Chapter 6: Whispers of the Heart
The fire had dwindled to faint embers, leaving the temple cloaked in darkness. Outside, the world held its breath, as though the storm had taken every sound with it. Yet inside, the air was electric.
Elysia sat by the broken altar, her fingers grazing the edges of her cloak as she stared into the shadows. Alaric had gone to patrol the perimeter, his knightly instincts refusing him rest. Kael, however, remained. He lingered in the darkness, his presence unmistakable even without sight. She could feel him—his gaze, his energy—like a tether pulling her closer, no matter how she resisted.
"You're quiet tonight," Kael's voice broke the silence. It was smooth, yet held a note of curiosity, as if he was peeling back her layers. "Did my words earlier trouble you?"
Elysia looked up, her silver-blue eyes shimmering faintly in the low light. "You act like you know my thoughts."
Kael stepped forward, his boots barely making a sound on the stone floor. Moonlight caught his face, his pale skin accentuating the sharp lines of his jaw and cheekbones. "I don't need to know your thoughts to see what weighs on you. You're torn. Between me. Between him. Between yourself."
Her breath hitched as he knelt before her, close enough for her to see the faint glow of his crimson eyes. "Stop," she whispered, though it was barely audible. "Don't... don't twist this."
Kael's lips curled faintly into that infuriating smile. "Twist? No. I simply speak truths no one else will." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You don't belong to Alaric. You don't even belong to yourself, not yet. But you will belong to something greater. I've seen it."
Elysia swallowed hard, her pulse quickening as Kael's fingers brushed under her chin, coaxing her to look at him fully. His touch was cool, but where his skin met hers, it burned—like frostbitten fire. "You speak of fate, Kael, but you don't seem to care about what I want."
"And what do you want, Elysia?" Kael's voice was soft but dangerous, as though he knew she wouldn't answer honestly. "To hide from this power inside you? To let your knight bind you in his safety, or to embrace something real? Something... untamed."
His words sank into her, wrapping around her thoughts like a snare. She hated the way he could see through her, hated how much truth there was in his voice. And yet, she couldn't pull away.
"You think you know me so well," she muttered, breaking the silence.
Kael's lips hovered near hers, his breath a cold brush against her skin. "I know your fire because it mirrors mine. You feel it too. Deny it all you want, but you know."
The space between them was nothing—just a fragile breath. And for one reckless moment, Elysia tilted her chin, as if daring him to close the distance.
"Elysia!"
The voice echoed sharply through the chamber, shattering the tension. She turned sharply, guilt burning across her cheeks as Alaric strode back into the temple, his hazel eyes narrowing when he saw Kael so close.
Kael rose smoothly, his face impassive, but there was victory in his gaze. "Your knight returns," he murmured, his tone unreadable.
"What's going on here?" Alaric demanded, his voice a low growl as he came to stand protectively in front of Elysia. His presence was warm, familiar, yet his anger crackled like a live flame.
"Relax, Alaric," Kael said lazily, brushing invisible dust from his coat. "You're always so quick to assume the worst of me."
"Because I know what you are," Alaric snapped, turning to look at Elysia. "Are you all right?"
Elysia hesitated, torn between the two of them. She could still feel the faint ghost of Kael's touch on her skin, but Alaric's voice, steady and grounded, anchored her in a way she didn't know she needed.
"I'm fine," she said softly, though her voice shook.
Alaric frowned but let the matter drop, turning back toward Kael with a warning glare. "If you so much as—"
"Save your threats, Knight." Kael's tone turned cold. "You can't protect her from everything. Least of all, herself." With that, he turned and disappeared into the temple's shadows, leaving the two of them alone.
Elysia let out a long breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Alaric knelt beside her, his hazel eyes searching hers with open concern. "What did he say to you?"
"Nothing," she lied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alaric reached out, his gloved hand brushing a lock of hair from her face. His touch was warm, steady—so different from Kael's. "Elysia, I don't trust him. You know that, right?"
"I know," she replied, her gaze meeting his.
His hand lingered against her cheek, and for a moment, there was nothing but silence. Alaric's eyes softened, the walls around him slipping away as he leaned closer. "I meant what I said earlier. You mean everything to me."
Her breath hitched as his lips brushed hers—tentative at first, as though waiting for her to pull away. But she didn't.
The kiss deepened, slow and lingering, the warmth of it spreading through her chest like sunlight breaking through a storm. Alaric cupped her face with gentle reverence, his touch steady as though afraid she might vanish.
When they finally parted, Alaric rested his forehead against hers, his breath steadying. "I'll fight for you, Elysia. Always."
She wanted to reply, to say something—anything—but before she could, a sharp crack echoed outside. Both of them tensed.
"What was that?" Elysia whispered, her heart leaping into her throat.
Alaric was already on his feet, sword in hand. "Stay close."
Elysia rose quickly, the memory of Kael's words lingering as Alaric stepped toward the temple's entrance, the shadows outside stirring restlessly. Whatever had been brewing beneath the surface—magic, desire, and secrets—was far from over.
And Elysia knew she would have to face it. All of it.