Chapter Seventeen
Ted POV
I don't know what to do.
It's the next morning, and after going to bed embarrassingly early, I woke up before the sun. I've been scrolling on my phone for an hour and watching a group of birds flit past the window, chirping as if they haven't a care in the world. The outside view is unreal—green, sprawling, serene.
It's stunning.
This place doesn't feel like Earth. It feels enchanted. Alive.
But I don't know if I'm allowed to just… go outside. Explore. Wander. There's been no staff escort, no instruction. It's strange—having nothing to do.
A knock breaks my thoughts. I freeze, expecting a maid or butler. Maybe breakfast?
Instead, when I open the door, I come face to face with Thieran Alden.
He's even more devastating up close. Not just handsome—ethereal. Like he was sculpted by bored gods who wanted to prove a point. His blond hair is tied into a long, intricate side braid, and those heterochromic eyes—one green, one blue—twinkle with mischief.
Literally. There's a sparkle.
"Good morning! I hope I didn't wake you," he says, voice bright and warm.
"No, I was actually already up for a while," I manage, still stunned.
"Great! Come with me. I've been assigned a very important duty by my dear twin." He takes my hand without asking and pulls me out of the room.
I'm still in the pajamas from yesterday—not that they look like pajamas. More like luxury loungewear. But I'm not exactly dressed for an outing.
"Wai—" I start, but my voice trails off the moment I look around.
Wow.
The halls are gilded but warm, floral but not excessive. Light streams through tall windows, casting shadows across marble floors and gold-accented doors. It's like stepping into a fairy tale manor—or a palace straight out of a pastel-colored fantasy novel.
Thieran doesn't slow down. I half-walk, half-glide after him, too overwhelmed to argue.
"Quick—we'll have breakfast on the way. We've got a long day ahead of us," he chirps, still holding my hand like it's the most normal thing in the world.
At the grand doors, a staff member hands him a set of keys and a cloth bag. He swings the keys and passes the bag to me. It's warm.
Inside are perfectly wrapped breakfast items—sweet buns, fruit slices, some sort of steaming thermos drink that smells of spiced cream.
Then we're outside.
The estate grounds look like a painting—stone paths, mossy trellises, glowing flowers I'm sure don't exist on Earth. A sleek silver car waits at the end of the steps.
Before I can process the beauty, Thieran opens the passenger door, pushes me inside, and hops behind the wheel.
"Seatbelt," he says sweetly.
He hits the ignition, and we rocket forward.
I clutch the seat.
"Pardon me, but you do know how to drive, right?!" I gasp, watching as he takes a turn with the finesse of a racecar driver possessed by chaos.
"Of course! And even if we crash, I can keep us both safe!" he beams.
How reassuring.
I clutch the bag of warm pastries like a lifeline.
God help me.
---
I use my healing ability to deal with my motion sickness as I heave by the sidewalk.
That was the scariest couple of moments of my life.
"Ty's driving does that to you," a voice says.
I straighten up, wiping my mouth, and turn toward the source. A redhead with short wavy hair, green eyes, and a smattering of freckles. Omega, judging by the choker snug around his neck.
He's tiny. And cute. Too cute.
"My bad. I'm Luca. Luca Mel. A former survivor of Thieran's driving," he says with a dimpled smile.
It's not fair how charming he is.
"Uhm, I'm—"
"Ted," he finishes for me.
"I heard. Literally everyone heard. I'm here on Niall's request. As the cavalry. Thieran can be… intense."
He grins again, that megawatt smile instantly disarming.
"What's this gossiping about me?" Thieran's voice cuts in.
We both turn to see him approaching, casually tossing the car keys in the air.
We're standing in what looks like a shopping district—but it's not quite a mall. It's open and sleek, a fusion of futuristic design and natural landscaping. This is Alden Island.
"Anyway, parked the car. Let's go," Thieran says, already heading off.
"Come on," Luca says, taking my hand gently.
I stiffen, not because I dislike it—but because I don't know how to react.
Human contact like this… is unfamiliar. Comforting. Unsettling.
"Where are we going?" I ask.
"Oh, you didn't know?" Luca tilts his head.
I shake mine.
"How typical of those twins. We're going shopping... among other things."