Gilded captive heart
Chapter 11

As Eryndor continued to guide Nova through the castle, an all-too-familiar voice echoed down the hall, causing his expression to shift to annoyance. Nova's gaze instinctively followed his, landing on an elegantly slim alien woman who bore a striking resemblance to the brothers. Her presence seemed to be a source of irritation for Eryndor, and Nova couldn't help but notice the tension that radiated from him.

The woman, known as Kira, sauntered down the hall with an air of confidence. Her voice, smooth and velvety, carried a flirtatious undertone as she addressed Eryndor. "My king, why haven't you told me you were looking for a mate?" Her finger traced a path up Eryndor's chest, a gesture meant to be seductive. Nova observed the interaction, curiosity piqued by the dynamics at play.

However, it became evident that Eryndor's outward annoyance belied his true feelings. Kira's advances seemed to roll off him like water on a duck's back. He swiftly shrugged her off, his tail slashing around aggressively as he maintained his composure. In a tone that brooked no argument, he addressed her, "Kira, how many times do we have to tell you that we are not interested? And besides, we've already found our mate."

The weight of Eryndor's words hung in the air, and Nova's gaze shifted between him and Kira. Eryndor's eyes met Nova's with a warm smile, an unspoken affirmation of their connection. The tension that had been momentarily stirred by Kira's presence seemed to dissipate as Eryndor's focus returned to the path ahead.

Nova felt a mixture of emotions—the curiosity that had initially drawn her to this alien world, the intrigue of the relationships between the brothers and the women of their species, and a growing awareness of the unique role she had been thrust into. As she walked beside Eryndor, she couldn't help but wonder how these interactions with the women of Aurium would impact her journey alongside the three brothers—Zyrell, Lorvik, and Eryndor—whose lives had become so intricately intertwined with her own.