The night was bitterly cold, the wind slicing through the canyon as if trying to drive them back. Brison and Kate had set up a modest camp beneath a natural overhang, the fire struggling to stay alive against the relentless gusts.
Kate huddled close to the flames, her cloak wrapped tightly around her. Despite the warmth of the fire, she couldn't stop shivering. The day's revelations—about Brison, about herself—still echoed in her mind.
"You're freezing," Brison said, his voice low as he crouched beside her. His blue eyes searched hers, and for a moment, she saw something deeper there: concern, protectiveness… and something unspoken.
"I'm fine," Kate replied, though her trembling hands betrayed her words.
Brison shook his head, already removing his thick, fur-lined cloak. "You're not fine. Here, take this."
"Brison, you'll freeze—"
"I'm not human," he reminded her with a wry smile. "I'll survive."
Before she could argue further, he draped the cloak over her shoulders. The weight and warmth of it were immediate, and Kate couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you," she said softly, her cheeks tinged pink—not just from the cold.
Brison settled beside her, closer than before. The firelight cast shadows across his face, accentuating his strong jawline and the determination in his expression. Kate couldn't help but notice the way his broad shoulders filled the space between them, or the way his presence made her feel… safe.
"You've been through so much," Brison said, breaking the silence. "I don't think I've ever met anyone as strong as you."
Kate glanced at him, her heart skipping a beat. "You're one to talk. You've been carrying the weight of this village on your shoulders for years."
He shrugged, his gaze fixed on the fire. "I just did what I had to. But you… you've stepped into this fight without hesitation. Even when you didn't know the full truth about yourself. That's not just strength, Kate. That's courage."
She swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. "I'm not as brave as you think. Most of the time, I'm terrified. Terrified of what's happening, of what's coming… of what I am."
Brison turned to her, his eyes intense. "You're not alone in this. Whatever happens, we face it together."
Kate's breath caught as his words sank in. The vulnerability in his voice, the way his eyes softened when he looked at her—it was overwhelming. She felt the distance between them shrinking, the firelight flickering in his blue eyes.
"I don't know what I'd do without you," she whispered.
Brison's hand moved instinctively, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His touch was gentle, lingering for just a moment too long. "You don't have to find out," he said, his voice barely audible.
The space between them disappeared. Kate didn't know who moved first—if it was her leaning in or Brison—but suddenly his lips were on hers, warm and firm and filled with a desperation that matched her own.
The kiss was tentative at first, as though they were both testing the waters of something neither of them fully understood. But it deepened quickly, the weight of everything they'd been through crashing over them like a wave.
Brison's hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer as the fire crackled beside them. Kate's fingers found their way to his hair, tangling in the dark strands as she pressed against him. For a moment, the cold and the shadows and the danger faded, leaving only the two of them in their shared warmth.
When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily, their foreheads resting together.
"I…" Brison started, his voice hoarse, but Kate placed a finger against his lips.
"Don't say anything," she murmured. "Not yet."
He nodded, his arms still wrapped around her. They sat like that for what felt like hours, the fire burning low as the chill of the night crept back in.
Eventually, Brison spoke, his voice quiet but resolute. "We should rest. Tomorrow's going to be harder than anything we've faced so far."
Kate nodded, though she couldn't bring herself to pull away completely. She stayed close to him, her head resting against his shoulder as the fire flickered its final embers.
Whatever challenges lay ahead, Kate knew one thing for certain: she wasn't facing them alone.