Calen took a sip of his coffee and leaned back in his chair, watching her. She was uncharacteristically quiet, staring down at her mug as though it held answers to questions she hadn’t yet asked.

“You’re worried,” he said softly, breaking the silence.

Livra looked up, her black eyes clouded with uncertainty. “I don’t know if I can do this, Calen. Valtheris expects me to step into a room full of high burocrats and politicians and pretend I know what I’m doing. What if I mess up? What if I say the wrong thing?”

“You won’t,” Calen said firmly, his confidence in her unshakable.

“How can you be so sure?” she asked, her voice tinged with doubt. “I may be a Veyne, but I left home before I could learn any of this. Diplomatic nuances, regional politics—they didn’t exactly come up while I was running for my life and travelling with musicians and show performers.”

Calen reached across the table, covering her hand with his. “You’re smarter than you give yourself credit for, Livra. And you’re not going in there alone. Magistrate Drena and her team will guide you. They know what’s at stake and what needs to be said. All you have to do is trust them—and yourself.”

Livra gave a small, wry smile. “You make it sound so simple.”

“It’s not,” Calen admitted, his honesty cutting through any false reassurances. “But you’re capable of more than you realize. You’ve survived worse than this. Facing down a room of bureaucrats? That’s nothing compared to what you’ve already overcome.”

Calen added, "There’s one more thing I haven’t told you, Livra. It’s possible you might run into Sienna. She works directly under Magistrate Drena. I’m not entirely sure what her current position entails—it’s always been a bit of a mystery to me—but I do know she’s a diplomat."

Livra’s breath hitched slightly, her nerves flaring. She had already been feeling the weight of the upcoming meeting, but the possibility of encountering Calen’s ex-girlfriend added another layer of anxiety. Though she was brave and often gave the impression of having everything under control, she was still an 18-year-old girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances. This was an entirely new battlefield, and she didn’t know how to navigate it.

Calen noticed her unease and tried to soften his tone. "Look, you don’t need to worry too much about her. Sienna is... complicated. She can be tough, sometimes harsh, even downright unpleasant. But she’s not a bad person. She’s just very driven—relentless, even."

Livra tilted her head slightly, her expression half-doubtful. "Relentless doesn’t sound very reassuring."

Calen chuckled lightly, though the sound lacked conviction. "Yeah, I get that. But what I mean is, she’s not out to make things harder for you—not intentionally, anyway. She doesn’t even know who you are, at least not specifically. When she spoke to Balthar, she knew I was seeing someone, but she didn’t know your name or much about you. Still, Sienna’s sharp—probably the smartest person I know. If anyone could piece things together, it’d be her."

Livra’s shoulders tensed further. "So, there’s a good chance she might figure it out."

"Maybe," Calen admitted. "But even if she does, I don’t see why she’d bring it up. She doesn’t know you, and this isn’t her fight. She has no reason to go out of her way to make this difficult for you."

Livra looked down, her thoughts racing. The idea of encountering Sienna—especially in such a formal and high-stakes setting—was intimidating. Despite her outward composure, the truth was that she felt woefully inexperienced in many aspects of life. Facing Calen’s ex under these circumstances only underscored that vulnerability.

Calen leaned forward, his voice softer now. "Livra, listen to me. You’ve already faced challenges that would break most people. You’ve been brave, resourceful, and resilient every step of the way. This is just another challenge.”

Livra looked up at him, her eyes searching his for reassurance at Calen’s green eyes. "I want to believe that, Calen. But I can’t shake this feeling... like I’m in over my head."

"You’re not," he said firmly, his gaze steady. "You’re the Livra Veyne who stood up to mercenaries, outsmarted bounty hunters, and survived things most people wouldn’t even dream of. You’re more than capable of handling a room full of bureaucrats—and even Sienna, if it comes to that."

Livra gave a small, wry smile. "You’re not exactly making me feel less nervous."

"I’m being honest," he replied with a grin. "I could sugarcoat it if you’d prefer, but I don’t think that’s what you need. What you need to remember is that you’ve got this. You’re stronger than you think, and you’re not alone."

His words, though blunt, carried a sincerity that warmed her resolve. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "For the peace of the world... for you and I. I’ll face whatever comes."

Calen smiled, pride and affection shining in his eyes. "That’s the Livra I know."

Despite his efforts to encourage her, a shadow of doubt lingered in Livra’s heart. But she resolved to set it aside, focusing instead on the daunting but vital task ahead. For the sake of peace, for Calen, and for herself, she would find the strength to face whatever the day would bring.