Helios and his knights dealt with the bandits swiftly, just as Ezra would expect from the Sunward Sentinels.
As they worked, Ezra found himself noticing something that made his chest tighten.
'None of these knights are mine,' Ezra thought, a faint frown forming. None of them were familiar. Not a single face from the unit he once led.
Not even one.
Questions piled up in his mind. He wanted to ask Helios. He wanted to ask him everything.
But Helios was still busy giving orders, overseeing the arrest, making sure the bandits were secured.
So Ezra turned his attention to the more important matter.
"Little one," Ezra whispered as he gently set Lior down on the ground. "I need you to— Lior?"
Lior wasn't looking at him.
He wasn't listening.
Instead, his gaze was fixed somewhere behind Ezra, eyes wide as he peeked past him at whatever was unfolding.
"Lior, what are you looking at?" Ezra asked as he turned around.
His heart stopped.
Right.
How could he have forgotten?
Then again, he hadn't expected to meet Helios so soon.
"Maman… he's like me."
Lior whispered the words, eyes wide, almost trembling as he stared at Helios.
'No,' Ezra thought.
He immediately, but gently, cupped Lior's face and guided his gaze back to him.
"Listen to me, Lior," Ezra whispered. He glanced over his shoulder first, making sure Helios and the others were occupied before continuing.
"Maman?" Lior tilted his head.
"Yes, that man has gold eyes like you," Ezra said softly, "but he can never know. Remember when I told you not to tell anyone? You can't tell him either."
"…Why?"
Ezra frowned.
He did have a reason in mind. One that might hurt to say. One he might regret.
But it was the only way he could make Lior understand.
And the only way to keep him safe.
"That man is one of the people who might take you away from me if they find out you have gold eyes like them," Ezra said, drawing in a steady breath. "So you must never tell him, or anyone else."
He hesitated.
This was the hardest part.
"And… I need you not to call me Maman for now, okay?"
Lior's eyes widened even more. His brows knitted together, his lips forming a small pout.
He was hurt.
"B-But Maman… why?" Lior asked, his voice trembling. "Are you mad? I'm sorry… Please still be my Maman."
The words pierced straight through Ezra's chest.
He immediately pulled Lior into his arms, holding him close.
"Lior, no. I'm not mad," Ezra whispered, stroking the back of his head. "And no matter what you call me, I will always be your Maman."
"B-But why can't I call you Maman anymore?" Lior asked quietly.
"Only when there are other people around, little one," Ezra murmured. "Here, they can't know that I'm your Maman."
"Because they'll take me?"
"Yes," Ezra said softly. "Because Maman is very important in this kingdom. And if they find out I'm your Maman, then you'll be in danger."
He pulled Lior closer, arms tightening around his small frame as if he could shield him from the entire world.
Lior went quiet.
That silence hurt more than any cry. Ezra knew that kind of quiet. It meant Lior understood. He always did.
But it also meant he was upset, holding it in, trying to be brave in his own small way.
'He's hurting,' Ezra thought, his chest aching. 'And I'm the one causing it.'
Ezra forced himself to stay steady. Years of training as a knight had taught him how to stand firm in the face of pain, how to make hard choices without flinching.
This was one of those moments.
As much as it shattered him to see Lior like this, he couldn't take the words back.
Protecting Lior mattered more than Ezra's own heart.
More than his pride.
More than his happiness.
If staying strong meant bearing his son's sadness now, then Ezra would do it.
Because keeping Lior safe, keeping his identity hidden, was the only thing that mattered.
As soon as Ezra finished settling things with Lior, he felt it.
A presence.
Close.
Before he turned, he whispered to Lior, "Don't speak unless I say so, okay?"
Lior nodded, clinging to him.
The presence stopped just behind him.
Ezra turned instinctively, his senses still sharp despite everything, and found Helios standing there. He wore a familiar smile, the kind that made it seem like nothing in the world had gone wrong.
"Helios," Ezra began. "Are the bandits—"
He didn't get to finish.
Helios suddenly grabbed his arm.
Ezra stiffened in shock. "Helios?" he asked, confusion flashing across his face.
Helios didn't answer.
He just pulled him along.
Ezra barely had time to react before instinct kicked in and he tightened his grip on Lior, allowing himself to be pulled along.
"Where are you taking us?" Ezra asked, his voice low but urgent.
There was no answer.
'This is bad.'
Lior clung to him, clearly confused, his eyes darting between them, but he stayed silent. Just as Ezra had taught him.
They turned a corner, and Ezra froze.
'Does he… know something?'
A carriage stood waiting.
Not just any carriage.
Large. Ornate. Gold-trimmed, the royal crest etched clearly into its side.
A royal carriage.
'Did he… notice?'
Unease crept deeper into Ezra's chest.
Helios opened the door and gestured sharply. "Inside."
Ezra hesitated. Helios had never spoken to him like that before. But Helios was still his superior.
So Ezra stepped in, lifting Lior with him.
The interior was just as lavish, cushioned seats, polished wood, and the faint scent of incense lingering in the air.
He barely had time to turn before Helios followed them inside.
The door shut.
The sound of the door shutting echoed through the confined space.
Too loud.
"Helios, what is going on?" Ezra demanded, his heart starting to pound. "Answer me, please. Did…I do something?"
Helios didn't respond.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Ezra instinctively took a step back, only to feel the seat press against the backs of his legs. Before he could adjust, Helios planted one hand beside him and the other on the opposite side.
He was trapped.
Pressed between the seat and Helios's body.
Ezra's breath hitched.
Lior was still in his arms, tense, small fingers clutching tightly at Ezra's sleeves.
'He knows…right? He…'
"Helios…" Ezra tried again, his voice low. This was nothing like him.
Helios looked down at him, golden eyes shimmering even without sunlight.
Then he leaned closer.
Too close.
'What is he…' Ezra thought, his heartbeat pounding so loudly in his ears that he feared both Lior and Helios could hear it.
Ezra wanted to sink into the seat, to make himself smaller, but Helios only closed the distance further.
His lips brushed near Ezra's ear.
Ezra could feel his breath.
"Ezra…" Helios whispered, his voice low and steady.
The sound of his name alone sent a shiver down Ezra's spine.
"Y-Yes?" Ezra replied, his voice barely above a breath.
"…Have you…"
Helios paused.
Ezra waited, every second stretching painfully long. His throat felt dry as he swallowed, arms tightening around Lior without realizing it.
'Say it,' Ezra thought. 'Whatever it is, just say it.'
"…taken your suppressants?"
Oh.