After many days, Lily finally felt satisfied with all the details she had delicately extracted from Elena. As she watched her friend writing at her desk, she couldn't help but smile to herself. Tonight, she hoped to finally see Elena and Jake kiss—
or at least hoped Leo didn't get in the way.
Her cold eyes flicked toward him. He stood at the door, motionless, ever the perfect guard.
"Will Jake come through the window again?" Lily asked as Elena finished writing.
Elena nodded. "I'd think so. There aren't many other entrances he can use," she said, glancing toward the setting sun and the familiar window—the one Jake always climbed through when they'd sneak off on adventures.
"You know, when you come back, I'm going to ask for all the details. All of them," Lily teased.
Leo glared at her while Elena blushed furiously.
"Lily, stop," Leo warned in his low, steady voice.
Lily rolled her eyes and huffed dramatically. Elena shook her head at their antics and gave Leo a small nod of thanks. He returned it briefly before resuming his post.
Elena picked up a book and settled down to read, waiting for Jake's arrival.
Night finally fell. Leo heard a faint, familiar click and immediately tensed, his eyes darting to the window as it creaked open. Elena shot to her feet just as a familiar figure stepped inside, golden eyes meeting her amber ones.
Elena smiled. Lily grinned. Leo relaxed—it was Jake.
Elena crossed the room and reached up to cup his cheek. He leaned into her touch, eyes fluttering closed.
"Hello, my wolf," she whispered.
He chuckled softly. "Hello, my fox."
Elena walked to him, her hand reaching out as she cupped his cheek. He leaned into her touch, closing his eyes,
Both of their eyes met, as the world around them vanished, lost in each other's gaze, as they leaned forward and their lips closed the distance, as their emotions sparked into a roaring flame against the night.
But soon they returned to the real world as they heard a squeal, as they looked over at Lily, her eyes filled with joy at seeing her two longtime friends, who had been dancing around each other for years, finally kiss.
Elena rolled her eyes as Jake chuckled.
Leo sighed and grabbed Lily by the arm, dragging her out to give the couple some privacy.
Alone once more, they looked into each other's eyes.
Gold met amber.
"What adventure do you have planned for us?" Elena asked, as her hands held onto his waist, while his arms draped over her shoulders, they held each other close.
"I was thinking of going to a bar?" He asked, Elena smiled. "What type of bar?" Her voice became low and husky.
He blushed at the tone in her voice, and her eyes started to fill with desire. "A-A normal bar, Elena," he chuckled nervously, a blush creeping on his face.
Elena chuckled at his reaction, "I am only teasing," she said as she looked down, her mind lost in thought briefly.
Jake shook his head as he
tilted her chin up, his fingers brushing lightly against her skin. "I wouldn't mind if it did happen," he murmured, his voice roughened by something deeper than teasing.
Elena froze for a heartbeat, his words sinking in. Her cheeks turned crimson, her lips parting in surprise. He was talking about that—the ancient, primal dance shared only between bonded souls.
Her heart thundered.
"Jake…" she whispered, the sound barely escaping her throat.
He leaned closer, his breath warm against her lips. "Only if you wanted it," he said softly.
Her answer came not in words, but in the way she rose to meet him. Their lips met again, slow at first—curious, exploring—then deepening, as years of restraint burned away between them. Her fingers tangled in his hair; his hands found her waist, pulling her closer, his tail protectively wrapping around her legs, until nothing existed except the heat of their bodies and the sound of their hearts.
A soft sound escaped her—half sigh, half moan—as his mouth traced the curve of her lips. The air around them thickened, charged with the unspoken promise of what could follow.
When they finally parted, their breaths mingled in the silence, eyes locked, both trembling with everything left unsaid.
They knew that if they continued, they wouldn't make it to the bar.
Jake swallowed hard, his voice rough when he finally spoke. "Shall I take you there before I forget why we're going?" he asked when their breathing steadied.
Elena nodded, a blush still on her face, as she walked to a corner where shadows lived. As he hugged her close whenever he teleported her, she would always get motion sickness for a time.
She leaned her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, as shadow consumed them, and they appeared in the woods, Elena leaning heavily on him as her stomach turned.
They emerged in the woods, Elena leaning against him as her stomach churned.
He held her until she steadied. "Alright, I'm fine now," she said, smiling up at him.
