Elyria stood on the same balcony where she had first seen Nox. A dark cloak wrapped over her shoulders now. The night wind curling through her ashy hair.
The hadn't changed.
The Trial had marked her but not with scars, but with heat. The fire still burned in her bones.
Kaelith stood at the threshold.
He didn't speak at first. Just watched her.
"You're staring," she said softly.
"I like the view."
"Don't start..." She smiled still facing forward.
"I'm trying to understand how you survived the flames."
She turned now, arms crossed. "Disappointed?"
Kaelith stepped forward. "No. Terrified."
"Of me?"
"Kinda, even demons have been burnt by the female.
"Well, I wasn't." She said flatly.
"No you wasn't."
"Come". Kaelith said, with a waving gesture. "You need to change."
He brought her to a chamber deep in the palace hidden, warm and even alive. The walls had cravings on it.
"You think I need guarding now?" she asked, stepping inside.
Kaelith closed the door behind them. "I think you need answers."
"And will you give them, or just stand mysterious as usual?"
His mouth twitched. "You're getting bolder."
"I nearly burned."
He turned and moved to her, close enough to touch. "You walked through the fire. That makes you survivor."
"To whom?"
Kaelith didn't answer. But his gaze dropped to her mouth.
"Turn."
He helped remove the half burnt robe. Carefully. Slowly. His hands brushed her bare shoulders as he drew it down, revealing the faint golden glow still pulsing beneath her skin.
"I saw you," she whispered. "In the flames. Bound. Bleeding."
His jaw clenched.
She turned facing him.
"You knew, didn't you? That I would see that."
"I hoped not."
"Why?"
Kaelith looked at her then. "Because some truths can't be unseen."
Her fingers curled around his wrist. "Then let's see them together."
He let out a breath.
Then touched her lips, not possessive but like a man afraid he might shatter something. His thumb traced the curve of her cheek. Her breath caught.
"You burn too hot," she said.
"You like the heat."
Their faces were inches apart.
"Are you going to kiss me or keep talking like a cursed novel?"
Kaelith laughed with a sound that made her ache. "If I kiss you, Elyria, I won't stop."
"Good."
He leaned in then stopped.
Silence. Their breaths mingled. But no kiss.
He stepped back, tension radiating from every inch of him. "Not yet."
Elyria exhaled shakily. "What are you afraid of?"
He didn't answer her. He just turned facing forward now.
They sat besides eachother, no more words. Just the fire between them. Desire tempered by restraint.
The Trial hadn't broken her. It had forged her.
And Kaelith, with all his mysteries, looked at her for once like a partner. No taunts just emotion.
Fire and spark.
Waiting to ignite.