The celestial moon cast a soft, silvery glow over Sara's chambers, its light filtering through the sheer curtains that danced with the evening breeze. Sara stood by the balcony, the cool night air brushing against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Despite the stillness of the night, her thoughts were anything but calm.
The day's events had left her mind in turmoil, yet it wasn't the impending ritual or the council's warnings that occupied her thoughts—it was Ignatius. His presence lingered like an unquenchable flame, and the memory of their kiss earlier left her yearning for more.
A soft knock at the door pulled her from her reverie. Before she could respond, the door creaked open, and there he was. Ignatius stepped inside, his golden eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip.
"Sara," he said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate through the room. "I couldn't stay away."
She turned to face him fully, her breath catching at the sight of him. The usual armor he wore had been discarded, leaving him in a simple black tunic that clung to his broad shoulders. His hair was slightly disheveled, as though he had been battling with his own thoughts before coming to her.
"You shouldn't be here," she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.
He closed the distance between them, his gaze never leaving hers. "Tell me to leave, and I will," he murmured, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face.
Sara couldn't find the words. Instead, she stepped closer, her fingers grazing his chest. The heat of his skin burned through the fabric, and her resolve crumbled.
"Ignatius," she began, but her words were swallowed as he cupped her face and brought his lips to hers.
The kiss was fierce, filled with a passion that had been simmering between them for far too long. His hands slid down her arms, pulling her flush against him, and she felt her body respond in ways she had never experienced before.
Sara's hands found their way to his shoulders, gripping tightly as he deepened the kiss. His lips moved to her jawline, trailing fiery kisses down her neck, each touch sending sparks through her veins.
"You're intoxicating," he whispered against her skin, his voice thick with desire.
Sara tilted her head back, giving him better access as his lips continued their descent. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as her breathing grew ragged.
"Ignatius," she gasped, her voice barely audible.
He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, his golden eyes blazing. "You're mine, Sara. No one else will ever come close to what we have."
Her heart swelled at his words, and she pulled him back into another kiss, this one even more urgent than the last. They moved together, their bodies pressed tightly against one another as the world around them faded into nothingness.
Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in each other, the barriers of their divine roles crumbling under the weight of their emotions. In that moment, nothing else mattered but the two of them and the fire that burned brighter than ever.
As the night deepened, the two lay entwined in each other's arms, the soft glow of the moon casting a gentle light over them. Sara traced lazy patterns on Ignatius's chest, her heart full in a way she had never thought possible.
"You've ruined me," she teased, her voice soft.
Ignatius chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Then we're even."
For the first time in a long while, Sara felt truly at peace, her heart and soul ignited by the man who had become her everything.