Divided

Bond

Hii:P

Caterina's POV

Xander and I continue to dance, my feet still resting gently over his, his strong hands guiding every step with grace. The soft rhythm of the music lingers, yet as it begins to fade, so do we, gradually pulling apart. The final notes echo in the air, and I softly lift myself from his shoes, feeling the warmth of his touch lingering where our bodies once connected.

As I stand, I notice his hand still wrapped around mine, firm yet tender. His eyes hold mine with an intensity that sends a flutter through my chest.

"Can we go outside?" he asks, his voice low and full of quiet yearning. His gaze never leaves me, an unspoken question hanging between us.

"Of course," I reply, my voice a whisper that seems to match the softness of the moment. He gently tugs me forward, leading me through the door with a careful grace, as though he fears breaking the spell we've shared.

We step out onto the balcony of the castle, the cool night air swirling around us. The moon, a glowing pearl in the velvet sky, casts its soft, silvery light over everything, and I feel it kiss my skin, cool and sweet.

I turn to him, the faint breeze tugging at the strands of his brown hair that have fallen across his forehead. It dances in the wind, like a living thing, framing his face in a way that makes my breath catch. His eyes, an ocean of blue, scan the surroundings with an air of quiet contemplation, the depth of their color shimmering with the starlight. But as they finally find me, the world around us seems to vanish. His gaze, so full of warmth and quiet confidence, locks onto mine, and for a moment, time slows.

His features are chiseled with an effortless elegance—his jawline sharp, his lips the perfect balance of soft and firm. There is something timeless about him, as though he belongs to both the night and the stars above. His presence is magnetic, commanding without a single word.

"I sensed how nervous you were in the room," Xander says, his voice gentle, like the soft caress of a breeze. He offers me a warm smile, one that seems to brighten the very night around us. "So, I thought it would be better to bring you outside for a little."

I look at him, his eyes trailing thoughtfully over my face, as if studying every flicker of emotion. The moonlight reflects in his gaze, making his blue eyes appear even more vivid, as though they hold the mysteries of the night sky itself.

"Thank you," I say, my voice quiet, yet sincere, the gratitude in my chest flowing freely. I can feel the weight of his kindness, and it fills me with warmth.

"No problem, Caterina," he replies, and the way my name slips from his lips—smooth, like the touch of silk.

We stand together in the quiet stillness of the balcony, the world around us alive with sounds of the night: the soft rustle of leaves in the wind, the rhythmic chirping of crickets, and the distant hum of creatures unseen. The night feels alive, wrapped in a magic that pulses with every breeze, every heartbeat. The stars shimmer above us like scattered jewels in the night sky, their light mingling with the glow of the moon, casting an ethereal glow over everything.

The moment is suspended in time, the air thick with unspoken words, and for a while, we simply exist in this shared silence.

"Umm... Xander?" I finally break the silence, my voice small as I glance up at him, my heart fluttering nervously in my chest.

"Yes?" He turns to me, his expression warm, patient, and open.

"I made you something," I say softly, my fingers brushing against the fabric of my dress before I pull out the luck string that I had crafted alongside Athan. It rests delicately in my hands, its intricate knots, beads, and patterns woven with care. The thread glimmers faintly in the moonlight.