𝙱𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟷: 𝙰 𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚁𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎

---

The night had been too intense, and the darkness still

loomed, but for the first time, Elara felt the tension

between her and Darius soften. After the confrontation

with the creature, Darius had taken her to a secluded

part of his home-away from the shadows and the

overwhelming presence of danger.

They sat in a small room lit only by the gentle glow of

candles. It was surprisingly cozy, with a velvet armchair

and shelves lined with books that had clearly been read

countless times. Elara, still shaken by everything,

remained silent, her thoughts scattered.

Darius stood by the window, his silhouette outlined by

the faint light of the moon. He was always so composed,

so strong, yet there was a heaviness in his posture now-

a weight she hadn't seen before. After a long silence, he

finally spoke.

"You've been through more than I ever intended," he

said softly, his voice carrying a rare vulnerability.

Elara looked at him, her heart aching with confusion.

"You never tell me what you're really thinking. What you

really feel."

Darius turned, his dark eyes locking onto hers. He

seemed to hesitate for the briefest moment before

walking over to where she sat. Kneeling in front of her,

he took her hand-something he had never done so

tenderly before.

"I'm not used to this," he admitted, his voice almost a

whisper. "Being close to someone. Caring about

someone."

Elara's breath caught. There was something so different

in his touch now-gentle, almost reverent. The man who

had seemed so cold and untouchable was showing her a

side of himself that was raw, human.

"I don't want to lose you," he confessed, his thumb

brushing against her knuckles. "Not to them. Not to this

darkness."

Elara's chest tightened, and for a moment, all the fear

and confusion melted away. She squeezed his hand

back, her voice soft but steady. "You won't lose me."

For the first time, Darius smiled-a real, genuine smile. It

was small, but it transformed his usually stern face into

something warmer, something almost beautiful. He

closer, pressing his forehead against hers, and in that

intimate silence, everything felt... right.

---