The Walls Come Down

Days passed, and the tension between Xypheron and Vexaria continued to build. It was becoming harder to ignore the undeniable attraction between them, the way their glances lingered a little longer than necessary, the way their conversations danced between playful banter and something deeper—something unspoken.

Vexaria had always been in control, always the one to make the rules. But with Xypheron, the rules seemed to blur, and she didn't know how to handle it. Every time she thought she had her guard up, he would say something that made her second-guess everything. His determination, his honesty—it was disarming in a way that terrified her.

That afternoon, they found themselves alone in the palace's garden. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden hue over everything, and the air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers. It was peaceful, serene, and yet the tension between them was palpable, hanging in the air like a charged storm.

Xypheron stood by the fountain, his eyes fixed on the water, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Vexaria had yet to speak a word since they'd entered the garden, and it wasn't lost on him that she was avoiding him. She was always so composed, so guarded, and yet now, it was as if she was afraid to face him.

Finally, he broke the silence. "You've been quiet lately."

Vexaria looked at him, her eyes guarded, but there was a flicker of something more beneath the surface. "I'm just thinking."

"About what?" he asked, his voice low and steady.

She hesitated, her gaze flicking away from him before she finally spoke. "About how much things have changed. About how much I've changed since meeting you."

Xypheron stepped closer, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her. "You've changed?"

Her lips curved into a faint, almost bitter smile. "Maybe not in the ways you think. But something about you makes me question everything I've ever known. Everything I thought I wanted."

Xypheron's heart skipped a beat. Was this her admitting she was beginning to feel something for him?

He took another step closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "And what is it you want now?"

Vexaria's breath caught in her throat as she finally met his gaze. There was no more hiding behind her walls. In that moment, she was raw, exposed, and she knew it. She had spent so long protecting herself from getting too close to anyone, but now, standing here with him, she realized she couldn't keep running forever.

"I don't know," she confessed, her voice shaky. "I don't know what I want from you, or if I can trust