Waiting For Apricity

Chapter 8

Are we getting closer

I nodded, feeling the warmth of his words wrap around me as I settled back into the soft embrace of the bed. As I drifted off to sleep, a sense of peace filled me, as though the night sky above had granted me its protection.

I could feel Karlaious's fingers in my hair, the gentle touch sending a shiver down my spine. I opened my eyes lazily and looked up at him. There was a softness in his gaze, a vulnerability that hadn't been there before. The room felt charged with an unspoken energy, the story of his ancestors weaving a fragile bond between us.

"Apricity," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper, "I never thought I'd share that story with anyone. I always found it rather pathetic, honestly."

I reached up, my fingers brushing against his cheek. "It means a lot to me that you did," I replied softly, my voice thick with the weight of the moment.

For a moment, we simply looked at each other, the silence between us speaking volumes. Then, almost imperceptibly, Karlaious leaned in, his eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation. I felt my heart quicken, a blush rising to my cheeks, but I didn't pull away. Instead, I found myself closing the distance between us, drawn to him by some invisible force.

Our lips met in a soft, fleeting kiss, a spark of warmth igniting between us. It was brief, but it felt as though the world had shifted. When I pulled back, confusion bubbled up within me, a nervous laugh escaping my lips. "What was that?" I asked, my voice unsteady, feeling exposed under his intense gaze. His pupils were dilated, his gaze flickering between my lips and neck as if unsure of what to say next.

"Apricity," he whispered, his voice thick with wonder and uncertainty. "I..."

I placed a finger against his lips, silencing him gently. "You don't have to say anything," I murmured, my heart pounding in my chest. "Let's just... be here, in this moment."

Karlaious smiled, a genuine, heartwarming smile that made my heart flutter. "Alright," he said softly.

He lay down beside me, his arms wrapping around me protectively. I nestled into his embrace, feeling a sense of safety and warmth that I had never known before. As the night deepened, the stars above seemed to glow brighter, as if blessing this fragile, newfound connection between us.

We drifted into sleep together, the promise of something beautiful lingering in the air. And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I truly belonged.

Wrapped in each other's arms, we fell asleep, the night sky watching over us like a silent guardian. The world outside ceased to exist as I felt the steady rhythm of Karlaious's heartbeat against my ear, lulling me into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Morning arrived abruptly, breaking the peaceful silence with a loud banging on the door.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

I stirred, disoriented, and realised I was still nestled in Karlaious's embrace. His chest rose and fell with the rhythm of his steady breath, and his arm was wrapped around me in a way that felt impossibly intimate, yet comforting. His eyes fluttered open, confusion mirroring my own as we both sat up quickly, the intimacy of the previous night making the sudden intrusion feel like an alarm, as if the world outside had suddenly reclaimed us.

"Apricity, are you in there?" a voice called from the other side of the door. It was one of the housekeepers, her tone laced with concern but tinged with a touch of impatience.

Karlaious and I exchanged a panicked glance, the reality of our situation sinking in. We had spent the night in the same room—in the same bed, no less—and now there was a housekeeper outside, moments away from discovering us. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline from the near-discovery crashing over me like a tidal wave.

"Uh, yes! I'm here!" I called back, my voice a little too high-pitched, betraying my calm attempt. "Just a moment!"

Karlaious quickly swung his legs off the bed, his feet hitting the cold stone floor with a soft thud. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, looking momentarily disoriented, then snapped to attention. His usual composure seemed a little shaken now, his silvery eyes scanning the room as if searching for a way out. "What do we do?" he whispered urgently, his gaze darting between me and the door.

"Hide! You need to hide!" I whispered back, glancing around the room frantically. The room was spacious but sparse, with only a few pieces of furniture to shield us. My eyes landed on the wardrobe, a large, ornately carved thing that could maybe conceal him—if he was quick enough. I pointed toward it, feeling the seconds ticking away like a countdown to disaster.

Karlaious looked at me with an unamused raise of his brow, but there was understanding in his eyes. Without another word, he moved swiftly toward the wardrobe, squeezing himself inside just as I cracked the door open a sliver. The housekeeper stood there, her eyes wide with concern, her body half-turned as if she'd expected me to be elsewhere. Her gaze flicked past me into the room, and I held my breath, praying she wouldn't notice the disarray or, worse, Karlaious's absence.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, my lady," she said, her voice warm but laced with uncertainty. "I knocked several times and got no answer. I was worried something might have happened."

I forced a smile, praying it didn't look too strained as I held my ground. "No, no, everything's fine. I just... slept in, I suppose." I stepped forward a little, hoping my body blocked her view of the wardrobe.

The housekeepers gaze flicked to the room again, then back to me, and I held my breath, praying she wouldn't spot anything out of place. She hesitated, her eyes narrowing just slightly as she studied me. "Very well, my lady. Breakfast is being served in the dining hall. Shall I help you prepare?" Her voice held an edge of genuine concern now.

"That won't be necessary," I replied quickly, a little too quickly. "I'll be down shortly. Thank you."

She nodded, but then paused, her eyes lingering on me with an unsettling intensity. "Are you sure everything is alright, my lady? You look a little pale."

My stomach twisted at her words, but I forced myself to keep my composure. "Yes, I'm sure. Just a restless night, that's all." My voice was steady, but I could feel my heart racing in my chest, thumping against my ribs as if it were trying to escape.

Satisfied for the moment, she finally curtsied and turned to leave, but not before one last look over her shoulder. "Very well, my lady. Breakfast will be waiting."

I waited until the sound of her footsteps had faded completely before closing the door with a soft click. My breath rushed out of me in a relieved exhale, and I leaned against the door, my heart still racing. I couldn't remember the last time I'd been so terrified of being discovered.

Karlaious emerged from the wardrobe, his movements lithe and quick, and I caught a glimpse of the sheepish grin that tugged at his lips. His usual smirk seemed a little more genuine now, even though his eyes still held the flicker of urgency. "That was close," he said, walking back toward me, his voice a low murmur that made me shiver despite the heat in the room.

"Too close," I agreed, my heart still pounding in my chest. The room felt suffocatingly small now, the silence hanging between us heavy with unspoken thoughts.