WHISPERS OF THE MORNING

The first light of dawn crept through the wooden shutters, casting a soft golden glow over the cabin. The air was thick with the remnants of the night before, the heat, longing, and something deeper, something unspoken.

Xander lay on his back, one arm draped over his forehead, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. Ella lay beside him, her bare skin against the sheets, her head resting against his shoulder.

For a moment, there was only silence, No thoughts of revenge. No looming threats. Just them.

But reality had a way of creeping back in, even in the most stolen moments.

A Shattered Peace

Ella stirred, her fingers tracing absent patterns across Xander's chest. He caught her hand, bringing it to his lips, pressing a kiss against her knuckles.

"We should stay here forever," she murmured.

Xander chuckled, though there was little humor in it. "If only the world would allow it."

She lifted her head, looking at him with those deep, knowing eyes. "You're thinking about him."

Xander sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Edmund won't let this go. He was testing me last night. He wanted to see if I was still a threat."

Ella frowned. "And are you?"

His jaw clenched. "I intend to be."

She shifted closer, pressing her lips to his shoulder. "Then I will stand with you."

Xander turned his head, meeting her gaze. There was no hesitation in her eyes, no fear, only fierce determination. It should have reassured him. Instead, it terrified him.

If she stood with him, that meant Edmund could come for her too.

A Sudden Realization

Xander sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. "Ella, I need you to understand something. Edmund isn't just after me, he will destroy anything that gives me power. And if he knows how much you mean to me…"

Ella sat up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, pressing herself against his back. "Then let him come," she whispered. "I won't run."

Her words sent a wave of warmth through him, but it was mixed with something darker, a fear he hadn't felt in years.

She had no idea what Edmund was capable of.

Xander turned to face her, his hands framing her face. "Ella, I won't lose you. Not to him. Not to anyone."

She smiled softly, brushing her lips against his. "Then don't push me away."

For the first time in his life, Xander wanted something more than revenge.

He wanted her. But could he have both?

A Dangerous Decision

The peace of the morning shattered with a sudden knock at the cabin door.

Xander's instincts sharpened instantly. He grabbed his discarded trousers, pulling them on quickly before reaching for the dagger he always kept nearby.

Ella wrapped the sheet around herself, her heart pounding. "Who would come here?"

Xander didn't answer. He crossed the room in quick, silent strides, pressing his back against the door before glancing outside through the small window.

His blood ran cold.

Standing outside was Luca, one of his trusted men, but his face was grim.

Xander opened the door just enough to meet his gaze. "What is it?"

Luca hesitated, then spoke low and urgent.

"Edmund's men are in Evermere. They're asking about you."

Xander's grip on the door tightened. It had begun.