Page 6

I stand under the fading light, my voice soft but resolute, gazing out the kitchen window at the near-midnight sky.

“Kaelen, it’s getting late,” I say, my brow furrowing slightly as I turn to notice the sadness in his eyes.

“I know it feels like we haven’t had much time together, but we can’t let the darkness steal our shared joy.

Let’s take a moment to breathe, to remember the light we carry within us.

Besides, it’s against the rules to see your betrothed before the wedding anyway.

” I try to coax a smile from him, but the words linger in the air.

A gentle reminder that even when I take my leave, the warmth of our bond will persist long after we’ve parted.

Kaelen’s grip tightens on my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles, a silent plea for me to stay just a little longer in the dim, flickering light of the room.

As the shadows danced around us, I found myself torn, caught between my instincts and the intoxicating allure of his presence.

The taste of blood still lingered on my tongue, blending with the moment’s sweetness.

Kaelen’s gaze held me, his eyes filled with a deep intensity that rooted me in place.

For a fleeting moment, I considered surrendering to the night, letting everything outside this room fade away.

“Stay.” Kaelen’s warm breath mingled with the rise and fall of my chest, creating a cocoon of silence around us.

His forehead gently rested against mine, a tender gesture that conveyed more than words ever could, a silent promise of protection and belonging, allowing our hearts to forget the world and bask in the moment’s serenity.

“Please, Elara. I’m not one to beg, but I don’t want this night to end. Just this once, stay with me. Let’s share stories, laugh and forget our worries for a while. I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

His words stirred something inside me. Despite my better judgment, despite the rules, I didn’t want to leave either.

But I wasn’t supposed to be outside the palace, let alone Lunairis.

Yet, he was so sincere, so handsome and considerate.

Not to mention, he was my first kiss, and he let me drink from his ‘special stash’.

His smile, the way his eyes sparkled with mischief. .. Oh, Gods. No. I can’t be.

“Kaelen, I shouldn’t even be outside the walls of my palace, let alone my realm. It’s against the law.” My voice drops to a whisper, the sadness on my lips mirroring the ache in my chest.

“Fuck the law!” Kaelen growls, baring his fangs, not at me, but at the tension between us.

The overwhelming need that seemed impossible to suppress.

His grip on my hands tightened even more.

“Look, we don’t have to share a bed or room, and we’ll face the consequences tomorrow, together.

I just... I don’t want you to leave, Elara. ”

“El.”

“Huh?” he looks at me, confusion flickering.

“Call me El.” No one has called me El since my parents

passed. I’d never let anyone use that name. But now... Did I just let Kaelen in? Did I open my heart, even if just a little? “I’ll stay, Kaelen. I don’t want to leave either. I’m enjoying myself too much to go back to normality.” I will figure out ho w

to explain this to Withers and the High Council tomorrow. For now, I want to live in this moment.

As moonlight filtered through the curtains, Kaelen and I settled into the cosy nook of his dimly lit study. The air was thick with the scent of old books and a faint hint of woodsmoke from the fireplace. Our laughter floated in the air, a warm echo against the coolness of the night.

I shared stories of my past, moonlit picnics with my father, and adventures that had shaped me as a vampire/fae.

Kaelen listened, his dark eyes alight with intrigue, his presence comforting as he realised how our experiences mirrored each other.

He shared his own tales, centuries of wandering shadowed forests, the thrill of the hunt, and the bonds forged in darkness.

With each story, the tension between us deepened, a crack- ling energy that seemed to hum in the space between us.

Our bond, rooted in the unspoken understanding of our shared vampiric nature, grew stronger with each laugh and sigh.

The night seemed alive, alive with the secrets of our kind, with the unspoken promise of immortality, mixed beautifully with the fleeting warmth of the moment.

As the laughter faded, a comfortable silence settled between us, thick with anticipation. The hairs on my arms stood on end. I could feel Kaelen’s gaze on me, hungry, filled with admiration, and something more profound. It pulled me in, an irresistible gravity I couldn’t ignore.

“I never thought I’d find someone who understands,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kaelen’s smile was tender, but it quickly faded as the air shifted.

Desire hung thick in the space between us.

The moment felt charged, time slowing as we leaned toward each other, our breaths mingling in the silence.

Kaelen closed the distance between us, his lips brushing my face first, tentative, but it quickly ignited something more intense.

The kiss was a fusion of warmth and cold, two immortal souls connecting in a way that defied the years between us.

When we pulled apart, gasping for breath. Our eyes locked, filled with unspoken promises. This was a night neither of us would forget. A moment suspended in time, drawing us closer in a shared darkness, yet illuminated by the light between us.

“You look tired, El. Do you want to call it a night?” he asks gently.

I sigh softly, rubbing my eyes before meeting his gaze again. “Yeah, I think I could use some rest. It’s been a long day,” I replied, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “We need to be sharp for tomorrow. God knows what will happen with the High

Council and Withers...”

We walk in quiet harmony down the long corridor. The

castle seems alive in its stillness, its walls lined with delicate artwork and elegant sconces casting a soft glow on the polished floors. Kaelen glanced over his shoulder, offering me a polite smile, though his eyes remained carefully distant as if choosing words.

“This way,” he says, pushing open a door at the end of the hall.

The room is bathed in soft, natural tones, nothing you would expect in a vampire’s home.

A king-sized bed, draped in pale linens, dominates the room.

Its headboard is carved with intricate designs.

On one side of the room, a plush armchair sits beside a small bookshelf, and on the other, an antique vanity table catches the light, a soft glow surrounding it.

“Make yourself at home,” he murmurs as he takes a step back to allow me to enter.

His voice is low, as though unsure of how much space to offer.

He lingers for a brief moment, then leans towards me.

Brushing a gentle kiss against my cheek, he reminds me of our shared connection.

With a last glance, he turns and retreats down the hall. His scent lingers long after

he leaves.

As I click the door shut, I exhale a quiet breath, the silence of

the room enveloping me. Something strangely comforting was in its delicate balance of elegance and warmth. Yet, something about this room whispered of hidden tales, of untold truths.

Lying in bed, I reflect on the evening, the laughter, the shared glances, the way Kaelen’s presence made everything feel just right.

I slowly close my eyes, imagining moments yet to come, the conversations we’d share, and the adventures ahead.

Somehow, in this quiet moment, it felt like tomorrow held endless possibilities, and Kaelen’s kiss, its longing, its promise, spoke of desires neither of us had yet fully understood.