Chapter 31

The first bite was tentative, but as she chewed, her expression shifted from uncertainty to surprise. The flavors were rich and satisfying, far better than she had expected. "Hmm, it's good," she said, smiling as she took another bite.

Kaelion released a slow breath, his shoulders stiffening. He looked away, his entire body suddenly tense. Rhaine, absorbed in her meal, didn't notice at first. But after a few moments, his unnatural stillness caught her attention.

"Why aren't you eating?" she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

"I'm good," he said stiffly, his voice strained. "Just lost my appetite for this."

Her brow furrowed. "Then what are you hungry for?" she asked innocently, still savoring the meat.

Kaelion's gaze met hers, unwavering and intense. His voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried weight. "You."

The word hung in the air, heavy and charged.

Rhaine froze, her heart thudding loudly in her chest. Her mind struggled to process his blunt confession. "You…?" she echoed, her voice barely audible.

Kaelion's expression remained unreadable, but there was no mistaking the sincerity in his eyes. "You asked," he said simply.

A nervous laugh bubbled up in her throat, but it died as she realized he wasn't joking. Her breath quickened, confusion and something far more dangerous swirling inside her. The fire crackled between them, but it was nothing compared to the heat rising in her chest.

"I… I don't understand," she stammered, her voice faltering.

Kaelion leaned slightly closer, his presence overwhelming. "Then let me make it clear," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "You've haunted my thoughts since the day I met you. I can face any enemy, but you? You're the one thing I can't fight."

Rhaine's heart raced, her mind a chaotic mess of emotions she wasn't prepared to face. The Lunacrest was supposed to suppress feelings like this—yet here she was, trembling under the weight of Kaelion's words.

"I… I can't," she whispered, looking away. "I'm the Saintess. I just can't—"

"I don't care," he interrupted, his tone fierce. "Saintess or not, you're Rhaine to me. And I'm not letting that go."

The vulnerability in his voice shattered her defenses. She had always prided herself on her strength, but in this moment, she felt utterly exposed. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to push him away.

What was happening to her? Why did his touch, his words, unravel everything she thought she knew about herself?

Kaelion's hand brushed against hers again, grounding her in the chaos of her emotions. "You don't have to say anything now," he said softly. "Just know that I'm here. Always."

A moment of charged silence hung between them, broken only by the faint crackle of the fire and the gentle rustle of the night breeze. Rhaine's gaze flickered downward, her heart pounding fiercely in her chest. Her thoughts raced, a whirlwind of emotions she barely understood — fear, longing, and something that felt dangerously like courage.

For a reason she couldn't fully grasp, a boldness surged through her, sweeping away doubt and reason alike. Kaelion sat beside her, lost in his own thoughts, unaware of the storm brewing within her.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Rhaine reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as they cupped his face, moving her veil to the side. Kaelion's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react, warmth blossomed between them — her lips brushed against his, tentative but unmistakable.

The world seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of them tethered together by that single daring act. Time froze, suspended in the intoxicating rush of the moment.

Kaelion's mind struggled to catch up, disbelief flickering through him. But just as Rhaine was about to pull away, retreating into uncertainty, his instincts took over. He caught her by the waist, drawing her closer as his lips claimed hers with fierce certainty. The kiss deepened, raw and filled with years of unspoken desire.

Rhaine gasped softly, her initial surprise giving way to something far more consuming. Her fingers clung to him as if he were the only thing keeping her grounded. The warmth of his embrace melted away her reservations, leaving her vulnerable but unafraid.

Time stretched and folded around them, each second blurring into eternity. The fire crackled on, its light casting flickering shadows across their entwined forms. The air between them was thick with emotions neither of them had dared to name until now.

Finally, Kaelion broke the kiss, his breath uneven as he pressed his forehead against hers. His eyes, dark and intense, searched hers for reassurance. "You won't regret this and ignore me the next second, right?" he whispered, his voice husky with vulnerability.

Rhaine's chest heaved as she struggled to steady herself. Her lips tingled from the memory of his touch, but it was the sincerity in his words that made her heart ache. She lifted a hand to his cheek, her thumb brushing against his skin.

"I won't," she promised softly, her voice steady despite the whirlwind inside her. "I choose you, Kaelion."

A faint tremor ran through him at her words, and his hold on her tightened briefly as if to confirm that she was real. His expression softened, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"You have no idea what that means to me," he murmured.

"Hmmm," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

They stayed that way, wrapped in the fragile stillness of the moment, neither wanting to break the spell. For the first time, Rhaine felt free, untethered from the expectations that had always bound her.

Kaelion's fingers brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his touch lingering as if he was memorizing every detail. "You're mine now," he declared softly, a vow that carried both tenderness and determination.

Rhaine smiled faintly, feeling a warmth blossom in her chest. "And you're mine."