The portal released Kate and Brison back onto the mountainside, the familiar chill of the night air wrapping around them. Above, the moon hung full and luminous, casting silver light across the snow-dusted terrain. The guardian's voice was gone, leaving behind an unsettling quiet.
For the first time since their journey began, there was no immediate danger—just the two of them and the vast wilderness.
Brison exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "We made it through the trial," he said, his voice low. "But I feel like we just barely held it together."
Kate nodded, her arms wrapped around herself as she processed everything they'd endured. The memories of the shadowy version of herself lingered, the cruel words cutting deep even now. But the warmth of Brison's presence beside her was enough to steady her.
"Facing all of that," she said quietly, "I don't know how I could've done it without you."
Brison turned to her, his eyes catching the moonlight. There was a tenderness in his gaze that made her heart flutter. "Kate, you're stronger than you realize. You didn't need me to get through that—you've had that strength all along."
A faint smile tugged at her lips. "Maybe. But it helps having you here. It always has."
They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their confessions hanging in the air. Kate's eyes drifted to the horizon, where the faint glow of the altar still pulsed like a beacon.
"We don't know what's waiting for us next," she murmured.
"No," Brison agreed, stepping closer to her. "But whatever it is, we'll face it together. Like we always have."
Kate's breath hitched as Brison reached out, his hand brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. The touch was light, almost hesitant, but it sent a spark coursing through her.
"Brison…" she began, her voice barely above a whisper.
He didn't let her finish. His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing her skin as his gaze locked with hers. "Kate," he said softly, his voice carrying a raw vulnerability. "I've been fighting this for so long—what I feel for you. But after everything we've been through, I can't anymore. You mean everything to me."
Kate's heart pounded in her chest, her own emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She placed her hand over his, leaning into his touch. "I feel the same way," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I always have."
Brison's breath caught, his resolve crumbling as he closed the distance between them. Their lips met, the kiss tender at first but deepening with an urgency born from the danger they'd faced and the unknown that lay ahead.
Kate's hands slid up to his shoulders, anchoring herself to him as the world around them seemed to fade away. The cold air, the looming threat of shadows—it all disappeared, leaving only the warmth of Brison's embrace.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, their breaths mingling in the frosty air.
"I don't want to lose you," Kate whispered.
"You won't," Brison promised, his voice steady. "Not now. Not ever."
The moment felt suspended in time, a brief respite in the chaos of their journey. The moonlight bathed them in its glow, casting their shadows across the snow like a quiet witness to their bond.
Brison's hand moved to her waist, pulling her closer. "We should rest," he said, his voice tinged with reluctance.
Kate nodded, though her pulse still raced. "We have a long fight ahead of us."
They found shelter beneath an overhang, where the rock provided some protection from the wind. As they settled in, Brison wrapped his arms around Kate, holding her close.
"Stay with me," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
"Always," Kate replied, resting her head against his chest.
As the night wore on, the bond between them deepened, their connection an unshakable anchor against the storm they knew was coming. Together, they would face whatever awaited them—and together, they would find a way to win.