The final year of school arrived faster than Celeste expected. Days blurred into weeks, and suddenly graduation was close.
The halls looked the same. Lockers, familiar chatter, the smell of old books. But even so, nothing felt the same anymore.
Because she wasn't just the quiet girl who kept to herself anymore.
She was Jase's mate. A Half Luminary. The Eclipse Child.
And soon she would be stepping into a future unlike anything she had ever imagined.
A future she wanted with him.
Celeste sighed, closing her book, pressing her forehead lightly against the cool glass of the library window. Outside, the sky had begun its descent into twilight, the soft hues of orange and pink spilling across the horizon like a painting.
She was excited. For the next chapter of her life, for the path that lay ahead.
But beneath the excitement, a twinge of nervousness lingered.
Would she truly be ready for whatever came next?
The responsibility of being the Eclipse Child still weighed on her shoulders, an unspoken pressure that followed her like a shadow. No one knew exactly what her future held, not even her.
But then, she thought of Jase.
She thought of the way his golden eyes burned with devotion, unwavering and steady. The way he always grounded her, reassured her, believed in her—even when she struggled to believe in herself.
And in that moment, she knew.
She was ready.
Because as long as he was by her side, she could face anything.
*****
"You're really doing this?"
Lucas smirked as he leaned back, watching Jase turn a small velvet box in his hands. Jase's golden eyes were steady with determination, but beneath it flickered anticipation, hope, and a hint of nerves.
His fingers traced the edges of the box, slow and deliberate, as if committing the feel of it to memory.
"Of course, I am." His voice was steady, certain.
Amy, who had been idly sipping her drink, suddenly gasped, her eyes widening in realization.
"Wait—is that a ring?"
Jase smirked, flipping the box open just enough for them to catch a glimpse of what was inside.
A delicate, golden band—simple yet elegant, with a gemstone in the center that shimmered in the light, reflecting the exact hues of Celeste's golden-silver eyes.
Amy squealed, practically bouncing in her seat as she clutched her drink in excitement.
Lucas let out a low whistle, shaking his head with a smirk. "Damn, man. Going all in."
Jase grinned, but his heart pounded a little harder.
"I love her," he said simply, no hesitation in his voice. "There's nothing else to think about."
Amy clutched her chest dramatically, exhaling loudly. "Ugh, Jase, that was so unfairly romantic."
Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "Seriously. Who knew you had it in you?"
Jase rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips.
Amy leaned forward, eyes practically glowing with excitement. "So, how are you going to do it?"
Jase exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting toward the library window. Through the glass, he saw her.
Celeste sat alone at a table, lost in thought as she studied, her soft hair falling around her face, her fingers idly playing with the edge of her book. The golden light of the setting sun streamed through the window, casting her in a warm glow, like she belonged to the light itself.
The sight of her did something dangerous to his heart.
The way she sat there, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, her delicate fingers absently tracing the pages of her book, completely lost in thought. It was too much love, too much certainty and too much of forever.
And Jase wanted forever.
"At the graduation ceremony."
Amy's eyes widened, her excitement immediate, palpable.
"Under the stars."
Amy sighed dreamily, clutching at her chest again. "Romantic and dramatic. Very you."
Lucas smirked, nudging Jase with a knowing look. "Let's just hope she doesn't faint."
Jase chuckled, shaking his head.
"She won't. She's strong."
But inside his heart pounded. Because Celeste was everything to him.
And soon she'd be his forever.
*****
The evening of graduation arrived, the sky painted in hues of deep violet and gold, as if the universe itself had paused to honor this moment.
The air carried the gentle hum of conversation, laughter, and the distant melody of a slow, classical tune playing beneath the twinkling fairy lights that lined the garden.
Celeste stood amidst it all, dressed in a flowing white dress, the fabric soft and weightless against her skin, like moonlight woven into silk. The evening breeze toyed with her brown hair, strands catching the soft glow of the lanterns strung above.
Her eyes shimmered, reflecting the lights, the moment, the quiet anticipation of a night she thought was only about one ending and a new beginning.
But she had no idea what was truly coming.
Jase stood a few feet away, his golden gaze never leaving her.
Dressed in a sleek black suit, the sharp lines and smooth fabric only made the raw intensity in his expression more pronounced.
He wasn't just looking at her. He was memorizing her.
The way she laughed softly at something Amy said. The way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her fingers delicate, absentmindedly playing with the edge of her dress. The way she turned her head slightly, scanning the garden as if looking for something familiar, something grounding.
She doesn't know yet.
And the thought made his pulse quicken.
