His jaw tightened. He stared at the earth between them before finally speaking "I don't fear you... Elena. I fear losing you—to the Rose, to Cassian, to whatever curse this Codex drags in its wake."
Her throat closed, breath shuddering "That's not what he meant. He said you keep me by your side because you're afraid I'll surpass you."
Adrian's storm-gray eyes lifted to hers, steady, unwavering "Then he lies."
"Does he?" Her voice cracked "You didn't tell me the truth about my family. You didn't tell me about the Order. What else have you hidden from me?"
The air between them tightened like a pulled bowstring.
Adrian's hands curled into fists "I've hidden nothing that would change what we are. I've only carried what I thought might break you."
"And what if it breaks me more that you didn't trust me with it?" she whispered.
For a heartbeat, silence reigned, pierced only by the trickle of water nearby.
Then Adrian exhaled, the sound rough "You're right."
The admission startled her.
He leaned forward, his voice low but firm. "You're right, Elena. Every time I kept something from you, it was not strength—it was weakness. I thought I was protecting you, but I was only protecting myself from watching you suffer, from facing my own failures."
Her lips trembled.
"You asked if I fear you" His gaze burned into hers "I don't..... I fear what will happen if I lose the only person who makes this cursed path bearable."
The words struck through her walls like arrows. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks, and before she could stop herself, she reached across the space between them.
Adrian caught her hand, bringing it to his lips, pressing against her trembling knuckles with a reverence that unraveled her.
"Don't shut me out again," she whispered fiercely "If this path kills us, so be it but it will not divide us."
Adrian nodded, his storm-gray eyes softened with something rare—surrender "Then no more shadows....No more secrets. Together, no matter what comes."
They stood, still holding hands, and moved toward the open meadow beyond the ruins. The stars spilled like rivers of light across the sky, the crescent moon casting silver upon their faces.
Elena's breath hitched at the beauty of it. After so much darkness, it felt like standing inside a dream.
She turned to him, heart hammering "Swear it."
Adrian tilted his head "Swear what?"
"That you'll never keep the truth from me again. That you'll stand beside me, even when the Rose itself demands otherwise."
Adrian's chest rose with a sharp breath. He stepped close, so close the warmth of him surrounded her. His hand cupped her cheek, thumb brushing away a tear.
"I swear," he said, voice hushed but strong. "No matter what rises, no matter what burns, no matter what the Codex whispers—I will face it with you. Even if it means defying fate itself."
Elena's heart surged. She pressed her hand against his chest, feeling the beat beneath her palm "Then I swear too....No fear..... No running. If the Rose demands one of us fall, we'll both stand instead."
The Codex in her arms pulsed, warm and steady, as if acknowledging their vow.
Their lips met under the canopy of stars, fierce and unyielding. It was not the hesitant kiss of fear or doubt—it was a vow sealed in fire. Their breaths tangled, their hearts thundered, and for the first time since the ruins, Elena felt alive.
When they parted, she leaned her forehead against his, her voice a whisper "You're the only choice I've ever made freely too."
Adrian's hand lingered at the back of her neck, grounding, anchoring "Then we fight until there's nothing left to take from us."
She smiled through tears, small but defiant "Until the end."
They lay side by side on the meadow grass, staring up at the endless night. For a moment, there was peace. The ruins behind them whispered of darkness and temptation, but the stars above spoke of possibility.
Elena's fingers brushed against Adrian's. He laced them together without a word.
Sleep threatened her, heavy after days of trial but she held on, afraid to let the moment slip.
"Adrian," she murmured drowsily "Do you think the Rose can be defied?"
His voice was low, certain "If it can't, then we'll teach it how."
The stars burned brighter, as if listening.
And for that one night, beneath heaven's gaze, they belonged not to prophecy or to ruin—but only to each other.
Morning light crept over the meadow, golden and soft, warming Elena's face as she stirred awake. For one disorienting moment, she thought she had dreamt it all—the ruins, the crown of thorns, the whispered prophecies but when she sat up, the Codex was still there, heavy across her lap, its crimson script faintly shifting like a heartbeat.
