The cave was silent, save for the soft, steady rhythm of breathing that filled the chilled mountain air. Shadows clung to the stone walls, the flickering embers of a dying fire casting a faint glow across the sleeping forms huddled close for warmth. Aurelia lay curled beneath her cloak, her cheek resting against the worn fabric as a cold breeze slipped through the narrow entrance of the cave, brushing against her skin like a ghost's touch.
A faint shiver ran through her, and her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light. The early morning sun had begun to spill through the jagged opening, streaking the ground with soft hues of gold and pale amber. She blinked, taking a moment to gather her bearings, then slowly pushed herself upright.
Around her, the others remained asleep. Rook lay nearest the entrance, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword even in slumber. Kalen's arm was thrown over his eyes, his usual smirk absent in rest. Eren lay curled up beneath his thick cloak, his face peaceful, while Prudence slept a little apart from the others, her back turned, her features hidden beneath dark hair.
Aurelia's gaze swept the cave again, her heart skipping a beat when she noticed the empty space where Lucien should have been. The spot beside the fire, where he had laid down only hours before, was vacant. No cloak. No trace of him.
A small knot of unease tightened in her stomach.
She rose carefully, mindful of the hush around her, and tiptoed toward the entrance, the cold stone beneath her bare feet sending tiny jolts of awareness up her legs. The chill outside was sharper than within the cave, the mountain air crisp and biting. She pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders and stepped out.
The view that met her eyes momentarily stole her breath away.
The mountains stretched endlessly in every direction, towering peaks piercing the sky like ancient, jagged sentinels. Valleys sprawled below in a tapestry of forest and river, the light of dawn spilling over the land in rich hues of amber, gold, and soft rose. Wisps of morning mist clung to the trees far below, and the distant sound of water tumbling over rocks whispered through the silence.
And there, perched at the very edge of a nearby cliff, sat Lucien.
His long figure was silhouetted against the horizon, the morning light turning his hair to threads of pale silver. His broad shoulders were drawn tight, his posture rigid as he stared out across the expanse, seemingly lost in thought.
Aurelia hesitated for a moment, watching him.
There was something about him in that moment that felt different. Something distant. As though he belonged to the wild, ancient world stretched out before him, rather than the troubled, bloodstained one they were bound to.
She took a deep breath, then stepped forward.
"Couldn't sleep?" Her voice was gentle, barely above a whisper.
Lucien turned at the sound, his expression shifting the instant his eyes met hers. A smile ghosted across his lips, softening the hard lines of his face.
"Just needed some air," he said quietly, his voice a low rumble that seemed to blend with the wind.
Aurelia approached, the grass cool beneath her feet, and settled beside him on the edge of the cliff. The stone was cold, but the warmth of his presence eased the chill.
The view was staggering from here.
The sky, still streaked with the remnants of night, was painted in hues of orange and soft violet. The sun's first rays bathed the landscape in a gentle glow, casting long shadows over the valleys and rivers below. The wind stirred the trees in the distance, the leaves shimmering like tiny coins beneath the light.
"It's beautiful," she murmured, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
Lucien's eyes lingered on her, studying the delicate lines of her face, the way her hair caught the light.
"Not as beautiful as you," he replied, his voice laced with warmth.
Aurelia felt heat rise to her cheeks, a soft blush coloring her skin. She looked down, a shy smile tugging at her lips.
They sat in silence for a while, the world around them slipping away. Only the sound of the wind and the distant call of birds filled the air. It was a rare moment of peace in a journey that had been nothing but peril and uncertainty.
"Lucien," Aurelia began, her voice hesitant, "do you ever… think about what comes after all this?"
He turned to her, his brow furrowing slightly. "After?"
She nodded, her eyes searching his. "After the wedding. After my father. After the necklace… whatever happens. Do you ever wonder what happens next for us?"
Lucien's gaze softened, the hardness in his eyes giving way to something more vulnerable.
"Every day," he admitted. "More than you know."
Aurelia's heart ached at his words. She wanted to reach out, to bridge the space between them, to touch his face and tell him she understood. That she thought about it too. About what it would be like to be free, to wake beside him without fear or obligation. To live, not just survive.
Their eyes locked, emotions unspoken swirling between them. The words neither dared to say hung in the air, heavy with meaning.
Lucien's hand brushed against hers, and she didn't pull away.
Slowly, hesitantly, he leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. The first touch of his lips against hers was feather-light, a question rather than a demand. Aurelia's heart fluttered, and she closed the space between them.
The kiss deepened, a slow, aching thing that made her head spin. His hands slid around her waist, drawing her closer, and she let out a soft sound as his mouth moved against hers. The world narrowed to just the two of them, the cliffs, the sky, and the wild rush of emotion building between them.
And then, at the worst possible moment, her stomach growled.
Aurelia froze, mortified.
She pulled back, burying her face in her hands. "I'm so sorry," she groaned, the heat in her cheeks threatening to set her aflame.
Lucien blinked, then let out a startled laugh, the sound rich and genuine, carrying over the cliffside.
"Looks like someone's hungry," he teased, grinning.
Aurelia peeked at him through her fingers, then laughed despite herself. "Way to ruin the moment."
He stood, offering her a hand. "Come on, princess. Let's see if we can find something to eat before the others wake up and hoard whatever's left."
She accepted his hand, rising to her feet, and together they made their way back toward the cave.
As they approached, a voice called out.
"Well, well," Kalen drawled, emerging from the shadows with a lazy grin. "Look who's up early. I was starting to think you two might've fallen off a cliff."
Aurelia's face flushed anew, and she ducked her head.
Lucien only chuckled, his grip on Aurelia's hand tightening briefly before letting go.
Behind Kalen, Prudence appeared at the cave's mouth, her expression unreadable. But when her gaze settled on Aurelia, something dark flickered in her eyes. A narrow, sharp glare that cut through the morning light like a dagger.
Aurelia felt a jolt of unease in her chest but said nothing. The weight of that look lingered even as the others began to stir, rising and stretching, murmuring about food and the road ahead.
The group gathered their things, saddling the horses and dousing the last of the embers. Rook gave a few curt instructions, and soon they were back on the trail, the narrow mountain path winding beneath the towering cliffs.
Aurelia mounted her horse, settling into the worn saddle. Lucien climbed up behind her, his arms steady around her waist as they fell into line.
The journey stretched on, the morning sun climbing higher, the heat rising off the stone as they rode. The landscape changed around them, forests giving way to open ridges and sharp descents.
They had been riding for hours when it happened.
At first, it was a dull ache in her chest. A tightness that made it hard to breathe. She shifted in the saddle, trying to dismiss it, but the pain only grew, spreading like fire through her ribs.
Lucien noticed instantly.
"Aurelia?" His voice was low, laced with concern. "Are you alright?"
She forced a smile, though it felt brittle. "It's… it's nothing. Just a little tired."
But the tightness sharpened, a bolt of pain that stole her breath. A sharp gasp escaped her lips, and she clutched her chest, her fingers digging into the fabric of her cloak.
Lucien's grip around her tightened. "Aurelia—"
She opened her mouth to reply, but the world tilted.
A scream tore from her throat as the agony overwhelmed her, white-hot and blinding. Her vision clouded, and she felt herself slipping, her body going limp.
The last thing she saw was Lucien's terrified face, his voice calling her name as everything else faded to white.
Then nothing.