Chapter 10: Big Guns

Karina stood outside Valen’s private quarters, her hand raised to knock. She had rehearsed what she was going to say at least five times on the walk over.

Valen, sweetie, we’re going on a trip with your father! Won’t that be fun?

No. Too cheery. He’d see right through it.

Valen, I know you don’t trust me, but I think this would be good for you.

Too desperate.

Valen, pack your things. We’re leaving.

Too authoritarian. He’d probably bite her again.

She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Why was this so hard? She had managed to win over Rynan with a single pastry. But Valen was different. The eldest cub had walls built higher than the palace itself.

Just get it over with, she told herself. Rip off the bandage.

She knocked.

"Come in," came a small, flat voice from inside. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Karina pushed open the door and stepped into Valen’s private quarters. The room was surprisingly sparse for a prince’s chambers. A bed with dark blue linens. A small desk cluttered with books. A wooden practice sword leaning against the wall. No toys. No childish decorations. Just..... emptiness.

And there, sitting cross-legged on the bed with a thick leather-bound book in his lap, was Valen.

His ears twitched at her entrance, but he didn’t look up. His purple eyes remained fixed on the pages, his small brow furrowed in concentration. He looked so much like Leonidas that it was almost painful.

"Valen," Karina began, keeping her voice soft. "I have something to tell you."

No response. Just the rustle of a page turning.

"I... we’re going on a trip. Your father has invited us to visit Shadow’s Edge. His kingdom."

Page turn.

"We’ll be leaving in three days. I thought you might like to—"

"No."

He still hadn’t looked at her.

Karina blinked. "No? Valen, I haven’t even finished—"

"I said no." He turned another page with slowly. "I am not going anywhere with you. Or with him."

Ouch.

Karina stepped closer, her gown swishing against the floor. "Valen, please. Just hear me out—"

"Go away!"

His small voice cracked with sudden anger, and he finally looked up, his eyes betraying the hurt embedded deep within him.

"You never cared about me before!" he shouted, his little fists clenching the edges of his book. "None of you did! Father never came to see me. You never came to see me. And now suddenly you both want to pretend to be a family? I’m not stupid!"

Oh.

The worst part was that he was right. The old Karina had neglected him. Leonidas had ignored him. They had both failed this child in ways that couldn’t be undone with a single apology.

But she wasn’t the old Karina. And she wasn’t going to give up.

"I know," she said quietly, kneeling down to his level. "I know we failed you, Valen. Both of us. And I’m not asking you to forgive me overnight. I’m not asking you to pretend everything is fine. I’m just asking you to give this a chance."

Valen’s jaw tightened. "I said go away!"

Before she could react, he scrambled off the bed, his little legs pumping as he made a break for the door.

Karina’s reflexes kicked in. She lunged forward, grabbing the back of his tunic just as his fingers brushed the door handle.

"Ah! Let go of me!" Valen yowled, thrashing like a feral cat. His small claws extended, and he twisted around, his teeth bared.

"Don’t you dare bite me!" Karina yelped, holding him at arm’s length. "I have already been bitten by one of your brothers! I will not be a chew toy for the entire litter!"

"Let go! Let go! I’m not going! I’m not going!"

Valen’s legs kicked wildly, his panther tail lashing back and forth. He was surprisingly strong for a six-year-old. Karina had to use both hands to keep him from squirming free.

"Valen! Valen, stop it! I’m not going to hurt you!"

"I don’t care! Put me down!"

"Knock it off!"

She managed to pin him against her chest, wrapping her arms around his small, thrashing body. He went rigid, his ears flattening against his skull.

"Let me go," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Please."

Karina’s heart broke. She loosened her grip, but didn’t let him go entirely. Instead, she sank to the floor, cradling him in her lap. He didn’t relax, but he stopped fighting.

"I’m not going to force you," she said softly. "I would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to do. But I want you to think about it. Please."

Valen was silent. His small shoulders shook, and Karina realized with a jolt that he was crying. Silent, angry tears that he was trying desperately to hide.

She didn’t say anything. She just held him, rubbing slow circles on his back.

This is a disaster, she thought. How am I supposed to convince him?

[SYSTEM ALERT: MATERNAL REDEMPTION PROGRESS: 6%]

[Current Relationship with Valen: Hostile/Distrustful]

[Suggestion: Bribery works wonders on small children.]

Karina almost laughed. Bribery. Right. I forgot about that.

She glanced down at Valen’s tear-streaked face. His eyes were red-rimmed, but he had stopped crying. He was just staring blankly at the floor now, his expression hollow.

Okay. Time to pull out the big guns.