POV: DUAL (KIERAN → KAELIS)
Timeline: One week after the letters
Location: Neutral Ground → Fancy Restaurant (Magic Created)
KIERAN'S POV
"This is a terrible idea," I say for the fifteenth time.
"You've mentioned that," Ravion replies, adjusting his formal jacket. "Multiple times."
"Because it's TRUE!" I'm pacing our chambers, also in formal wear that feels way too fancy. "Dinner. The four of us. You and Nyx in the same room for hours. What could go wrong?"
"Nothing will go wrong."
"You two hate each other!"
"We're being civil."
"You called him a 'waterlogged fish' last week!"
"He called me a 'shadow-obsessed edgelord'!"
"EXACTLY MY POINT!"
Ravion catches me mid-pace, hands on my shoulders.
"Breathe. It's just dinner. We'll eat, make polite conversation, and leave. Simple."
"Nothing is simple with you two."
"Then we'll make it complicated together."
He kisses my forehead.
"But we're doing this. For you and Kaelis."
I sigh. "Fine. But when this goes badly—"
"If this goes badly."
"WHEN this goes badly, I'm saying 'I told you so.'"
"Noted."
---
The "neutral ground" Nyx chose is... extra.
It's not a clearing this time.
It's a full restaurant.
Just—appeared.
In the middle of the forest.
Magic-created.
Three stories tall, glowing windows, soft music drifting out.
"He made a restaurant," I say flatly.
"Apparently." Ravion sounds equally baffled.
"From scratch. With magic."
"The Sea God does enjoy being dramatic."
"That's rich coming from you, King of Shadows and Brooding."
"I don't brood."
"You literally have a brooding throne."
"It's a throne of power!"
"It's black, covered in shadow magic, and radiates 'leave me alone' energy."
"...Fair point."
---
We enter, and it's even worse inside.
Crystal chandeliers with real starlight.
Floating candles.
Marble floors reflecting like water.
And at the center—
Nyx and Kaelis.
Nyx looks like a walking ocean.
Kaelis looks like a nervous, sparkly prince.
When he sees me, his whole face lights up.
"KIERAN!"
He's out of his seat instantly.
"You're here! You look—wow, fancy!"
"You too!" I grin. "Are your clothes made of water?"
"I think so? Nyx made them. They feel weird."
"Like wearing the ocean."
"SO uncomfortable."
---
Behind us—
Nyx and Ravion are staring each other down.
"Ravion," Nyx says coldly.
"Nyx," Ravion replies frostily.
"Your outfit is very... dark."
"Your outfit is literally dripping."
"I'm the Sea God. Everything I wear drips."
"That sounds like a design flaw."
Nyx twitches.
Kaelis whispers, "We're already starting."
"Yep. Disaster incoming."
---
We sit.
Square of tension achieved.
A water-server pours wine.
"So," I say lightly. "Nice restaurant?"
"Thank you," Nyx says. "I created it this morning."
"This morning?" Ravion raises an eyebrow. "How rushed."
"Some of us can create beauty quickly."
"Some of us prefer substance over flash."
"Flash can have substance—"
"Can we NOT?" Kaelis snaps.
"Yeah," I add. "Save the arguing for dessert at least."
Both look chastised.
"Fine," Ravion mutters.
"Agreed," Nyx says stiffly.
Silence.
---
"So! Kaelis. Magic training?"
"Oh god."
He drops his face into his hands.
"Don't ask."
"That bad?"
"I created sentient water creatures that sang sea shanties and terrorized the eastern wing."
I choke. "You WHAT?"
"It was an accident!"
"How do you accidentally create life?!"
"I DON'T KNOW! I'm bad at magic!"
"You're not bad," Nyx says. "You're... chaotic."
"That's worse!"
"It's better," Nyx insists.
"Your entire wing was flooded!"
"But it was entertaining!"
Ravion laughs.
"Please tell me there are paintings."
"We do not," Nyx says sharply.
"We absolutely do," Kaelis whispers. "Draven commissioned them."
"I need copies."
"Done."
"KAELIS!"
We snicker.
---
Appetizers arrive.
