Chapter 21

As the day stretched toward dusk, anticipation filled the castle grounds. Rhaine and Selara had spent countless hours planning every detail of their grand display. The centerpiece? A spectacular show using powdered flowers known for their luminous qualities. When ignited, they would radiate vibrant colors and powerful sparks, captivating all who watched.

As the hour arrived, the crowd gathered under the vast open sky, murmurs of curiosity rippling through the air. Rhaine and Selara moved among the spectators, mingling deliberately to maintain appearances.

Suddenly, a loud crackle pierced the evening air as the powders ignited, sending vivid trails of light spiraling skyward. A magnificent burst of golds, blues, and fiery reds illuminated the scene, casting a dreamlike glow over the palace grounds. The crowd gasped in awe, their eyes wide with wonder as shimmering particles danced through the sky like celestial fireflies.

Horsemen galloped across the grounds, their steeds adorned with ribbons and powdered satchels. As the horses thundered past, trails of iridescent sparks followed in their wake, creating a mesmerizing display of shifting hues. Children laughed, nobles clapped, and even the king's stern expression softened into a rare smile.

Rhaine remained poised, her every movement calculated to appear carefree and engaged. Beside her, Selara performed her part flawlessly, their coordinated effort ensuring that no one suspected their true intentions.

As the hours passed and the spectacle reached its crescendo, Rhaine discreetly excused herself. Slipping into the shadows, she changed into a sleek black ensemble that clung to her frame, allowing her to blend seamlessly into the dark. The cool night air brushed against her skin as she secured a flammable torch—a tool that would ignite with friction.

With a sharp twist of her wrist, the glow torch sparked to life, casting a faint golden glow around her. Its steady flame illuminated the hidden paths leading away from the palace, guiding her toward her kingdom.

Unbeknownst to her, a pair of eyes had been observing her keenly in the all the commotion.

Amidst the swirling lights and fading cheers, a pair of eyes had been watching her intently, sharp and unyielding. The observer remained shrouded in the shadows, blending with the night as effortlessly as Rhaine herself.

As she slipped further away from the crowd, her movements purposeful and swift, the figure followed, silent and unseen.

The journey to the cave was quicker this time, the path dark and ominously quiet under the cloak of night. Rhaine's heart beat steadily as she approached the ancient ruins, glow stick in hand, its faint green light casting eerie shadows on the rugged walls. The carvings on the cave walls were far more intricate than she had first noticed—symbols twisting and spiraling into patterns that seemed almost deliberate. Her fingers traced their jagged edges, and she realized they formed an oval-like shape, though their true meaning eluded her.

Lost in thought, her breath caught in her throat as a hand suddenly gripped her face. Warm despite the chill of the cave, it pressed her mask firmly against her skin. Panic surged through her veins, but before she could scream, a muscular arm encased in cold, unforgiving armor pulled her deeper into the shadows. Her glow stick clattered to the ground, the green light dimming until only darkness remained.

She could hear her own frantic breathing mingling with the steady rise and fall of the masked figure's breath. The sharp edges of his armor grazed her body, yet the discomfort was muted by the overwhelming tension crackling between them.

Voices echoed from outside the cave.

"You two, check over there. The rest, follow me!" ordered a commanding voice, rough and authoritative.

A flurry of footsteps followed, growing distant with each passing second.

Rhaine instinctively tried to pull away, but the man's grip tightened.

"Don't move," he commanded, his voice low and cutting through the darkness like a blade.

More footsteps approached, accompanied by hushed conversation.

"Didn't I tell you to stop staying late?" one guard chastised.

"Sorry! I got distracted by the show—it was really entertaining."

"Whatever. Just stay alert. We can't afford any mistakes. You know what the king did to his daughter. Imagine what he'd do to us."

The other guard muttered an uneasy agreement before their footsteps faded into the distance.

The masked man finally released her, allowing Rhaine to breathe freely again. Her chest heaved as she steadied herself, blinking rapidly to adjust to the dim light. He removed his mask, revealing sharp features partially cloaked in shadow.

Seizing the chance, Rhaine bent down to retrieve her glow stick, only to bump into his solid chest. Heat flushed her cheeks as she murmured a small, flustered, "Sorry."

As the glow stick's faint light illuminated the space between them, her breath caught in her throat. Those eyes—sharp, intense, and unmistakably familiar—pierced through her.

"It's you," she whispered in shock, a strange sense of relief washing over her. But why relief?

"You have a knack for getting into trouble," Kaelion said with a faint smirk.

"And you have a knack for being wherever I am," she retorted, trying to sound composed.

"Call me by my name," he insisted, his voice softer but no less commanding.

Rhaine sighed, exasperated but unwilling to argue further.

"What are you doing here?" she asked cautiously.

Kaelion's gaze hardened. "Shouldn't I be asking you? Do you have any idea what would have happened if you'd been caught here? This place isn't as friendly as you seem to think." His words were laced with restrained anger, though Rhaine couldn't help but wonder why he was so agitated. She was the one in danger, not him.

"I know. You don't need to worry about me," she said firmly, stepping to the side.

"Stop. Don't move carelessly," Kaelion said sharply, though his voice faltered ever so slightly.

"What's wrong with your voice?" Rhaine asked, her brow furrowing as she stepped closer.

Kaelion remained perfectly still, his gaze darkening, his expression unreadable.

"Kaelion... are you okay? Are you ill?" she asked nervously, noting how his eyes grew hooded, filled with something she couldn't quite place.

"Do you really want to know?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous as he suddenly closed the space between them, pressing her against the cold, unyielding wall.

"Ouch—" she winced, the icy stone biting into her back.

Kaelion's gaze was intense, but then he abruptly stepped back, breaking the spell that had woven itself between them.

"Never mind. I can't tell if you're acting clueless or if that's just how you are," he muttered before shifting his focus to the ancient symbols on the wall.

"These symbols—are they why you came here?" he asked, his tone sharp but measured.

Rhaine exhaled shakily, trying to steady her racing heart. Whatever this was between them, it was unsettling—and undeniably dangerous.