The Dawn

X Chapter Nineteen X

Him.

Kaelith paced the dark halls of the castle, the echoes of his footsteps the only sound in the suffocating silence. His mind was a storm, swirling with images of her, Elara, pressed against him, her breathless cries still ringing in his ears. The memory of their last encounter left him restless, unable to think of anything else but the raw intensity they had shared. It had been a battle, one they both lost and won in the same breath, and now he was consumed by the need to see her again, to feel her again.

But more than that, he was haunted by the way he had left her. He hadn't meant to walk away, to leave her alone in the study, but he had been overwhelmed by his own emotions.

Kaelith had never felt so out of control, so caught up in someone else that he couldn't think straight. It was as if she had become a part of him, an inescapable force that pulled him in, no matter how hard he tried to resist.

He stopped outside her door, his hand hovering over the handle. What was he even doing here? Apologies weren't his strength; they never had been. But this wasn't just about apologizing. It was about something deeper, something he couldn't name. He wanted to see her, to look into her eyes and see if she felt it too, the pull, the connection that neither of them could deny.

With a deep breath, he turned the handle and pushed the door open. The room was dimly lit by the moonlight streaming through the window, casting long shadows across the floor. Elara was sitting on the edge of the bed, her back to him. She looked up when he entered, her eyes wide with surprise, but then something shifted in her expression, something he couldn't quite place.

He opened his mouth to speak, to say something-anything-to break the silence, but before he could get a word out, she was up, crossing the room in a flash. The next thing he knew, she was in his arms, her lips crashing against his in a kiss that was both desperate and demanding.

Kaelith froze, caught off guard by her suddenness, but only for a moment. Then, instinct took over. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. She was like fire in his arms, her hands tangling in his hair, tugging him closer as if she couldn't get enough. He could feel the tension in her, the lingering anger from their earlier encounter, but there was something else too-something that matched his own need.

He softened his grip, his hands moving gently over her back, trying to temper the wildness that had overtaken them. This wasn't like before. Before, they had been caught in a storm of emotions, too lost in their anger to think clearly. But now, now it was different. Now, he could feel the vulnerability in her, the raw need that went beyond just desire. And it called to him, pulled him in like a tide he couldn't resist.

"Elara," he murmured against her lips, trying to steady her, to slow her down, but she only pushed closer, her kisses turning frantic, as if she was afraid he might disappear if she didn't hold on tight enough.

He guided her back toward the bed, his lips never leaving hers as he eased her down onto the soft mattress. Her hands gripped his shirt, pulling him down with her, and he followed willingly, his body settling over hers, fitting against her like they were made to be together.

For a moment, he simply held her, his lips brushing lightly over hers, savoring the warmth of her body beneath him. He wanted to take his time, to explore every inch of her, to see how she responded to his touch, to learn what made her gasp, what made her tremble. But she was impatient, her hands sliding down his back, nails scraping against his skin in a way that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Elara," he breathed her name again, this time more firmly, trying to ground her, to ground himself. But she wasn't listening. She arched against him, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps as her hands roamed over his body, searching, needing.

Kaelith groaned, his control slipping as he responded to her desperation. He kissed her deeply, his hands moving to her hips, his fingers brushing against the bare skin beneath her nightgown. She shivered at the contact, her body instinctively pressing closer, seeking more. He could feel her heat, the way her body responded to his touch, and it was driving him mad.

But he didn't want to rush this. He wanted to savor her, to take her to the edge and hold her there, to make her beg for more. And yet, the way she looked at him, the way her body called to his, made it nearly impossible to hold back.

He moved his lips down her neck, savoring the taste of her skin, the way she gasped and arched beneath him. She was so responsive, so beautifully alive in his arms, and it only made him want her more.

His hands slid beneath her nightgown, his fingers tracing the curves of her body, slow and deliberate, taking in every soft sigh, every tremble of anticipation. She was exquisite, more so than he had ever imagined, and it took all of his restraint not to lose himself completely.

Elara's breath hitched as his hands moved lower, teasing the sensitive skin along her thighs, and she arched against him, her body begging for more. He gave her what she wanted, his touch firm but gentle, coaxing her closer to the edge without giving her everything just yet.

She moaned his name, a sound so filled with need that it sent a surge of heat through him. He couldn't hold back any longer. He pulled her closer, pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that was both fierce and tender, pouring everything he felt into that single moment.

This wasn't just about desire. It was about the connection between them, the way they fit together, the way she made him feel alive in a way he hadn't felt in years. He wanted to show her that, to make her understand that she wasn't just a conquest, not just another pawn in his game. She was different. She mattered.

As their bodies moved together, Kaelith found himself caught in the moment, lost in the way she made him feel, in the intensity of their connection. He had never felt anything like this before, this overwhelming need, this burning desire to protect her, to keep her safe, even from himself.

But even as he lost himself in the moment, a part of him remained aware of the danger, of the fact that she was still a weakness, one that could be exploited. And yet, he couldn't let her go. Not now. Not ever.

When it was over, when they finally lay together, their breaths mingling in the quiet of the room, Kaelith couldn't bring himself to pull away. He held her close, his hands gently brushing the hair from her face, his heart still pounding with the intensity of what had just happened.

He wanted to say something, to apologize for the way he had left her earlier, to tell her that this wasn't just about feeding her desire, or his own. But the words wouldn't come. So, instead, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, holding her close as the night closed in around them.

He didn't know what this meant, what they were now. But one thing was certain: he wasn't going to let her go. Not now. Not ever.