How long were they together in that bunker? Did they spend the whole night together? Did he touch her...or worse? The mere thought twists my gut with a mix of rage and nausea. She was wearing one of his shirts. I could hunt him down, unleash my fury—but I grit my teeth and run a hand through my hair, opting to pace instead.
I had told Lyra she needed to make her own choices, assured her I wouldn’t get mad, hoping she’d realize on her own that I’m the one she should be with. But the possibility that it might take her sleeping with Nyx to see that cuts deeper than I want to admit. Imagining his hands on her skin...
I’m probably jumping to conclusions. Maybe nothing happened. But finding her in tears, wearing his damn t-shirt, in a room that reeked of him—it’s hard to believe it’s all innocent.Chepi strolls into the kitchen, lying down with a yawn, seemingly oblivious to my frustrations.
“I don’t suppose you want to fill me in on what happened?” I ask him half-jokingly. He looks up with those innocent eyes, offering no clues.
After getting him some water, I hear the shower stop and head back to the living room.
I continue pacing in front of the fireplace, summoning a blaze with a wave of my hand, knowing how much Lyra loves the warmth and light of a fire. As I await her return, a ripple of anxiousness pulses through me. When she finally appears, descending the staircase in a pink dress that clings softly to her frame, my breath catches. The dress’s delicate straps and the way her damp hair cascades in waves over her shoulders, I can’t look away.
She approaches with her shields up, the faintest hint of her emotions trickling through to me, tinged with anxiety. Without a word, she wraps her arms around my waist and rests her head against my chest, her gaze fixed on the flickering flames. I encircle her in my arms, relishing the contact, content to stand here in silence, holding her forever if that’s what she wants. The fire crackles, filling the room with a comforting, familiar sound.
After a moment, she looks up at me, her eyes reflecting the firelight. “Do you want to sit down?” she asks softly.
“After you,” I reply.
Reluctantly, I let her slip from my embrace, feeling the loss of her body against mine immediately. I follow her to the sofa, sensing the weight of the conversation ahead. We settle next to each other, close but not touching, a respectful distance that seems necessary for the serious dialogue she’s poised to initiate. I steal a glance at her, wishing I could simplypull her into my lap and forget the world outside but knowing she needs this moment to speak her mind.
“I’m sorry, Colton. I’m sorry for being so indecisive and for letting Nyx get into my head,” she starts, her voice faltering slightly. “When I believed Nyx was the key to the prophecy—the one destined to save me—I thought I might have to be with him. If being with him could save the realms, save me from my own darkness, I was willing to try,” she confesses.
I remain silent, giving her space to continue, although hearing her say she was willing to try with Nyx feels like a dagger to my heart.
“I admit I had unresolved feelings for him, and I do care about him. I want him to be okay, happy,” she continues. I clench my jaw, bracing for what she might say next.
“He came to the bunker and woke me in the middle of the night. He told me he loves me and that he’ll love me until the day he dies. He told me my dark magic unsettles you, and...” She pauses, but I cut in before she can continue, my temper flaring.
“Nothing about you could ever unsettle me, Lyra,” I assure her, the intensity of my feelings pushing me to speak. I remind myself to let Nyx have it the next time I see him.
“He kissed me,” she whispers, her voice quivering as her eyes meet mine. “He got on top of me, and I...I kissed him back.” She swallows hard, her expression troubled. “But it felt wrong, like a betrayal, because my heart belongs to you.” She pauses, her gaze searching mine, bracing for a wave of anger or judgment. Instead, I’m filled with a sudden relief that she halted things before they went any further. “I told Nyx I couldn’t continue with him and that it’s you I want, Colton. It’s always been you, if you’ll still have me.”
I feel a wave of fear from her and I realize it must be fear of rejection.
“I thought I would never have you,” I confess, letting my frustrations and fears surface. “When I found your note, and Drew told me she had revealed the truth about Nyx and me being brothers, I was afraid you’d never forgive me for keeping that from you.” I pause, running a hand through my hair, trying to find the words to explain the chaos that followed the council meeting, how my parents stormed out, likely grappling with the fallout of secrets long buried. “I wanted to tell you, Lyra. So many times, I nearly did, but something always got in the way. And now with everything out in the open, my mother must be livid. After the council meeting, she and my father... I don’t even know if they’ll stay together. Granger found out she cheated on him years ago, kept this secret about me not being his biological son.”
She narrows her eyes, the hurt evident. “Why did you keep it from me for so long?” she probes, and I know I need to be honest.
Looking into her eyes, filled with a mix of hurt and the need for truth, I realize any justification might sound hollow. “I tried to find the right moment, but fear always held me back. We shared so much in Zomea, where you opened up about everything. And there I was, holding back the one thing that might change everything between us. I’m sorry, Lyra. I should have trusted you more.” My voice is thick with regret, understanding the weight of my withheld truth and how it might have shaped her struggles.
“If you can forgive my consideration of being with Nyx, then I can forgive you for keeping this secret,” she says, and my heart swells with relief.
I admit, if she had chosen Nyx, I would have found a way to forgive her, eventually. We weren’t committed to each other, and under the weight of that prophecy, it’s hard to fault her for considering everypossibility.
“No more secrets,” I promise. Her smile lights up the space between us, and it’s all the permission I need. I pull her into my lap, tipping her back slightly as I capture her lips with mine. The soft squeak of surprise that escapes her fuels my desire, deepening the kiss, reveling in the feel of her in my arms.
She pulls away, breathless. “Take me somewhere,” she says.
“Tell me where you want to go,” I murmur as I trail kisses down her neck, the taste of her skin igniting a deep hunger within me.
“Out there,” she breathes, pointing up through the glass dome. I rise to my feet, keeping her close in my arms. Her delighted squeal makes me smile as I channel us away.
In an instant, we’re at the top of the highest waterfall in the Dream Forest, a place clearly visible from the villa. Setting her down gently, I watch her expression transform in awe—she’s breathtaking under the sunlight filtering through the trees.
She turns slowly, absorbing the view of the river winding through lush greenery. Magic crackles softly overhead with the breeze, making the leaves shimmer. Her eyes light up, reflecting the enchantment of this secluded spot.
When she looks back at me, there’s a fierce hunger in her gaze that matches the intensity of my own. I close the distance between us, drawn irresistibly to her.
The sweet aroma of spring water mingles with the scent of fresh leaves as the wind swirls around us, showering down green and lavender foliage. Lyra looks up, her smile radiant under the cascade of leaves. I reach up, gently removing a leaf tangled in her hair, then slide my fingers through the silky strands to clasp the back of her neck, drawing her closer.