They took a familiar route—a secret path leading toward the Underground City. Elena wore a cloak and a white marble-like mask that covered the upper half of her face, tinted glass concealing her amber eyes.
They moved through back alleys, away from the crowded main streets, traveling in the world Jake knew best—the shadows.
Eventually, they stopped at a nondescript door, a back entrance to a bar. Jake adjusted the red-and-black mask covering his own face and looked at her.
Inside was a stark contrast to the rough stone exterior: elegant, lively, and bright. The bar was a place where the rich of the Underground gathered, flaunting their power and sins like trophies.
Elena hesitated. She was used to nobles who hid their crimes behind honeyed words, not criminals who wore them like medals. Every scar, every stare told a story of blood and survival. She gripped Jake's hand tighter.
He smiled reassuringly, and she felt her tension ease.
They found a secluded booth, hidden from prying eyes. Jake sat across from her, his fluffy tail curled in his lap, ears twitching to every sound in the room.
"This is nice," Elena said, her lips curving. "Just… a normal date."
Jake nodded. "I thought it was fitting, since we finally stopped running from each other."
He reached across the table. She took his hand. His thumb traced slow circles across her skin, his gaze fixed on the touch as though trying to memorize it.
They talked about books, the world above, and simple things. For a moment, they weren't heirs to opposite worlds but just two souls escaping the weight of expectation.
Eventually, Elena moved to sit beside him. She leaned into his warmth, her head resting on his shoulder, red hair spilling across him as they sat hand in hand—content, at peace.
When it was time to go, Jake had one more surprise. He led her through the winding streets and up to a rooftop, hands covering her eyes as he guided her.
"You ready?" he whispered.
She hummed her assent.
He removed his hands, and her eyes widened.
They were high above the main floor of the cavern, level with the highest terraces. The entire Underground was spread out below them, a breathtaking tapestry of light and shadow, life and stone. The murmur of the city was a distant, soothing symphony. And high above, through a massive, natural chimney in the cavern ceiling, a patch of the night sky was visible. The stars were faint, distant pinpricks, and the sliver of Fenir cast a weak, blueish light, but they were there. A promise of the world above.
"This is my place," Jake said, his voice soft. He stood beside her, their shoulders touching as they looked out over his kingdom. "When I need to think. To breathe."
"It's perfect," Elena said, her voice thick with emotion. She turned to him. "This is what you want to protect?" She asked.
He nodded, his golden eyes reflecting the city lights below. "They see criminals. Thugs. I see… potential. My father rules through fear. Aries rules with greed. But it doesn't have to be that way. We have resources, skills, and networks. We could be a power for stability. For something better." He finally looked at her, his gaze intense. "The redemption I seek isn't just for me, Elena. It's for all of them. A chance for the Undies to mean something more than just a hiding place for outlaws."
Her heart swelled until she thought it would burst. This was the man she loved. Not just the charming friend, the dangerous shadow mage, but the visionary who saw a kingdom in a cave, who dreamed of redemption for thousands. She reached up and cupped his face.
"Then we will build it," she vowed, her amber eyes blazing with conviction. "Together. Your shadows and my light."
He covered her hand with his own, leaning into her touch. The masks were gone, the acts abandoned. Here, on this rooftop between two worlds, they were just Jake and Elena.
He murmured. "You are my center. When everything is chaos, the thought of you is what grounds me. I love you, Elena Falmil."
Tears welled in her eyes, not of sadness, but of overwhelming, terrifying, glorious joy. "And I love you, Jake Lockvry. No titles, no families, no shadows between us. Just us."
This time, their kiss was not one of desperate passion, but of a profound, soul-deep sealing. It was a vow, a partnership, a beginning. As their lips met, the city sprawling beneath them seemed to hold its breath in witness.
They stayed on the roof for a long time, talking in hushed tones, weaving their dreams together into a shared future. He told her of his plans to slowly dismantle the worst of the criminal enterprises, to create legitimate trade, to find a way to bring real sunlight underground. She spoke of her maneuvers in the courts, of turning the nobles' greed against them, and of using her influence to pave the way for the Underground's acceptance as a legitimate part of the kingdom.
It was a mad, audacious dream. But as they stood there, hand in hand, looking out at the sea of lights that represented thousands of souls, it felt not just possible, but inevitable.