In a divided kingdom where magic is feared and those who wield it are hunted, Ariana, the daughter of a powerful councilman, lives a life of privilege and duty. But her world unravels when she encounters Kiran, a fugitive with the power to command...
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The moonlight streamed softly through the slatted windows of my chambers, painting silver trails across the floor and illuminating the outline of Kiran’s face. Her breathing had finally evened out, the tension that usually gripped her features gone as sleep claimed her. I stayed still for a moment, lying beside her and soaking in the quiet. She looked so at peace, so unburdened, that it almost hurt to leave her. But I couldn’t stay. Not yet.
Slipping out of bed, I moved slowly, careful not to wake her. As I stood, the mattress shifted slightly, and Kiran stirred, her brow furrowing. I froze, watching her mumble something incoherent before settling again, her chest rising and falling in rhythmic calm. Guilt twisted in my stomach. After everything, she deserved rest, and I hated the idea of breaking it. But the council meeting tonight couldn’t be ignored, not with the city teetering on the edge of chaos.
I tucked the blanket back around her, letting my fingers brush against her hand for a moment longer than necessary, then turned toward the door. The chill of the marble floors against my bare feet sent a shiver up my spine as I made my way down the hall. The estate was eerily quiet at this hour, the kind of silence that felt heavy with secrets.
The council meeting was everything I expected: tense, argumentative, and frustratingly unproductive. The Elders were more concerned with maintaining their power than with rebuilding trust or addressing the growing unrest in the city. My father’s absence had left a vacuum, one they were all too eager to fill with bluster and bureaucracy. Still, I pressed them, advocating for peace with the Umbra and pointing out the need for unity. By the time the meeting adjourned, I felt drained, as if I’d been carrying the weight of the city on my shoulders alone.
The sky outside was beginning to shift, the first hints of dawn painting the horizon in muted grays and pinks as I made my way back to my chambers. I slipped inside quietly, closing the door behind me with practiced care. The last thing I wanted was to wake Kiran. But when I turned around, I froze.
Kiran was sitting up in bed, her hair tousled and her expression sharp with worry. Her eyes locked on mine, and even in the dim light, I could see the tension coiling in her shoulders.
“Where were you?” she asked, her voice low but heavy with accusation. Her hands were clenched in the blanket, knuckles white.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” I said softly, moving closer to her. “I had to step out for a bit. The council was meeting—”
“You should’ve told me,” she cut in, her tone sharper now. Her hands gripped the blanket tighter. “You disappeared without a word, Ariana. Do you have any idea what that feels like?”
I stopped short, caught off guard by the rawness in her voice. “Kiran, I didn’t want to wake you,” I explained, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “You’ve barely slept, and I thought—”
“You thought sneaking out in the middle of the night was a good idea?” she interrupted, her eyes narrowing. “What if something had happened? What if you didn’t come back?” Her voice cracked slightly on the last word, and she looked away, as if ashamed of the emotion slipping through.
My chest tightened at her words. Kiran wasn’t someone who opened up easily, and seeing her like this—so vulnerable—felt like a punch to the gut. “I’m sorry,” I said softly, reaching for her hand. She flinched at first, then let me take it. Her fingers were cold against mine, trembling slightly. “I didn’t think. I just... I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You didn’t think,” she repeated bitterly, her gaze dropping to our joined hands. “Ari, I—” She hesitated, her voice faltering. “I don’t care about the council. I don’t care about politics or any of this mess. I just care about you. And when I woke up and you weren’t here...” She broke off, swallowing hard. “It scared me.”
Her admission was quiet, barely above a whisper, but it hit me with the force of a thunderclap. Kiran, who faced down armies and carried the weight of an entire people’s suffering, was afraid. For me. The thought made my heart ache.
“I’m here,” I said firmly, squeezing her hand. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, and for a moment, I thought she might argue. But then she exhaled, the tension in her shoulders melting as she leaned forward. “You’re impossible,” she muttered, but there was no venom in her words.
“Impossible?” I repeated, a small smile tugging at my lips. “That’s a new one.”
Kiran huffed a soft laugh, shaking her head. “Don’t push it.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle, the sound easing some of the tension between us. “You’re adorable when you’re worried, you know that?”
Her head snapped up, and she gave me a glare that was more flustered than furious. “I am not adorable.”
“You kind of are,” I teased, leaning closer. “In a ‘grumpy and overprotective’ sort of way.”
She groaned, dropping her face into her hands. “Stop talking.”
“Make me,” I shot back, unable to resist.
She looked up sharply, her eyes narrowing in mock annoyance. Before I could say anything else, she leaned forward and kissed me, cutting off whatever smart remark I had planned. The kiss was firm and deliberate, her hands gripping my shoulders as if grounding herself. It wasn’t the first time we’d kissed, but there was something different about this one—something raw and unguarded.
When she pulled back, her expression softened, and she rested her forehead against mine. “Just... don’t do that again, okay?” she murmured. “Don’t leave without telling me.”
“I won’t,” I promised, my voice steady. “I swear.”
We stayed like that for a long moment, the quiet wrapping around us like a cocoon. Her presence was warm and grounding, and for the first time in hours, I felt like I could breathe again.
Eventually, Kiran shifted, lying back down and pulling me with her. I went willingly, tucking myself against her side and resting my head on her shoulder. Her fingers trailed absently through my hair, a soothing gesture that made my eyes grow heavy.
“You’re too good at this,” I murmured, my voice thick with sleep.
“At what?” she asked, her tone teasing.
“Making me feel safe,” I admitted.
Kiran didn’t respond right away, but her arms tightened around me, and I felt the soft press of her lips against my temple. “Good,” she said simply.
And in that moment, with the world’s chaos fading into the background, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.
