Chapter 18: The Kiss That Ruined the Starsl
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Selene stood at the edge of the Night King's balcony, the wind tangling her hair like dark silk. The stars above were too bright, too knowing. As if they had been waiting millennia for this exact moment—for her rebirth. For the omega who said no to fate and yes to fire.
Behind her, Valerian lingered like a shadow given form. Silent. Watching. Wanting.
"You said the world would tremble for me," she said without turning around. "It already is."
"It will tremble harder," Valerian murmured, stepping close enough for her to feel his presence like gravity. "Because they've never seen what you're becoming. What we're becoming."
She turned to him then, her eyes glowing with the same eclipse-gold that had once graced Selyra. "And what exactly are we becoming, Valerian?"
He hesitated—not because he didn't know, but because the answer terrified even him.
"Unstoppable."
The word split the air between them. Raw. Inevitable.
Selene took one slow step toward him, and the stars blinked out overhead. One by one. Like they didn't dare watch what came next.
"You wanted to kiss me that night," she said. "Before the dagger. Before the choice."
He nodded. "Yes."
"Then kiss me now. Not as the king. Not as the cursed. As the man who's waited lifetimes."
Valerian's breath caught—and then he moved.
One hand cupped the back of her neck, the other wrapped around her waist, pulling her into him like she was gravity and he was already falling. And when his lips touched hers—
The sky cracked.
Lightning tore across the heavens like veins of gold.
Magic surged from their bodies in waves, racing through the palace and out across the kingdom. Lamps exploded with light. Ravens shrieked from their towers. Trees bent toward the sky as if bowing.
Selene gasped against his mouth, but didn't stop. She pressed closer, pouring every ache, every death, every lifetime of waiting into that one kiss.
This wasn't a kiss of lust. It wasn't even just love.
It was recognition.
And the stars could not bear to witness it.
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Far below, in the deep crypts of the palace, something stirred.
A bone-white eye blinked open.
"She has awakened," a voice rasped from the dark. "And he's made the bond complete."
"She'll tear the world in two," another voice replied. "Just like she did before."
In the shadows, the Council of the Undying rose from their stone thrones.
"She must be controlled."
"She must be claimed."
"She must be destroyed."
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Back in the tower, Selene pulled away, breathless and trembling.
"I saw them," she whispered. "The stars… they closed their eyes."
Valerian touched her cheek. "Because they were afraid."
"Afraid of me?"
"No." He pressed his forehead to hers. "Afraid of what you and I can do together."
Selene exhaled shakily. "Then let's give them something to fear."
His smile was wicked and soft all at once. "Oh, omega mine. You've already started."
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