CHAPTER 28 – ASHES OF THE RED HORIZON
The Red Horizon had fallen silent.
Hours ago, the sky had burned crimson, the earth had shaken beneath their feet, and the Crimson Warden had unleashed storm after storm of molten fire. Now only drifting ash remained—soft, quiet, eerily gentle compared to the chaos before.
Kai walked slowly through the ruined clearing, every breath heavy. His arms ached, his legs trembled, and faint sparks of Celestial energy flickered across his skin. It had been one of the hardest fights of his life.
But none of that was what worried him.
"Lyra…" he whispered.
He spotted her a few steps ahead, kneeling in the ashes. Her shoulders trembled. Her white-silver hair blew gently in the warm wind. She wasn't injured — not badly, at least — but the weight in her posture told a different story.
Kai approached quietly.
She didn't turn.
He knelt beside her. "Lyra… talk to me."
Silence stretched for several long seconds.
Then she exhaled shakily. "I felt her, Kai."
He knew instantly who she meant.
"The Hollow Queen," he said softly.
Lyra's voice broke. "She was watching. Through the fire… through the Gate. She saw everything. She saw me."
Kai placed a gentle hand on her cheek. "You're safe. I'm here."
She finally turned toward him — and the look in her eyes shattered him. Fear. Confusion. Anger at herself. Heartache. Layers of emotions she'd carried for years and never voiced.
"She's my mother," Lyra whispered. "And she wants me back."
Kai's chest tightened. "You're not going anywhere without me."
Lyra blinked, eyes glistening. "Kai… you almost died today."
"So did you."
She shook her head. "No. You threw yourself in front of the Crimson Warden's blade—"
"Because I love you," Kai said quietly, the words slipping out before he could stop them.
Lyra froze.
Even the wind stilled.
Kai felt his heart hammering, but he didn't look away. He didn't retreat. He meant every word he had said.
"I love you, Lyra," he repeated softly. "I don't care what bloodline you carry. I don't care who your mother is. I care about you."
Lyra's breath hitched.
Then her hands reached forward, trembling, cupping his face.
"Kai… I—"
Her voice broke again, but this time from emotion.
She leaned into him.
And Kai pulled her into his arms.
Her forehead rested against his chest, her hands fisted in his shirt, her heartbeat racing against his. She shuddered with every breath. He held her tighter, feeling the fear in her body slowly melt into warmth.
"I thought I would lose you," she whispered.
"You won't," Kai murmured into her hair. "Not now. Not ever."
Lyra pulled back just slightly — enough to look into his eyes.
Her face was close. Too close. Her lips inches from his.
"Kai…" she breathed.
He didn't wait.
He kissed her.
It started soft — gentle pressure, warm, slow — but it deepened almost instantly as if both of them had been holding this in for far too long. Lyra kissed him back with a desperate intensity, fingers sliding into his hair. Kai's hands circled her waist, drawing her against him.
The world fell away.
No ash. No fear. No Hollow Queen.
Just Kai and Lyra.
Her lips moved against his with a hunger he had never felt before. She inhaled sharply as his thumb brushed her cheek. He felt her heart racing, her breath catching, her body melting into him.
For a moment — a long, breathless moment — it felt like nothing could ever break them apart.
But then—
Lyra pulled back, breathing hard.
"We… we should stop," she whispered, though her hands remained on his chest, fingers curling slightly.
Kai nodded, pressing his forehead to hers, still catching his breath.
"Yeah… but only because you said so."
She gave a small, breathless laugh — the first laugh since the battle — and it was the most beautiful sound he had heard all day.
"Thank you," she murmured. "For not pushing further."
"I would never push you," Kai said softly. "But I won't pretend I don't want you."
Her face flushed deep crimson.
"I want you too," she whispered, voice barely audible. "But… not here. Not like this. Not after so much death."
Kai nodded again, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"We'll get our moment. I promise."
Lyra smiled, small but real.
Just then, footsteps approached. Cipher Fox — in human form, lean and sharp-eyed — stepped out of the smoke.
"You two done?" he asked with a smirk. "Because we found something."
Tether Hawk landed beside him, wings folding into elegant human arms. "The Crimson Gate left behind an echo. A message."
Kai helped Lyra to her feet.
"What kind of message?" he asked.
Cipher's eyes gleamed. "The location of the next Gate."
Tether nodded. "And not just that — it's tied to Lyra."
Lyra stiffened. "Me? Why?"
Tether's expression became serious. "Because only the Hollow Queen's bloodline can open the next Gate."
A heavy silence fell.
Lyra's fingers tightened around Kai's.
Kai squeezed back.
"We face it together," he said.
Lyra looked at him — really looked — and her voice softened.
"Together."
Cipher cleared his throat loudly. "Alright, lovebirds. Let's go before the sky sets itself on fire again."
Lyra flushed bright red.
Kai laughed.
But inside, tension wound tight through his soul.
The Red Horizon had been only the beginning.
And whatever came next…
would challenge not just their power — but their hearts.