*****
As the principal stood before them, his voice carrying over the sea of graduates, speaking of achievements, growth, and the endless possibilities of the future, Celeste felt a wave of emotions crash over her—stronger, deeper, more overwhelming than she had anticipated.
This was it.
The end of one chapter.
The beginning of another.
She should have been focused on the words being spoken, on the weight of the diploma she would soon hold in her hands, on the future she had worked so hard to reach. And yet something inside her whispered that this night was about to change everything.
A quiet flutter of anticipation stirred in her chest, an unshakable feeling that there was more to come, something unexpected, something life-altering.
She just didn't know how.
—
As the ceremony ended, students and teachers milled about, their voices blending into a symphony of celebration. Laughter echoed, hands clapped against shoulders in congratulations, and the warm glow of lanterns bathed everything in a golden haze. But for Jase, none of it mattered.
Because he had already made up his mind.
Without hesitation, he quietly reached for her hand, his fingers lacing through hers in a way that felt so natural, so familiar, yet tonight—there was something different. A quiet urgency. A purpose.
"Come with me," he murmured, soft but firm, his thumb brushing against the back of her hand in a way that sent a shiver up her spine.
Celeste tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her face, but her trust in him was unshaken. "Where are we going?"
Jase's lips curved slightly, a knowing look dancing in his golden eyes, as if he already saw the answer in her expression. "You'll see."
They slipped away from the crowd, moving through the softly lit garden paths, past the laughter and clinking glasses, past the glowing archways that marked the end of the celebration. The further they walked, the quieter it became. The sounds of the night wrapped around them, the distant hum of voices fading into nothing, replaced by the gentle whisper of the wind, the soft rustling of leaves, and the rhythmic pounding of Celeste's heart.
She felt it now.
The shift in the air.
The weight of something significant, undeniable, pressing between them.
Her fingers tightened around his, her gaze flickering toward the star-strewn sky, where countless tiny lights shimmered as if they were waiting for this moment, too.
Then—Jase stopped.
Celeste turned to him, confusion knitting her brows as she looked up at him. "Jase?"
But then she saw it.
The look in his golden eyes stole her breath away. Not just a glance, not just admiration or affection, it was something deeper. And then he knelt.
Celeste's breath hitched, a sharp intake of air that never fully left her lungs. Everything froze. The world. The stars. Time itself. She could hear the rushing in her ears, could feel the way her pulse pounded violently against her ribs, her mind scrambling to catch up with what was happening right in front of her.
Jase.
On one knee.
With a ring in his hands.
Celeste's hands flew to her mouth, her heart a mess of emotions she couldn't even name all crashing into her at once, all fighting for space in a moment too big, too important, too overwhelming.
"Jase—" her voice broke, unsteady, breathless, but he only smiled softly. Steady. Unwavering. His golden eyes were filled with nothing but devotion, warmth, certainty.
"Marry me."
The words were simple.
But they held the weight of forever.
Jase took a slow, deep breath, his fingers tightening around the small velvet box, his grip firm, steady, even as his voice trembled with something raw, unfiltered, endless.
"I have loved you since the moment I saw you."
Celeste felt her heart break open, emotions rushing through her at once, love, disbelief, joy that stole her breath. Jase's voice was steady and warm, filled with everything he had never held back, everything she had always known was true.
"You are my soulmate," he continued, his golden eyes burning into hers, no hesitation, no doubt. "My forever. And I want to spend the rest of my life proving it to you."
Tears welled in her eyes, blurring the stars, the soft glow of the lights around them, everything but him.
Jase. Her Jase.
The man who had become her home.
The man who had never let her doubt what she meant to him.
The man who, right now, was offering her forever.
A breathless laugh escaped her, the sheer fullness of her chest, of her heart, of this moment, making her feel like she might burst apart from happiness.
"Yes."
Jase stilled. His golden eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn't let himself believe it until she said it out loud.
"…Yes?" His voice was hoarse, broken, as if her answer had single-handedly stopped his heart.
Celeste let out a choked laugh, nodding quickly, desperately, joyfully, her hands shaking as she reached for him, reached for the man she loved, the man who had never once let her go.
"Yes!"
And thenJase grinned.
Not just a smile, but something bigger, deeper, completely wrecked, completely overjoyed, completely in love. Relief crashed into him, his hands still trembling slightly as he slipped the ring onto her finger, as if he needed to do it fast before fate could steal this moment away.
Then, with no warning, no restraint, he pulled her into his arms, lifting her off the ground, spinning her like he couldn't believe she was real.
And then their lips met.
Celeste's fingers curled into his hair, gripping him, grounding herself, feeling the way his heartbeat raced just as wildly as hers.
Above them, the stars shone brighter.