Sylvera ran down the long stone hall. Her boots hit the floor too loudly. The sound came back to her ears as she was hurrying back to her room. Her chest hurt from breathing so fast and loud as she was running. The air in the castle felt very thick, like it did not want her there anymore. She pressed her hands into a tight fist as her hands were trembling .
Each word twisted like a knife as her mind whirled wildly, replaying the bits and pieces of their conversation.
You were never a mage.
We are royal blood.
We despise mages.
She shut her eyes for a second while running. Lies. All lies. Her teeth pressed tight. She would not cry. She would not.
The torches on the walls shook as she passed. Shadows jumped and crawled like they were alive. The castle felt big and proud before. But right now it felt like a cage that was trying to suffocate her .
When she reached her door, she pushed it open and rushed inside her room. Then she turned and slammed it shut with all her strength. The sound rang in the room .
But the door stopped before it closed.
A hand caught it.
Sylvera froze. Her breath stuck in her throat.
"Arther." His name came out sharp. She did not mean to sound scared. She did not mean to sound glad either.
He stepped inside like he had every right to be there . Calm. Slow. He closed the door with a soft click. Too soft. Like he did not want to fight. Like he had time .
She hated that calm look on him. It made her heart beat faster.
"Sylvera," he said. His voice was quiet. Careful. "I am sorry. I know you are hurt. But you need to hear me. Please."
She laughed once. It came out rough. "Hear you. After everything. After all your neat little lies. After you watched me believe them."
Her hands shook. She hid them behind her back.
He took one step closer. His eyes looked soft. Too soft. "Because I love you," he said. "I always have. I could not watch you walk away thinking you are alone."
Her stomach twisted. She wanted to scream. "Love me. After this. After all of it."
"Yes." He did not look away. "You matter to me more than anyone. I needed you to know that."
He reached out and touched her shoulder . His hand was warm. She felt that warmth run through her like fire. She tried to step back, but her bed hit her legs . She had nowhere to go.
He moved closer. Slow. Careful. Like he was afraid to scare her. They stood so close she could hear his breathing.
"You are important to me, Sylvera," he said. "Not the crown. Not power. Not the court. You."
Her breath shook. She hated that her heart was weak. She hated that his voice still worked on her.
"Arther," she whispered.
"I know you are angry," he said. "You should be. But I cannot hide this anymore. You need to know what you are to me."
Her hands went up and pressed against his chest. She meant to push him away. She did not. She just felt him there. Warm. Real. Close.
He leaned his head down. Their foreheads almost touched. "Let me hold you," he said. "Just for a moment."
Her lips parted. She wanted to say no. She wanted to say yes. Nothing came out.
His arms wrapped around her.
For one second she went stiff. She felt trapped. Then she felt his chest rise and fall. Slow. Steady. Like he was trying to share his calm with her.
"You are safe," he said near her ear. "Right here."
Safe. The word hurt. Safe from who. From him. From herself.
Her hands rested on his chest. She did not hold him. She did not push him. She just stayed.
"I do not know if I can trust you," she said. Her voice shook.
"That is fine," he said. "Do not trust me yet. Just stay. Let me be here."
Her fingers curled in his shirt without thinking. She felt the beat of his heart. It was strong. Too strong. It made her want to cry.
"I am not asking for forgiveness tonight," he said. "I just need you to know I love you. You are the most important person in my life."
Her mind screamed at her to pull away. To run again. But her body was tired. So tired. She leaned into him a little.
He did not tighten his arms. He just held her.
They stood like that for a long time. No words. Just breathing. Just heat.
He pulled back a little. Their foreheads touched. Their noses brushed. "I will be here," he said. "Always."
She opened her eyes and looked at him. Really looked. His face was tired. There were small lines near his eyes she had not seen before.
"I do not know what to say," she whispered.
"Then do not say anything," he said. "Just stay."
Her hands stayed on his chest. She traced the lines of his armor with one finger. Slow. Careful. She let herself breathe.
The castle outside was quiet. Too quiet. Inside the room, it felt warm. Like the world stopped for one minute.
For now, she let him hold her.
Just for a moment.
Her fingers shook again as they moved across his chest. She felt silly. Weak. Angry. All at once. She wanted to run. She wanted to stay.
Arther spoke again, softer this time. "Sylvera. There is something I did not tell you. Something important. But promise me you will stay until I say it."
Her heart jumped. She opened her mouth. No sound came.
Then they both heard it.
A sound in the hall. Soft steps. Slow. Careful.
Sylvera went still in his arms. Her heart beat loud. Someone was outside.
She did not know who.
She did not know if she could trust the man holding her.
And the night had not even begun yet.
Sylvera's fingers shook as they brushed his chest. He was so warm. So close. It made her feel strange inside, like her heart did not know what it wanted.
She wanted to pull away. She wanted to shout at herself. She wanted to remember every lie he had told.
But another part of her just wanted to stay there. Just for a second. Just to feel safe.
Arther spoke again, softer now. Like he was scared she would leave.
"Sylvera… there is something I have not told you yet. Something important. But I need you to promise me you will stay. Just this once. Stay until I tell you."
Her heart beat faster.
She opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Her throat felt tight. The way he looked at her made it hard to think.
She could feel his breath. Warm. Close. Real.
Her hands stayed on his chest. She did not know why.
Her mind said run.
Her heart said listen.
She hated that.
The room was quiet. Too quiet. She could hear the fire in the lamp. She could hear his breathing. She could hear her own heart.
Then she heard something else.
A small sound.
From the hallway.
Soft. Slow. Careful.
Both of them froze.
Sylvera's fingers went still against him. Her chest jumped. She turned her head toward the door.
Another sound. Like someone moving. Trying not to be heard.
Her heart started pounding again.
Arther did not move for a second. His arms were still around her. Then slowly, he lifted his head and looked at the door.
The air in the room felt cold now.
Someone was outside.
Sylvera swallowed. Her thoughts rushed back all at once. Lies. Secrets. Love. Fear.
She looked at Arther. At his face. At his eyes.
She did not know if she could trust him.
She did not know who was outside.
And suddenly, she felt more alone than before.
They stood there, not moving, not speaking.
Just listening.
Waiting.