Betrayed by My Ex, Marked by His Alpha Emperor Brother

Chapter 40

Elara’s POV

“Mommy, look! That one’s bigger than a house!”

Valerius pressed both palms flat against the carriage window, his breath fogging the glass. Beyond the smudged circle of condensation, the masts of merchant ships rose like bare winter trees against the amber sky.

“Sit back, sweetheart. You’ll leave prints everywhere.”

He ignored me completely. His dark curls bounced as he craned his neck, trying to see higher. His bright eyes went wide as a large ship drifted past the harbor mouth, its sails catching the last of the evening light.

“Lord Kaelen, is that one yours?” my four-year-old son asked, practically vibrating with excitement.

Kaelen glanced over from the driver’s seat, one hand loose on the reins. He still wore his expensive court jacket, looking every inch the powerful emperor, yet he navigated the congested Friday evening traffic of the capital with an ease that surprised me.

“That one belongs to the merchant guild,” Kaelen said gently. “But there’s a frigate docked on the far side that might have a sea serpent carved into the bow. Want to go check?”

Valerius gasped. “A real sea serpent?”

“Carved. But very convincing.”

“Can we, Mommy? Can we?”

I smiled, smoothing my soft wool sweater over my comfortable jeans. “We’re already here, aren’t we?”

The royal harbor opened before us. Salt air rushed in through the windows, tangled with the smell of wet rope and sun-warmed wood. Kaelen pulled the carriage to a stop near the boardwalk and jumped down. Before I could reach for the door handle, he was already there, offering his hand to help me step out.

He then lifted Valerius out of the carriage with one arm, settling the boy on his hip as if he’d done it many times. Valerius laughed, a bright, uncomplicated sound that cracked something open in my chest.

We walked along the main pier. Kaelen naturally placed a possessive hand on the small of my back. The broad palm and heavy warmth sent a flutter through my stomach, but I didn’t pull away. He didn’t remove it as we strolled toward the weathered ice cream stand at the end of the dock.

“Two vanilla cones,” Kaelen ordered, then looked down at Valerius. “And what do you want?”

“Rocky road!”

“And one rocky road.”

Valerius accepted his cone with both hands. “Lord Kaelen, you can just call me Valerius. Mommy does.”

Kaelen crouched down to eye level. “Deal. And you can drop the ‘Lord’. Just Kaelen.”

“Just Kaelen,” Valerius repeated, grinning.

Standing back up, Kaelen finally shrugged off his expensive court jacket, laying it aside on a nearby bench. He rolled up the sleeves of his crisp white shirt, exposing strong forearms roped with muscle and hands rough with calluses. He reached out, his fingers intertwining with mine.

“Thank you,” he said quietly, his thumb brushing my knuckles. “For giving me this ordinary family experience.”

His vulnerability tugged at my heart, a stark contrast to his usual imposing aura.

For the next hour, we stayed on the narrow strip of sand below the boardwalk, building a grand sandcastle. Kaelen knelt in the sand without hesitation, working alongside Valerius. At one point, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a torn calling card, and stuck it into the tallest tower to serve as a flag. Valerius cheered.

The ride back was quiet. Valerius fell asleep soon after we left the harbor, his head heavy against my shoulder.

When we reached my apartment building, Kaelen carried the sleeping boy up the narrow staircase. The steps creaked, but Kaelen held him securely against his chest.

As we reached my door, I fumbled with my keys. While I was unlocking the door, Kaelen shifted his weight and looked down at me, his expression turning serious.

“Elara,” he asked gently, his voice low in the quiet hallway. “Did you ever wish Valerius’s father had stayed? Or tried to find you?”

The question caught me off guard, hanging heavy in the air.

“What would you do if he showed up tomorrow?” Kaelen pressed, his eyes searching mine.

I paused, the key still in the lock, answering with complete honesty. “I’d need an explanation first. Then I’d decide whether to forgive him or rip his throat out.”

A flicker of something anxious and unreadable crossed his features, but he simply nodded.

I pushed the door open, and we went straight to the bedroom. Kaelen eased Valerius onto the mattress. I pulled up the dinosaur-patterned sheets, tucking him in.

Kaelen stood in the doorway, watching with a protective softness. “Goodnight, lad,” he whispered.

I followed him out, pulling the bedroom door almost shut.

The moment we were alone, the atmosphere in the living room became incredibly tense. The easy camaraderie of the evening vanished, replaced by a simmering, profound intimacy. Kaelen stepped closer, his scent—sandalwood and the warmth of a mature male—wrapping around me.

He reached out and gently cupped my face. His thumbs traced my cheekbones, his golden eyes filled with a restrained fire.

“I don’t want to rush this,” he murmured, his voice slightly rough. “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

My breath hitched. My heart hammered against my ribs, the safe, domestic feeling of the evening giving way to an undeniable desire.

“What if I want you to take advantage?” The words escaped before I could stop them, and my cheeks went scorching hot.