As we entered the kitchens, I couldn't help but marvel at how effortlessly Ciara moved through the space. It was as if she owned the place, and in a way, I supposed she did. She had that kind of presence, commanding, confident, with a hint of mischief that always kept me on my toes.
The kitchen staff had long since retired for the night, leaving the large, dimly lit room quiet and empty, save for the soft crackling of embers in the hearth.
Ciara strode over to the pantry, flinging open the doors with a dramatic flourish. "Let's see what we've got here," she muttered to herself, rummaging through the shelves with the enthusiasm of someone who hadn't eaten in days.
I leaned against the counter, watching her with an amused smile. "You know, we could just ask the cooks to prepare something for us. It doesn't have to be a heist."
She snorted, pulling out a loaf of bread and a wheel of cheese. "Where's the fun in that? Besides, this is more… intimate." Her voice dropped an octave on the last word, and she shot me a look that sent a shiver down my spine.
"Intimate?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You think stealing food from the kitchen is romantic?"
She paused, considering my words as she set the bread and cheese on the counter. Then, with that smirk that always made my heart race, she replied, "It is when I'm doing it with you."
I rolled my eyes, but the warmth spreading through my chest was undeniable. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"Maybe," she said, grabbing a knife to slice the bread, "but you like it."
She wasn't wrong. Despite her cocky attitude and incessant teasing, I did like it liked her. More than I was ready to admit, even to myself.
There was something about Ciara that drew me in, like a moth to a flame, even though I knew I was bound to get burned.
"Are you just going to stand there looking pretty, or are you going to help?" she asked, tossing a piece of bread in my direction.
I caught it with a laugh. "What, exactly, do you want me to do?"
Ciara tilted her head, pretending to think. "Well, you could pour us some wine. There's a bottle over there." She pointed to a dusty shelf where a few bottles of wine were stored.
"Are you sure it's not reserved for some special occasion?" I asked, making my way over to the shelf.
She shrugged. "What's more special than this? Besides, I'm a princess. I'll do what I want."
I shook my head, smiling to myself as I selected a bottle and returned to the counter. "You're really something, Ciara."
She winked at me. "And don't you forget it."
We made a surprisingly good team as we assembled our makeshift meal. Ciara sliced the bread and cheese with surprising precision, while I uncorked the wine and found a couple of glasses hidden away in a cupboard.
There was an easy, natural rhythm to our movements, like we'd done this a hundred times before. It felt comfortable, like we were two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly together.
We settled down at the large wooden table in the center of the kitchen, our modest feast spread out before us.
The flickering light from the hearth cast a warm glow over the room, creating an atmosphere that was both cozy and intimate. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this at ease, this… happy.
Ciara poured the wine, handing me a glass before raising her own in a toast. "To us," she said, her voice uncharacteristically soft.
"To us," I echoed, clinking my glass against hers. The wine was rich and full-bodied, warming me from the inside out.
We ate in companionable silence for a while, the quiet punctuated only by the occasional crackle from the hearth or the clink of our glasses.
It was peaceful, and I found myself wishing that moments like this could last forever that we could stay in this little bubble of time, where nothing else mattered but the two of us.
But as much as I wanted to, I knew it wasn't possible. There were always responsibilities, always missions and duties that pulled us away from each other. And with every bite of bread, every sip of wine, I could feel the weight of reality creeping back in.
I looked over at Ciara, who was absently tearing a piece of bread apart with her fingers, her mind clearly elsewhere. There was a tension in her posture, a slight furrow in her brow that told me she was thinking about something something serious.
"Ciara," I said softly, reaching out to place my hand on hers.
She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts as she looked up at me. "Hmm?"
"Are you okay?" I asked, searching her eyes for any sign of what was bothering her.
For a moment, she just stared at me, like she was trying to decide whether or not to tell me the truth. Then she sighed, squeezing my hand. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about this mission, that's all."
I frowned, not entirely convinced. "You're worried about it?"
"Worried?" She scoffed, shaking her head. "Nah, not worried. Just… annoyed, I guess. Babysitting a bunch of spoiled nobles isn't exactly my idea of fun."
"I don't like this," I finally said, my voice quiet but firm. The thought of Ciara putting herself in danger, even for something as mundane as escorting nobles, made my stomach churn with anxiety. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
Her expression softened, and she leaned in, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Hey, nothing's going to happen to me. I've been through worse, remember?"
"I know," I whispered, but the fear didn't dissipate. "But that doesn't mean I have to like it."
She smiled, that cocky grin that usually irritated me but now felt oddly comforting. "I'll be fine, Aeliana. I always am."
I wanted to believe her, to take comfort in her confidence, but the knot in my chest refused to loosen. Still, I forced a smile, not wanting to ruin the moment. "You'd better be."
She chuckled, pulling me closer until I was practically in her lap. "I promise. And when I get back, we'll do something fun. Something that doesn't involve dragons or duchesses."
"Deal," I said, resting my head against her shoulder, breathing in her scent. For a while, we just stayed like that, wrapped up in each other, the world outside our little cocoon forgotten.
But eventually, we finished our meal, and reality intruded once more. I could see the reluctance in Ciara's eyes as she pushed back her chair, her movements slow, like she was trying to delay the inevitable.
"I should go," she said, though she didn't sound like she wanted to.
"Stay with me," I blurted out before I could stop myself. The words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning.
Ciara's eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite place, and for a moment, I thought she might actually say yes. But then she sighed, shaking her head with a rueful smile. "I wish I could, but I've got a mission to prepare for. I'll see you when I get back, okay?"
I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment. "Okay."
She stood up, pulling me into one last kiss, slow and lingering, like she was trying to memorize the taste of me. When she finally pulled away, I could see the regret in her eyes.
"I'll be back before you know it," she promised, brushing a thumb over my cheek.
"You'd better be," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
With one last smile, she turned and headed for the door. But before she could leave, the door burst open, and Cassandra stood there, looking slightly out of breath. "Ciara, you need to make your report to Leora."
Ciara groaned, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming."
She glanced back at me one last time, her gaze lingering for a moment longer than necessary. Then, with a wink that made my heart skip a beat, she followed Cassandra out of the room, leaving me standing there, feeling a little more alone than I'd like to admit.
As the door closed behind her, I sighed, sinking back into my chair. The room suddenly felt too big, too empty without her in it.
But as I sat there, staring at the door she'd just walked through, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change something I wasn't sure I was ready for.
I sat there, trying to push away the lingering ache of Ciara's absence when the door creaked open again. I looked up to see Cassandra stepping inside, her expression unreadable. She moved with a deliberate slowness, almost as if she were gathering her thoughts.
"Aeliana," she started, her tone casual but with a hint of something else something that set me on edge.
"Yes?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Cassandra hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Ciara flirted with me."
Her words hung in the air like a challenge, and my heart sank.