𝙱𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟻: 𝙰 𝙼𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝙿𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚎

---

The sun had just started to set, casting a soft golden

glow over the room as Elara sat on the balcony, her feet

tucked beneath her on the chair. The view from Darius's

estate was breathtaking-forests stretched far into the

distance, the horizon painted with warm hues of orange

and pink. For the first time in what felt like forever,

Elara felt at peace.

Darius appeared in the doorway, his usual dark attire

softened by the gentle light. He watched her for a

moment, a quiet smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

There was something different about him these days-a

softness that contrasted with the man she had first met.

He was still powerful, still shrouded in mystery, but with

her, there was an unspoken gentleness.

"Enjoying the sunset?" he asked, his voice low and soothing.

Elara smiled and nodded. "It's beautiful out here. I didn't

know you had such a view."

Darius walked over and sat beside her, his long legs

stretched out in front of him. "There's beauty

everywhere, if you know where to look."

Elara tilted her head, glancing at him. "You don't seem

like the type to admire sunsets."

He chuckled softly, the sound rumbling in his chest.

"Maybe I wasn't. But things change."

She smiled, feeling warmth bloom in her chest. This side

of him-the one that opened up, that allowed her to see

glimpses of the man beneath the darkness-was

something she cherished.

Without thinking, she leaned against him, her head

resting on his shoulder. His arm wrapped around her

waist, pulling her closer. They sat in comfortable silence,

the soft breeze carrying the scent of the forest and the

fading warmth of the day.

"I never thought I'd have moments like this," Elara

whispered after a while, her voice filled with wonder.

"With you."

Darius shifted slightly, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

"Neither did I."

They remained like that for a long time, wrapped in each

other's presence as the sun slowly sank below the

horizon. The sky darkened, and the stars began to

twinkle above them, but neither moved. It felt like time

had stopped-just the two of them, surrounded by peace

and quiet.

Eventually, Darius spoke again, his voice quiet and

thoughtful. "You've changed me, Elara."

She looked up at him, her heart skipping a beat at the

honesty in his eyes. "How?"

His fingers brushed lightly against her arm, sending

shivers down her spine. "Before you, I thought I knew

everything about the world. About power. Control. But

you've shown me something I never expected."

Elara blinked, her throat tightening. "What's that?"

"Love," he said simply, his gaze locking onto hers.

"You've taught me what it means to care for someone.

To want to protect someone, not because of duty or

power, but because of how much they mean to you."

Her breath caught in her chest as she searched his eyes,

the sincerity in his words taking her by surprise. This

was the Darius she had glimpsed in fleeting moments-

the one who felt deeply but rarely showed it.

Elara's heart swelled, and without thinking, she leaned

up and kissed him softly. It was gentle, tender, and full

of all the things they hadn't said. Darius responded

immediately, his hand cradling her face as he deepened

the kiss, his lips soft and warm against hers.

When they finally pulled apart, they stayed close, their

foreheads touching. Elara smiled, her heart full. "I love

you, Darius."

For a moment, he was silent, as though letting the

weight of her words sink in. Then, he kissed her again-

slow and deliberate, as if to say everything he couldn't

with words.

"I love you too," he whispered against her lips, his voice

barely audible but filled with all the emotion he kept

hidden.

They spent the rest of the evening wrapped in each

other's arms, under the stars, sharing quiet moments of

peace and love. In that space, away from the shadows

and the danger, it was just them. And for the first time

in a long while, Elara knew that no matter what

happened next, they would face it together.

---