The days after activating the second ward passed in a blur of planning and preparation. With two wards down and two to go, the pressure to stay ahead of Malric was mounting.
Claire was relentless in her research, pouring over ancient texts for any advantage we could use, while Kyle took it upon himself to scout the area for signs of Malric's forces. Van and I, however, had barely spoken since the forest.
Every time I tried to bring up what he had almost said, he'd deflect, focusing instead on strategies or training. It was frustrating, to say the least, but I knew better than to push him. Van had always been guarded, but lately, it felt like he was building walls between us.
It wasn't until the night before we were set to activate the third ward that he finally approached me. I was sitting on the balcony of the small cabin Claire had found for us to use as a base, staring up at the stars and trying to quiet my racing thoughts.
"Amber," his voice broke the silence, soft and hesitant.
I turned to see him standing in the doorway, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"Hey," I said, scooting over to make room for him.
"Everything okay?"
Van sat down beside me, his gaze fixed on the horizon. For a long moment, he didn't say anything, and I began to wonder if he was going to retreat again. But then he took a deep breath and finally spoke.
"I owe you an apology," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"An apology?" I echoed, confused.
"For the way I've been acting," he clarified, turning to look at me.
"I've been… difficult. Jealous. And it's not fair to you."
I blinked, caught off guard by his honesty.
"Van—"
He held up a hand, stopping me.
"Let me finish. I've always been so focused on my duty, on protecting the gateway and stopping the darkness, that I never let myself feel anything else. But then you came into my life, and everything changed. You're brave, compassionate, and stronger than you realize. And somewhere along the way, I started feeling things I wasn't prepared for."
My heart pounded in my chest as he continued, his voice growing steadier.
"When I see Kyle with you, I can't help but feel… threatened. Not because I don't trust you, but because I'm afraid he'll take you away from me. And that fear made me act like an idiot."
I looked at him.
I smiled.
"Van, you don't have to be afraid. Kyle and I are just friends."
"What about me?" He asked.
"You? You and I... We're friends too.. but.."
I hesitated, my cheeks flushing.
"You know you have a special place in my heart."I finished, my voice soft.
Van's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, I thought I'd said too much. But then a small, genuine smile spread across his face, and he reached up to gently brush a strand of hair behind my ear.
"You have no idea how much that means to me," he said, his voice warm.
We sat there in silence for a while, the weight of unspoken words lifting between us. For the first time in weeks, I felt a sense of calm, as if no matter what happened next, we could face it together.
Eventually, Van spoke again, his tone resolute.
"Amber, no matter what happens, I want you to know that I'll always be by your side. Not just as a protector, but as someone who…" He hesitated, then took a deep breath.
"As someone who is really afraid of losing you...someone who really cares about you."
The words hung in the air, and my chest tightened with a mix of emotions—joy, relief, and a deep, undeniable warmth.
"Me too, Van," I said.
He leaned closer, his golden eyes searching for mine before he closed the distance and kiss me on the forehead.
"We'll face this together," I said, my hand still resting on his.
Van nodded, his expression filled with determination.
"Together."
As the stars sparkled above us, I couldn't help but feel that, despite the challenges ahead, we were stronger than ever. Our bond was no longer just about duty or survival—it was about love, trust, and the unshakable belief that we could overcome anything as long as we stood together.
And tomorrow, we'd put that belief to the test.