SPELLBOUND

Evie was all smiles, holding onto Gavrael's hand as they unhurriedly walked towards the terrace where the dark fae King and Queen were having their morning tea. She just could not wait to surprise the King and Queen!

But as they were about to enter through the last door that would lead them to their destination, Gavrael suddenly halted, causing Evie to turn to face him, wondering what the matter was.

Gavrael looked away to avoid directly meeting Evie's eyes. But she did not need to look directly into his eyes to realize that the man was getting a bit tense. She could tell from the way his hand was tightening itself around hers. Evie smiled softly at him and squeezed his hand back in a reassuring manner.

"Gav?" she called out softly and he took a shallow breath before lifting his eyes to meet her gaze. Then she tiptoed and kissed his mouth, catching him by surprise.

The man froze and Evie pulled away, chuckling. "It's okay, Gav. They are your parents, remember? You don't have to be nervous."

He frowned slightly and averted his gaze again. "I'm not."

Evie just smiled again. "That's good then, now come. Don't worry, your parents aren't going to gang up on you. And I seriously doubt that they would eat you up too." She then chuckled at her own words.

Then she pulled him in without giving Gav another chance to retort as they both finally walked through the door.

It led them into a spacious terrace which was overlooking the scenic beauty of the Great City and the shimmering crystals that were sparkling above. The view was just breathtaking, like another paradise in the dark.

King Belial and Queen Beatrice turned their heads as they saw their son and daughter-in-law walking in. However, their smile turned to surprise as their sights landed and focussed on Gavrael.

The queen was the first to rise and she ran towards her son, covering her mouth. "Gav… your eyes!" Beatrice exclaimed, her gaze flying back and forth between Evie and Gavrael, looking for an explanation but too overwhelmed to voice her thoughts out.

"What happened?! Wait…!! This means… you remember us now, right? Son?!" Beatrice probed excitedly and as soon as Gavrael gave a tiny nod, Beatrice hugged him. "Oh my, Gavy…" she muttered and Gavrael wrapped his arms around her too, albeit a little slower in response.

He did not say a word, but his head was bent over as if to hide his face. Beatrice immediately felt the emotions he was silently exuding. He was hugging her so tightly and Beatrice could not help but feel emotional as well.

She rubbed Gavrael's back. "I'm so happy that you can remember us again, my dearest son. I'm so glad." Her voice shook as her eyes teared up slightly. And after a long while, with just the mother and son, hugging each other, Gavrael finally pulled away and let go of his mother. He had missed her terribly too.

"How about me, son? No hug for me?" King Belial raised a brow at Gavrael. Despite the mischief in his smile, the gladness was also shining clearly in his blue blazing eyes. The king was not shy to express how he had missed his son.

Gavrael did not move. "Good to see you again, father." Was all he said and that caused Evie to blink at him.

King Belial faked a disappointed sigh. "Your memories are indeed back Gavrael, my prodigal son." There was a hint of mischief in his smile as he said those words.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Gavrael replied, and King Belial chuckled, leaning over to Evie.

"This is how your husband used to speak to his father when he was still living here in the Under Lands. He's quite the cold and gloomy boy to everyone including me except to his mother." The king told Evie in a stage whisper. Of course, Gavrael heard it, but he did not bother to react. "He's very unfair to his old man, isn't he? I am his father and yet it seems as though he didn't miss me at all for those long years that we were apart." The King continued and Evie pressed her lips tight together and controlled her facial expressions, knowing what the king was up to.

"Well, yes." Evie agreed. "He's indeed…" she trailed off, pressing her lips tight again the moment Gavrael moved and moved to hug King Belial. She found the look in Gav's face really funny, and a wide grin spread across her face.

The king's smile was as wide, if not wider, as he patted Gavrael's back firmly. "Alright, I guess I need to take back what I just said earlier." he chuckled but eventually, his expression turned serious as the father and son pulled away from each other. "Your magic…" the king started, stepping back as if to take a good look at Gavrael. His eyes narrowed a little as he scrutinized him. "When did your magic start leaking out and lingering around you like this, son?"

Gavrael frowned a little. "I can't recall exactly when." He answered and the king touched his own chin.

"Hmm… so you're saying that your magic has been like this for a long while now?"

"Yes, I think so." Gav was also frowning as he tried to think back as to when this phenomenon had been occurring.

"Can you try suppressing them now, son?"

"Why?" The furrow lines on Gavrael's forehead deepened.

"It's riling my magic up, I think. It's like your magic is trying to provoke mine. Now mine is clamouring to be released out of their containment as well." King Belial said. He sounded calm as a placid lake, but Evie saw the curiosity and intrigue swirling about in his deep eyes.

"I can't," Gavrael answered in the next second, causing the King's eyes to stretch a little.

"You can't? You're not going to tell me that you are not in control of it are you, son?" King Belial's voice held a tinge of concern.

When Gavrael could not answer, King Belial's calm eyes changed. "Are you telling me that your magic is all over the place like this, all the time whenever your memories as Gavrael return and your eyes turn blue?"

The moment Gavrael nodded, the King looked speechless for a moment. Then he turned to look at Evie. "You've been staying close to Gavrael's side all these while when his dark magic is acting in this manner?"

Evie met the king's gaze. "Yes, but… when we are together, his dark magic usually settles down and stops leaking. I also notice that when he's closer to me, his magic stops behaving like this." She explained and she pulled Gavrael next to her to show both King Belial and Queen Beatrice what she meant. She then held his hand and pressed her body against him.

The king watched intently as Gavrael's magic slowly disappears, causing both the king and queen to fall speechless at the sight.

"But there are a few times," Evie added, "when I noticed Gav's magic will still leak out like that even when we're together.. And that usually occurs when something angers him."