Page 42

The trail woven through the forest, fragrant with the scent of wet earth and tropical blooms. As we made our way through the dense foliage, the sound of the ocean grew louder, until the trees finally gave way to a wide, secluded beach.

There, anchored, was a yacht, a sleek and powerful vessel, its polished hull gleaming under the sunlight.

It looked almost out of place, a masterpiece of modern luxury against the untamed beauty of the island.

The yacht’s white cream, elegant design contrasted with the vibrant blues and greens of the surrounding waters.

With several levels of open decks, complete with railings, staircases, and expansive windows.

It was a beautiful yacht, one I was sure I wouldn’t see anywhere else.

Adrian walked ahead, his movements confident and purposeful as the soft sand crunched beneath his bare feet. I followed him, my eyes trailing over the yacht, its size and sophistication a hint of the life Adrian came from, a life I didn’t know about.

He gestured toward the boat, his voice casual. “After you.”

I hesitated briefly, taking in the luxury of it all. The yacht was more than just a means of transport. It was a symbol of his world, a system of power and wealth. With a deep breath, I stepped forward, my bare feet sinking into the sand as I approached the wooden dock.

Once on board, he moved to the helm with practiced ease, his hands gliding over the controls as though they extended him. The water lapped gently at the yacht’s side, and soon the soft hum of its engine came alive, barely audible over the sound of the waves.

I watched the island soon stay behind as the boat glided through the water.

I was leaving my kingdom and my people in the hands of the council, sure my grandmother wouldn’t let them use this as an opportunity to depose me but I wouldn’t be there to defend myself if needed, though I wouldn’t stay away long enough for that, I still felted uneasy.

“You’re not invincible, you know,” Adrian said after a long silence, startling me. His voice was quieter, softer, as though the open sea had stripped away some of his defenses.

I turned toward him, leaning against the railing as the cool breeze swept over my skin. “I need to be.”

He glanced at me, his expression unreadable in the dim light of dusk. “Maybe. But that doesn’t mean I want to see you hurt.”

His words caught me off guard, the concern in his tone pulling at something deep inside me. I looked away, focusing on the rhythmic rise and fall of the waves. He was right, of course. Neither of us was invincible. But I had to be. For my kingdom and him. Everything depended on me.

“Are you ready to return to your world?” I asked, my voice steady as I tried to divert the attention away from myself, still feeling the hunger of his earlier gaze.

He smirked, though there was something deeper in his eyes that didn’t match the nonchalant facade. “I guess I’ll never be ready or get accustomed to any of what’s happened this past week,” he replied, his tone light, but there was an undercurrent of tension.

“But you need to, for your own good,” I said, forcing the words out despite the ache they brought. “Forget about my world, the cave, and… our bond.” Each word felt like a blade slicing my heart, but there was no other option. I had to let him go, for both our sake.

He swallowed hard, and for a moment, his eyes flickered with something I hadn’t expected, hurt. “Will you?” His voice was quiet, barely above a murmur, but the question hung heavy between us. “Will you forget about all of this?”

Would I be able to forget? Could I truly erase the bond that pulsed between us, the connection that felt so irrevocably woven into my soul?

A shiver ran down my spine. The thought of letting it all fade seemed impossible. No, it is impossible. The pain of being apart would only serve as a constant reminder of what I was giving up, a haunting memory that would linger long after he was gone.

I clenched my jaw, forcing the emotions back down. “Yes,” I whispered, barely able to convince myself, let alone him. “I have to.”

He didn’t reply. Instead, without a word, he stopped the yacht, the hum of the engine fading as we drifted in the water. The sudden stillness sent a ripple of unease through me, but before I could say anything, he was striding toward me, his movements purposeful .

My heart raced as he closed the distance, his eyes locked on mine with a fire that made it hard to breathe. I tried to step back, creating a space between us, but my planted foot trapped me between him and the railing.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice betraying the tremor I was trying to suppress.

He stopped just inches away, towering over me, his presence overwhelming. His hand reached out, fingers brushing my neck, igniting a spark that flared across my skin.

I hadn’t time to respond before he closed the gap between us, capturing my lips in a fervent kiss. His lips were insistent and demanding, desperate, as if he was trying to convey everything he couldn’t say with words.

I gasped against his mouth, my body betraying me as my hands found their way to his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my fingertips. Every rational thought I had screamed at me to push him away, to remind him of the impossibility of us, but I couldn’t.

He dominated the kiss, his lips moving against mine with a force that made my heart race, leaving no room for hesitation.

His other hand gripped my waist, pulling me closer until there was barely any space left between us. The kiss deepened, igniting a fire that burned through any rational thought. Every part of me wanted to resist, to remember my duty, but I melted into the kiss, craving more of him.

At that moment, I lose myself in him.