Valencia Esmeray

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 - XV : The Tension Between Us

Valencia Esmeray woke up slowly, the golden morning light filtering through the curtains. She stretched lazily, her fingers brushing through her long, dark hair. The soft strands fell through her fingers as she sat up, a slight ache lingering in her bones. It had been a long, restless night. Thoughts of Ian had kept her awake. The memory of their kiss haunted her, leaving a bittersweet ache in her chest. She couldn’t stop wondering if she’d ever see him again, or if their brief moment together was just a fleeting dream.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Cassian entered the room carrying a tray of breakfast. The aroma of freshly brewed tea and warm pastries filled the air, and she glanced at him, still groggy but appreciative.

"Good morning, Princess," Cassian greeted her, his voice low and steady, as it always was. He set the tray on the bed beside her and sat down. As he did so, she noticed something different about him. Cassian had cut his hair. The once long and tousled locks that had framed his face were gone, replaced by a shorter, more refined style. It exposed more of his sharp jawline, his pointed ears, and the striking symmetry of his features. His face, always handsome, now seemed almost otherworldly in its perfection.

Valencia stared at him, her mind struggling to focus on anything other than the change in his appearance. She could feel her heart racing, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside.

Cassian caught her gaze, and the corner of his mouth quirked up slightly, though he didn’t speak. Valencia finally broke the silence, her voice soft and curious. “What made you change your hair?” she asked, her tone casual but laced with the weight of her hidden emotions.

Cassian shrugged, a faint smile on his lips. “I thought perhaps a change would do no harm.”

Valencia swallowed hard, her eyes still locked on him. It was foolish, but she couldn’t help herself—he looked more beautiful than ever. There was something about the change that made him seem even more distant, more untouchable, as if the man she knew was slipping further away from her grasp.

She took a sip of her tea, trying to steady herself, her thoughts racing. As the warmth of the liquid spread through her, she felt an uncomfortable mix of longing and guilt. Her mind drifted to Ian again—the way his lips had tasted, the feel of his hands on her skin, the way he made her feel alive in a way Cassian never could anymore.

But then, just as quickly, Valencia shut those thoughts down. She couldn't afford to dwell on Ian now, not with Cassian right in front of her.

Cassian remained silent, his eyes never leaving hers, studying her every move with quiet intensity. He seemed to notice her hesitation, the way she was avoiding his gaze. When Valencia finished her tea, she stood up to head to the bath. The cool morning air brushed against her skin, and she shivered, the slight chill causing her body to react.

“I’ll be in the bath,” she murmured, walking toward the door without waiting for a response. She needed the water, needed the silence, to clear her head.

Cassian didn’t reply, but she knew he was watching her as she moved away. His eyes were always on her, always waiting, always wanting something more than she was willing to give.

The warm, fragrant water of the bath enveloped her, and she sank into it with a sigh. The water was infused with a blend of oils that smelled of lavender and rose, a scent that always reminded her of home. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax for just a moment, but as always, her thoughts wandered back to Ian.

Was he safe? What was he doing? Did he think of her, as she thought of him?

She didn’t know if she would ever see him again, but the thought of him—his warm embrace, the way he had kissed her—left her with an ache in her chest that felt impossible to ignore.