"This looks amazing," I say.
"It should," Nyx says. "I imported the chef from the Southern Seas."
"You imported a chef," Ravion says. "For ONE meal."
"What? Excessive?"
"Showing off."
"Says the man with a shadow throne."
"It's practical!"
"IT IS NOT!"
My fork drops loudly.
"Sorry, but PLEASE. Let's try to have a normal dinner."
Kaelis nods.
"Yeah. I'd like to talk to my twin without your ego fight."
"We're not—" Ravion starts.
"You absolutely are," I say.
Ravion and Nyx exchange a silent negotiation.
"Fine. Truce."
"Truce."
They shake hands like touching burns.
Kaelis and I:
"Thank you."
We jinx and giggle.
Ravion and Nyx watch us.
"They're the same person."
"Completely."
"Insufferable."
"Absolutely."
Kaelis and I laugh harder.
---
KAELIS' POV
By second course, everyone's relaxed.
Kieran is telling a story about burning water with a coffee maker.
I'm dying.
"How do you set FIRE to WATER?"
"I don't know! The ramen packet said 'add water'—"
"In a POT! Not a COFFEE MAKER!"
"I didn't have a pot!"
"So you used ELECTRONICS?!"
"It seemed logical!"
Even Nyx is smiling.
Ravion is laughing.
"My bad cooking disaster?" I say.
"Tried to bake bread. Explosion."
"How do you explode BREAD?!"
"Too much yeast."
"How much—"
"All of it."
Kieran shrieks. "YOU USED ALL OF IT?!"
We're disasters.
Twin disasters.
Perfect.
---
Food is amazing.
Magical glowing fish.
"This is incredible," I tell Nyx.
"I wanted tonight special."
"You succeeded."
Across, Kieran leans into Ravion.
Domestic, adorable.
"You two are cute," I say.
Kieran: "Shut up."
Ravion kisses him.
"Sweet."
"See?" I say. "SWEET."
Nyx pulls me in.
"We're also sweet."
"We're chaotic."
"Chaotically sweet."
"That's worse."
"Better," he says, kissing my cheek.
Kieran points. "SEE? You're doing it too!"
We laugh.
---
Dessert sparkles.
"Is this safe?" Kieran pokes.
"Yes," Nyx says. "It tastes like your favorite dessert."
I take a bite.
"Honey cakes—oh gods."
"Mine tastes like Brooklyn cookies!" Kieran is glowing.
"Magic," Nyx smirks.
Ravion eats his.
"...Apple pie."
Kieran softens.
"That's sweet."
"Don't tell anyone," Ravion mutters.
"Your reputation?"
"Exactly."
We tease him until he's borderline emotional.
He denies it aggressively.
---
After dinner, outside—
"This was... tolerable," Ravion admits.
Nyx grins.
"High praise."
"Don't push it."
But they're smiling.
At each other.
"Are they becoming friends?" I whisper.
"I think so?" Kieran whispers.
WEIRD.
Good weird.
"Same time next month?" Nyx asks.
Ravion: "...Fine."
They shake hands.
Almost friendly.
Kieran hugs me.
"This was fun."
"Absolutely. Perfect disasters."
Twin bond humming.
We portal apart.
Nyx asks, "Fun?"
"Yeah. I did."
"We'll do it again."
Chaotic family dinners.
Twin.
Boyfriends.
Chaos.
Perfect.
---
KIERAN — BRIEF ENDING
"That went well," I say in bed.
"Define well," Ravion says.
"No one died."
"Fair."
He pulls me close.
"I might not hate Nyx completely."
"Oh my god."
"Don't tell him."
"I'm ABSOLUTELY telling him."
"Kieran—"
"First thing next dinner."
"I will lock you in this room."
"Kinky."
"That's not—"
He laughs.
"You're terrible."
"You love me."
"Unfortunately."
I kiss him.
"Thanks for trying. For me. For Kaelis."
"I'd do anything for you. Even tolerate the Sea God."
"That's love."
"That's insanity."
"Same thing."
We fall asleep tangled, planning the next chaotic family dinner.
Because we have family now.
And I wouldn't change it for anything.