Winter's Rebellion

Chapter 13: Revelation

Elara's POV:

I stood frozen in shock as Sir Tristian laid out the details of his mission. The prince—hiding within our ranks—was in possession of the necklace, and now suspicion fell on Sir Lucian. Could he really be the prince? He was the only one I'd seen communicating with a raven. My head began to spin, weariness settling deep into my bones. This was my life now—constantly in fear, teetering on the edge of disaster at every turn.

Sir Tristian's expression softened as he noticed my exhaustion. "Princess Elara, how about we go back and discuss more details after you've eaten and rested," he said tenderly, stepping forward and gently brushing his hand along my cheek.

I nodded, my breath catching in my throat at the unexpected warmth of his touch. The moment lingered between us, and I turned to head back to the cave. But before I could get too far, Sir Tristian gently grabbed my wrist, pulling me back toward him with a firm, yet careful grip.

The sudden closeness sent a rush through me. His eyes searched mine, causing my stomach to flutter. My heart pounded in my chest as his gaze flickered down to my lips.

"Princess Elara, you're not getting away from me that easily. So please, forgive my rudeness," he whispered, his voice low as he inched closer, his breath warm against my skin.

Before I could process what was happening, his lips were on mine—soft and unhurried. My eyes closed involuntarily. The intensity of the moment built as his hands slipped around my waist, pulling me closer with a gentle yet firm embrace. My fingers instinctively curled into the fabric of his tunic, holding on as tightly as I could.

He kissed me with a slow tenderness, as if savoring the moment. When he finally pulled away, my breath came out in quiet uneven gasps, my heart still racing. His forehead rested gently against mine, our breaths mingling in the quiet space between us. Neither of us spoke, as we stood there in silence.

He raised his hand to my lips, gently wiping away the dampness from my bottom lip. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but lean into him slightly, seeking that closeness again. A deep chuckle erupted from his chest as he leaned in, kissing me once more. His lips soft and warm, that left my skin tingling.

Our moment was abruptly interrupted by a voice nearby clearing their throat. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach and I quickly separated from Sir Tristian. I turned my gaze toward the voice and saw Sir Adrian. A dark glimmer flashed his eyes, his jaw was clenched tight. His fingers furled into fists at his side before he spoke.

"The food is ready back at the cave," he said in a cold icy tone and turned to leave.

The tension in Sir Adrian's voice cut through the warmth of the moment, leaving a cold chill in its place. I swallowed hard, torn between Sir Tristian and Sir Adrian. Guilt surged through me, not because of the kiss, but because Sir Adrian had witnessed it. The look in his eyes—hurt and betrayal—lodged a lump in my throat.

I glanced at Sir Tristian, his brow furrowed as he watched Sir Adrian's retreating figure. I could feel the tension building in him as well. Instinctively, I reached out to him, but my hand faltered, hovering between us. I hesitated, unable to make contact, unsure of how to bridge this sudden divide that now lay between us all.

"I... I should go back now," I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper. Without waiting for a response, I turned, my steps slow and heavy, and followed Sir Adrian back toward the cave.

I slowly caught up to Sir Adrian, the weight of the unspoken words between us pressing down like the cold air. His footsteps were heavy, crunching the snow beneath him. Just as we neared the cave, he slowed his pace, breaking the silence.