The silence was deafening.
And in that silence, my life was forever changed.
Prologue
Callum - Five Years Ago
It’s funny how one ordinary day can turn into a defining moment, a life-altering single instance that would change the trajectory of my entire future.
It was a day that started as all others did for me back then - with Claudia, my housemaid, bringing a tray of fresh breakfast into my room. Thankfully, Rafe had already snuck out of my room in the early morning hours, not that it mattered too much. I’m sure Claudia already knew about Rafe and I. For one, Rafe didn’t always sneak out in time and for another, she was the one pulling off my sticky sheets, but I appreciated her discretion nevertheless.
“Did you sleep well last night, sir?” Claudia asked, pouring tea from the kettle into a cup for me.
I climbed out of bed and threw my robe on, grateful that I had remembered to put my pants back on last night. “Cal. And I did, thanks. How about yourself?”
“Oh, fine, thank you.” She handed me the teacup. “It was probably a boring night compared to yours, though.” Claudia’s eyes twinkled in amusement as I followed her stare to where Rafe’s shirt lay crumpled and discarded on the floor near my bed.
I immediately reddened and Claudia chuckled.
“I’m only teasing, sir. You both complement each other well. Truly, I’m happy for you.”
At least Claudia approved of Rafe and I’s relationship. King Corvin certainly didn’t.
I took a seat by the fireplace, carefully holding the cup with two hands to avoid spilling. My hands were slowly recovering from the incident a fortnight ago, and they were still shaky.
“Cal. And thanks, Claudia. Thanks for…not mentioning anything to anyone, either.”
Claudia moved to my wardrobe, taking different pieces out and comparing them to one another. “It’s not my business to. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“I am,” I blurt out. “Happy, I mean.”
Claudia stopped her shuffling in my closet and turned around. “You sound surprised by that.”
I was. I had known Rafe since he was born. Our relationship progressed over the years, starting with friendship and growing into something more later. Now that I thought about it, it had already been about a decade since our first kiss. I didn’t realize it had been that long. Time flies, and all that. It seemed like it was only yesterday when we shared our first kiss on the tallest tower of the castle, watching the sun set over Ashven.
Rafe had always meant something to me. After all, he was one of the few best friends I had. But having him as a boyfriend was different. Rafe had easily become the light of my life. The sun that always, somehow broke through my stormy days.
My reason for living.
When I shook myself out of my thoughts and back to the present, Claudia had already left. I absentmindedly spun the ring Rafe had gifted me around my finger, sipping my tea, as a knock sounded from my door.
“Claudia? Come in, did you forget something?”
It wasn’t Claudia, but Rafe. I hadn’t expected to see him again so soon after leaving my room this morning.
He seemed nervous. His tan skin was flushed, and his long hair laid flat and unbrushed.
I set my cup down and went over to him. I was the cautious, anxious one in the relationship. Rafe balanced me with his carefree attitude and relaxed demeanor. In fact, I couldn’t remember the last time Rafe was nervous and on edge, which led me to believe something was wrong.
“Rafe, what are you doing here? What’s wrong?”
Rafe didn’t answer at first, and instead cupped my jaw with both his hands, trailing his fingers down my face in a caress that sent a shiver down my spine.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured. “You know, when I was a boy, I used to be jealous of your blond hair. Of the little golden boy with the sapphire eyes.”
This did not sound like him. “Rafe…? What’s going on? Talk to me.”
Rafe stepped away, his arms dropping to his sides before he uttered the two words that would haunt me forever. “I’m leaving.”