Adrian was already awake, crouched by the stream sharpening his blade. The metallic rasp filled the silence, steady, rhythmic, almost meditative but his eyes… his eyes were on the treeline.
"You're watching for them," Elena said quietly.
He didn't look back "The Order won't let us walk free....Not after Carthia."
She wrapped her cloak tighter "Then we should keep moving."
Adrian sheathed his sword, finally meeting her gaze. His storm-gray eyes softened just slightly "We will but first, you need food and rest. You haven't closed your eyes properly in days."
Elena's lips quirked faintly "Neither have you."
"I've learned to live without," he replied, voice rough but not unkind.
Before she could argue, a sudden chill licked down her spine. The air shifted—the birds had stopped singing.
Adrian was on his feet instantly, hand on his blade "They've found us."
The forest erupted.
Figures cloaked in black surged from the shadows, blades glinting, eyes burning with cold resolve. The sigil of the Order gleamed on their armor—a crimson rose entwined with thorns.
"Elena, run!" Adrian barked, already cutting down the first attacker with brutal precision.
But Elena didn't run. The Codex pulsed in her grip, searing her palms. Power thrummed through her veins, intoxicating, urging her to unleash it.
One of the Order's hunters lunged for her, dagger raised. Without thinking, Elena thrust the Codex forward. A burst of crimson light flared, hurling him across the clearing. His body hit a tree with a sickening crack before slumping lifeless.
Elena froze, horror clashing with exhilaration.
She had killed.
Adrian slashed through another soldier, blood spraying, before whirling toward her. His expression flickered—relief, then dread at what he saw in her eyes.
"Elena!" he shouted "Stay with me... Don't let it in."
But the Codex pulsed again, hungry. She could feel its whispers threading into her thoughts. More.... More... Protect yourself. Destroy them all.
The fight was a storm. Adrian moved like shadow and steel, his blade cutting arcs through the sunlight. Every strike was clean, every parry perfect, but even he was slowing. There were too many.
Elena clutched the Codex to her chest, torn between terror and the burning thrill of its power. With every heartbeat, it begged to be used... To slaughter.... To end.
She lifted her hand, crimson light sparking at her fingertips.
A hunter lunged toward Adrian's unguarded back.
"Adrian!" she screamed.
The light burst from her palm, slamming into the hunter and disintegrating him into ash.
Adrian spun, saw the smoldering remains, and his eyes locked with hers.
"Elena, no—!"
Too late.
The Codex flared, crimson flames wrapping around her like a crown, licking her skin without burning. Her veins sang with power, her heart raced, and for one terrifying, glorious moment, she felt untouchable.
"Elena!" Adrian's voice cut through the haze. He pushed through the last of the Order's hunters, his blade dripping, his face fierce with desperation.
"Elena, listen to me," he begged, reaching for her.
Her body trembled as the Codex's whispers grew louder, curling into promises. Keep him safe. End them all..... You don't need him. You only need me.
Her vision swam—Adrian's face blurred, replaced by the image of him broken at her feet, just as she had seen in the Chamber of Veils. The vision nearly buckled her knees.
She staggered back, clutching her head "I—I can't stop it—"
Adrian grabbed her shoulders, his grip fierce, his storm-gray eyes locked onto hers "Yes, you can because you are stronger than it. Stronger than me. Stronger than anything it whispers."
Her breath came in ragged gasps "Adrian—if I let go, it will consume me—"
"Then don't let go," he said hoarsely. His forehead pressed to hers, grounding her, anchoring her in the storm "Hold on to me. To us..... That's all you need."
The Codex pulsed again, furious but slowly, painfully, Elena's trembling steadied. Her grip on the power eased, like unclenching a fist. The crimson flames dimmed, leaving only smoke.
When at last the light faded, she collapsed against Adrian's chest, sobbing.
The clearing was silent but for their breaths. Bodies of the Order's hunters lay scattered, some broken by blade, others by the Codex's wrath.
Adrian held her close, one hand tangled in her hair, the other gripping her waist as if she might slip away.
"I killed them," she whispered into his chest, voice raw.
He didn't lie... He didn't soften it "Yes."
Her tears wet his tunic "And I wanted to."