The moment my lips left hers, the world snapped back into focus—but nothing felt the same. My breath came in ragged gasps, my pulse thundering in my ears, and it wasn't from the battle. It was from her.
I hadn't planned to kiss her. I hadn't even thought about it. My body had just moved—instinct overriding reason, driven by the sheer terror of nearly losing her. When I saw her falling toward the magma, I was frozen. Useless. My heart had nearly stopped. I knew I wouldn't reach her in time. I was going to watch her die.
Then her wings had snapped out, catching the air, saving her at the last possible second—and my entire body had gone weak with relief.
That feeling—raw, gut-wrenching—had ripped something open inside me. When she landed, alive and burning with that impossible power, something in me broke. Before I knew what I was doing, I had her in my arms, my mouth on hers, kissing her like she was the only thing tethering me to this world.
Now, in the silence that followed, I didn't know what to make of it. Neither did she. Lyra's eyes locked on mine, wide and searching, her lips still parted like she wanted to speak but couldn't. I didn't blame her. I didn't know what to say either.
I wasn't supposed to feel this way.
I barely knew her. And yet, from the moment we met, there'd been something—an invisible pull, like my soul recognized hers. It wasn't just attraction, though gods knew she was beautiful. It was deeper, stranger, as if some unseen thread had bound us together long before we ever crossed paths.
Did she feel it too?
I didn't know. But I knew she'd felt something. She hadn't pulled away. She'd kissed me back—desperate, unguarded, like she needed it as much as I did.
I opened my mouth to speak—to say anything—but Muir's voice shattered the moment.
"Well, damn," he drawled, slow claps echoing in the cavern. "If that's the reward for surviving a deadly creature, I might start throwing myself into danger more often. Maybe I'll get my turn next."
Lyra groaned, burying her face in her hands, her cheeks still flushed. I exhaled sharply, glaring at him, but part of me was grateful for the interruption—because I had no idea what I would've said if I'd been given the chance.
Something was happening between us, something I shouldn't let happen. And for the first time in my life, I didn't know what to do about it.
"Hell of a show," Revik's voice rasped through the quiet, rough and pained. "Next time, maybe warn a guy before you start devouring each other."
I turned sharply, startled to see him awake and staggering toward us, blood streaking down the side of his face. His trademark smirk was there, but faint beneath the strain.
Lyra didn't hesitate. She shoved off me so fast I almost lost balance and barreled to him. She wrapped him in a hug so tight he grunted.
"I thought you were dead!" she snapped, voice thick.
He coughed out a shaky laugh. "Takes more than that to kill me. But maybe—Loosen up a little, yeah? I'm bleeding here."
She let him go, eyes bright. He reached up and ruffled her hair. "Promise I won't scare you like that again."
Something in my chest tightened watching them—how much he mattered to her. It warmed and stung both at once. I shoved the feeling down. Not now.
I stepped closer. "You good to travel? By air?"
Revik groaned but gave me a weak thumbs-up. "I'll manage. Might not look pretty, but I'll live."
"Good." I glanced around at the others, my gaze lingering on Lyra a moment too long. "Then we move. We're done here."
Muir stretched his wings with an exaggerated sigh. "You know, I'm actually starting to enjoy you lot. Guess that means I'm tagging along to the Fire Palace."
Lyra blinked. "Wait—seriously?"
"Of course." He flashed a grin. "Can't let you have all the fun. And besides, next stop's the Water Relic, right? You'll need someone competent."
I exchanged a glance with Lyra, then nodded once. "Fine. Let's move."
Getting out of the caves was far easier than getting in. A direct tunnel led to the surface, as if the trial had only been meant for the descent. I kept one arm around Revik, steadying him as he limped along, pale and stubborn as ever.
Lyra and Muir followed close behind. The shift between them was subtle but clear—less hostility, fewer glares. Whatever happened while we'd been separated had changed something.
When we emerged at last, cool night air washed over us. The stars stretched across the indigo sky, and the wind carried the scent of earth instead of ash.
We reached a clearing wide enough for what I needed to do next. Drawing a deep breath, I shifted. My body expanded, bones realigning, scales rippling into place. A low rumble vibrated through my chest as I crouched low, letting them climb on.
Muir lifted Revik—who groaned in protest—onto my back. "Quit complaining. You'd fall flat on your ass if you tried."
Revik muttered something unintelligible but held on.
Lyra, of course, refused help. She grabbed onto my leg and started climbing, stubborn as ever. But she was making quick work of it. No surprise.
Muir smirked beside me. "You know you could just fly, right?"
"Yeah, about that…" She huffed, hauling herself higher. "Tried. Nothing happened."
"Need a lift?" Muir offered.
"Not a chance." Lyra hauled herself up beside Revik, breathless and triumphant.
Muir planted himself behind her — don't think about it, I warned myself.
"Why are you hitching a ride?" she asked, eyes narrowed.
"You think I'd pass on a free ride and a chance to be behind you?" He winked. "You're funny."
"Touch me and I'll incinerate you," she spat.
He shrugged, utterly unconcerned. "No worries. I can still enjoy the view."
A low growl rumbled from deep in my chest, sharp and unmistakable.
Muir heard it—his smirk only widened.
I spread my wings and launched into the night, the air tearing past us, cold and clean. But it didn't cool the heat crawling under my skin.
The flight stretched for hours, the mountains unfolding in shadow below. I should've been planning our next move—strategizing, thinking like the Prince I was trained to be.
But I wasn't.
My focus refused to shift. Every thought kept circling back to her.
On the feel of her lips—the taste, the sound she'd made when I kissed her, the way she'd trembled and still hadn't pulled away. I shouldn't want her. I couldn't. My plans were finally aligning, every calculated move pulling the kingdoms toward the future I'd been trained to create. Every sacrifice, every betrayal, had been for this. No one—not even her—could be allowed to unsettle it.
And yet…
The warmth of her lips clung to me like fire beneath my skin, a mark I couldn't shake. I told myself it was nothing, that I could bury it with discipline and duty—but my body refused to listen. The memory of her taste lingered behind my teeth, sweet and intoxicating, the kind of temptation that could undo an empire.
She's dangerous. I can feel it in my bones.
She's going to change everything.
And I wont let her.