Chapter Nine – A Night of Secrets
The secret passage narrowed until they reached a small, hidden chamber. Kael pushed open a heavy wooden door, ushering Aria inside before sealing it behind them. The faint torchlight revealed a space no bigger than a storage room, its stone walls cold and damp.
Aria's breathing was still uneven from their sprint, her heart pounding not just from fear, but from the kiss they'd shared moments ago. The memory of it burned in her chest like a fire she couldn't put out.
Kael set his sword aside and leaned against the wall, his head tilted back as if to steady himself. His glowing eyes dimmed slightly, the weight of exhaustion written in the lines of his face.
"Are we safe here?" Aria asked softly.
"For now," he replied. His voice was rough, low, but calmer than before. "This room was built long before the curse. Even the Nightborn can't breach it."
Aria sank onto the floor, hugging her knees. "What will happen when they find a way in?"
Kael glanced at her, his gaze lingering. "Then I'll be ready."
---
She studied him in the flickering light. Even tired, battered, and covered in dark smudges of battle, he looked impossibly strong. But beneath that strength, she could see something else—loneliness.
"Kael," she said quietly, "how long have you been like this? Cursed?"
His eyes darkened, as if the question cut too close. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer. Then, slowly, he spoke.
"Too long. The day I became king, I trusted the wrong person. The witch… she said she could save my people, bring prosperity. I was young and foolish enough to believe her. Instead, she bound my life to this curse. Every night, the shadows feed on my soul. Every dawn, I wonder if I'll still be alive when the next moon rises."
Aria's chest tightened. She'd never heard him sound so raw. "You've been carrying this alone all this time?"
Kael looked away. "It's easier that way. If I don't let anyone close, I can't lose them."
---
Aria's heart ached. "You don't have to carry it alone anymore."
He froze, his glowing eyes meeting hers. "You don't understand what you're saying."
"Maybe I don't," she said softly. "But I know what I feel when I look at you. I see a man who's lost too much and still fights for everyone else. And I… I don't want to watch you destroy yourself."
Kael's breath hitched. For a moment, his expression softened, the cold walls around him cracking.
---
He crossed the room in two strides and crouched in front of her. His hand hovered near her face, as if asking for permission.
Aria didn't move.
When his fingers brushed her cheek, she felt that same jolt of heat that had consumed her when they kissed. His touch was both careful and intense, as though he was memorizing the shape of her face.
"You shouldn't want someone like me," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "I'm cursed. I'm not meant to have… this."
"Then we'll take it anyway," Aria murmured.
---
The air between them thickened, heavy with unspoken words. Kael leaned closer, his forehead resting against hers.
"You'll ruin me," he whispered.
"Maybe you need to be ruined," she whispered back, her lips brushing his as she spoke.
This time, Kael didn't hold back.
---
The kiss was slower, deeper than before. His hands framed her face as if she were something precious and fragile, but there was a desperate hunger beneath it, like he'd been waiting far too long to feel this. Aria's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, her heart racing until she couldn't tell where his breath ended and hers began.
When they broke apart, their foreheads remained touching, both of them breathing hard.
"Aria…" Kael's voice was rough. "This isn't just dangerous for me. The witch… if she learns what you mean to me, she'll come for you. She'll twist the prophecy, use you against me."
"Then we fight her together," Aria said, her tone steady.
---
Kael let out a low, almost disbelieving laugh, shaking his head. "You're fearless."
"I'm terrified," she admitted. "But I'm more afraid of losing you than I am of her."
His eyes softened, glowing faintly in the dim light. For a moment, he just stared at her like he wanted to remember every detail of her face. Then, slowly, he sat beside her, his arm brushing hers.
---
They sat in silence for a while, the sound of distant battle fading into nothingness. Aria's body relaxed against the stone wall, but her mind was wide awake.
"Kael," she said after a while, "what if the prophecy's right? What if… we could break the curse?"
He stiffened. "You mean… the heir?"
Aria hesitated, her cheeks warming. "If that's what it takes, then… maybe we shouldn't be so afraid of it."
Kael turned to her, his expression a mix of shock and something deeper—longing. "Aria, don't say things like that unless you mean them."
Her heart skipped. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't."
---
For a moment, he just stared at her, as though the weight of her words left him unsteady. His hand brushed against hers, fingers hesitating before lacing with hers.
"I don't deserve this," he said softly.
"Maybe you do," she replied.
---
The quiet moment between them was interrupted by a low rumble outside the walls. The ground trembled faintly, and Kael's head snapped toward the door.
"They're regrouping," he said, his tone sharp again. "We can't stay here much longer."
Aria's fingers tightened on his. "Then what's the plan?"
Kael's eyes burned with determination. "We survive tonight. Then I'll find the witch—and end this once and for all."
---
Aria swallowed. "And if you don't come back?"
His gaze softened. "Then you'll live. For both of us."
"No," she said firmly. "I'm not letting you do this alone. Not anymore."
Kael stared at her for a long moment, as though she'd just said something impossible. Then, slowly, he nodded.
"Then we fight together," he said, his voice low but resolute.
---
As the tremors grew louder, Kael stood, pulling her up with him. He handed her a dagger, his fingers brushing hers.
"Stay behind me," he said, his tone softer now. "But if they corner you… don't hesitate. Promise me."
Aria nodded, her heart pounding.
And as they prepared to face whatever waited beyond the door, she realized something terrifying and exhilarating all at once—she wasn't just fighting to survive anymore.
She was fighting for him.