Chapter 22

The tension in the cave was palpable, thick with unspoken emotions and mounting chaos. Kaelion's gaze pierced through Rhaine as he stood rigid, his breath heavy and uneven. His question lingered in the cold, damp air, "Who are you really?"

Rhaine hesitated, her heart racing. The truth clawed at the back of her throat, but she swallowed it down. "It's complicated," she said, her voice wavering.

Why did she feel compelled to explain herself to him? Why did his presence unnerve her in a way that was both terrifying and intoxicating? Pushing those dangerous thoughts aside, she forced a smile and stepped closer, the proximity sending a shiver down her spine.

"You're right. There's more to me than you know," she said softly, her voice velvety but laced with intent.

Before Kaelion could respond, Rhaine's hand darted into her robe pocket, fingers wrapping around a pouch of purplish powder. In one swift motion, she flung the powder toward his face.

It should have worked. The powder was potent enough to erase short-term memories, rendering even the sharpest mind foggy.

But Kaelion was faster. His hand shot up, gripping her wrist with vice-like strength. The powder scattered in the air, only a small amount catching in his breath. Rhaine's eyes widened in disbelief as he coughed slightly but remained standing, dark eyes narrowing with a dangerous gleam.

Her plan had utterly failed.

Kaelion's expression darkened, his eyes hooding as he let go of her wrist and staggered back, one hand gripping his head. His breaths turned ragged, each one heavier than the last.

"Kaelion—" Rhaine's voice was filled with alarm as she reached for him, her fingers trembling.

He grunted roughly, the sound guttural and raw, before his entire body tensed.

Oh no. Her heart sank. She knew this reaction. The powder's partial inhalation had triggered an adverse effect—a dangerous imbalance that could twist the mind into violent chaos.

"Kaelion," she tried again, voice breaking, but he wasn't listening.

His movements were primal, almost feral, as he grabbed her by the neck with startling force, lifting her slightly and slamming her against the cave wall.

Rhaine gasped, her breath stolen by the sudden impact. Her vision blurred as she struggled, the cold stone biting into her back.

"Kael—" she croaked, trying to reach him, but he was lost in the haze of confusion and rage.

For a moment, his grip faltered, and something flickered in his darkened gaze—a brief moment of clarity. His hand loosened slightly before disappearing from her neck entirely.

Relief washed over her, but it was short-lived.

In a flash, he pressed her back against the wall, one large hand cradling the back of her head to shield her from injury. The other gripped her chin firmly pushing her veil to the side, tilting her face upward as his lips crashed into hers.

The kiss was rough, desperate, and consuming, taking the very breath from her lungs. Rhaine's hands pressed against his chest, her fingers trembling as she tried to push him away.

"Stop—" she managed to whisper between gasps, but he didn't hear her. His lips claimed hers with an intensity that made time stretch unbearably.

It felt like an eternity before Kaelion finally pulled back, realization dawning in his eyes. His expression twisted with anguish and guilt as he stepped away from her, retreating to the far end of the cave.

He crouched low, hands clutching his head as though trying to keep himself from shattering completely.

Rhaine leaned against the wall, gasping for air, her chest heaving as she tried to steady herself. Her lips tingled from the force of the kiss, and confusion swirled in her mind.

"Kaelion—" she started, voice soft and remorseful.

"No," he cut her off sharply, his voice trembling with restraint. "Stay back."

His breathing was labored, his body taut with tension. "I don't want to hurt you. I'll lose control again... please, just leave," he begged, his voice raw.

Rhaine's heart clenched with guilt. This was her fault—her reckless plan had backfired spectacularly.

She looked toward the cave entrance. There were no guards in sight. She could leave now, slip away into the night.

But she couldn't move.

Her feet stayed rooted to the ground, the weight of her guilt and something deeper keeping her frozen.

Drawing a shaky breath, she whispered, "Kaelion—"

"I said stop," he growled, his voice cracking. "Please... I don't want to hurt you."

Tears pricked her eyes, but she blinked them away. "I want to help you," she said, her voice breaking.

Kaelion's body tensed as she stepped forward, her hand trembling as it rested on his shoulder.

"I—" she began, but before she could finish, Kaelion's hand shot out, pulling her down onto him. His other hand quickly found her waist, steadying her.

His voice was low, almost a whisper, "Are you sure?"

Rhaine met his gaze, eyes unwavering despite the chaos in her heart.

"Yes," she whispered, the single word carrying all the weight of her resolve.