Celeste stood on the palace balcony, the night air cool against her skin. Below, the city of Velkan glowed with an otherworldly light, ivory towers rising skyward, traced in gold, rivers of light spilling into clear lakes and washing the streets in a soft, celestial glow.
Velkan was nothing like the Mortal realm. The air felt lighter, charged with something divine, and the sight stole her breath.
Yet, despite the wonder surrounding her, Celeste's gaze wasn't on the city.
It was on him.
Jase stood beside her, his golden eyes reflecting the city's glow, his posture relaxed but alert, as if waiting for something unseen.
"This is where you grew up?" she murmured, finally breaking the silence.
Jase turned to her, studying her carefully. "Yeah," he said softly. "This is home."
Something about the way he said it made Celeste's chest tighten.
Home.
Would this place ever feel like home to her? Or was her home standing right in front of her?
Before she could speak, Jase moved.
Warmth surrounded her as he stepped behind her, his arms encircling her waist with effortless possessiveness, pulling her flush against him.
Celeste inhaled sharply, her body tensing not from fear, but from something far more intoxicating.
Jase's lips brushed against the shell of her ear, his voice a low murmur. "You're quiet."
Celeste exhaled slowly, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest against her back. "Just thinking."
His grip on her waist tightened ever so slightly, his fingers splayed across the fabric of her dress as if testing his own control.
"About what?"
Celeste hesitated, then slowly turned in his embrace, meeting his golden gaze.
"You," she whispered.
Something flickered in his eyes, something dark, dangerous and undeniably his.
Then he kissed her slow and deep, like he wanted to remind her exactly what they were to each other.
Celeste melted into him, her hands sliding up his chest, her fingers tangling into his hair as she pulled him closer.
Jase groaned into the kiss, his control slipping as his hands traveled down, gripping her hips, pulling her flush against him.
Her breath hitched as she felt the way his body reacted to her, the raw heat simmering between them.
"Celeste," he murmured against her lips, his voice rough, his restraint fraying.
She shivered at the way he said her name like a prayer, like a promise, like he was barely holding himself back.
His fingers brushed the curve of her thigh, lifting her slightly onto the balcony railing.
Celeste gasped, her hands gripping his shoulders as she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, feeling the solid strength of him between her thighs.
Jase exhaled sharply, his golden eyes darkening. His hands gripped her tighter, his control slipping further as he felt her body against his, heat coiling dangerously between them.
"Celeste," he said again, but this time, it sounded like a warning.
Celeste swallowed, feeling the tension, the unspoken desire in his touch. She was losing herself in him, and he was letting her.
Her lips brushed against his, her voice barely above a whisper. "Jase…"
He groaned, his forehead pressing against hers, his breath ragged.
"I told you," he murmured, his fingers tracing slow, heated patterns down her spine.
"You're mine."
Celeste's chest tightened, her heartbeat a wild rhythm in her ears.
Not just because of his words.
Not just because of the way he touched her like she was something precious and untouchable.
But because she wanted to be his.
Her lips crashed into his, claiming him back, the slow burn between them erupting into fire.
Jase let out a deep, satisfied growl, his hands gripping her thighs as he lifted her into his arms effortlessly, carrying her through the open doors of the balcony into the dimly lit chamber beyond.
Celeste gasped as her back met the soft sheets, Jase hovering above her, his body heat and shadow and golden fire.
He didn't move at first, just watching her as if memorizing the moment. His golden eyes lingered on her flushed skin, her uneven breath, her parted lips still warm from his kiss. Heat crept up Celeste's neck under his gaze, but she didn't look away. She couldn't. Something had shifted between them, unspoken and undeniable, waiting to be acknowledged.
Jase's fingers brushed her cheek, light but burning, then slid down to her collarbone. His touch was slow and deliberate, as if he wanted her to feel what he wasn't saying. When he spoke, his voice was barely a whisper, yet it sank deep enough to make her pulse falter.
"I have finally found you, my soulmate."
Celeste's breath hitched, her entire body trembling in response to his words, to the way he said it, like she was something sacred, something he had never dared to believe could be his. She reached up, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer, her heartbeat thrumming wildly beneath her skin.
"Jase..."
That single whisper, his name on her lips like a breath, like a plea, was all it took.
His restraint snapped.
Jase crashed into her, claiming her lips in a kiss that was deep, slow, consuming. His hands slid over her skin, exploring, memorizing, learning her, leaving trails of fire wherever he touched.
Celeste arched into him, her body responding to him instinctively, as if this had always been inevitable. Her hands moved beneath his shirt, fingertips tracing over heated skin, over taut muscle, feeling the way he shuddered under her touch. The moment her fingers brushed lightly over his spine, Jase let out a sharp breath, his golden eyes flashing with something primal, something that sent a deep shiver racing through her.
His lips left hers, but only to trail lower, pressing heated, lingering kisses down the curve of her jaw, along the sensitive skin of her neck, to her bare shoulder. He kissed her like he wanted to imprint himself into her, like he wanted her to feel this in her soul, like she was his in ways neither of them had the words to explain.
"You have no idea what you do to me," he murmured against her skin, his voice low, rough, sending another wave of heat crashing through her.
Celeste shuddered, her fingers tightening in his hair, anchoring herself to him, holding on to something she never wanted to let go of.
Celeste and Jase spent the night wrapped in each other's arms, lost in deep kisses and quiet whispers, never crossing that line but savoring every moment, every touch, every breath, every piece of themselves that they gave away in silence.
****
When the first rays of sunlight spilled into the room, Celeste blinked awake to the feeling of warmth, of safety, of a presence beside her.
Jase.
He was already awake, watching her, his golden eyes softer than she had ever seen them. "Morning," he murmured, his fingers tracing light circles on her wrist. Celeste smiled sleepily. "Morning."
Today, they would leave Velkan and return to Alas.
Jase's parents watched them from the courtyard, pride and quiet understanding in their expressions. Seraphine and Adrian exchanged a glance, something unspoken passing between them before Seraphine finally spoke.
"There's something you should know," she said softly. "Celeste… you may not be who you think you are."
Celeste frowned. "What do you mean?"
Adrian hesitated before answering. "Celeste, we do not want to hide from you. We know who your parents are. You are the child of Lucian and Evelyne."
The world tilted beneath her feet. Celeste's breath caught in her throat as her pulse pounded in her ears. Lucian and Evelyne.
The world tilted beneath her feet. Celeste's breath caught in her throat as her pulse pounded in her ears. The names "Lucian and Evelyne" sounded strange to her. They held no memories, no familiar warmth, only a void where recognition should be. She searched her mind but there was nothing but an empty silence.
She swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't… I don't know who they are."
Seraphine's gaze softened, her voice carrying the weight of old memories. "Lucian was… he was a good man. A strong leader. And Evelyne… She was kind, dedicated and one of the finest doctors I've ever known."
She hesitated, something unspoken lingering on her lips before she exhaled softly. "They were our friends."
For a moment, her golden eyes seemed distant, lost in the past. Then, with quiet reverence, she continued.
"Before you were taken to safety, I shielded your power and hid it from those who sought you. It was the only way to ensure you wouldn't be found."
Celeste's heart pounded.
"And my parents…?"
Seraphine's expression darkened, sorrow etching itself into the fine lines of her face. "They gave everything to protect you." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the pain in it was clear. "Both of them were killed after ensuring you were safe."
The words settled over Celeste like a heavy weight, pressing against her chest, stealing the breath from her lungs.
Seraphine stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "But if they could see you now, Celeste… I have no doubt they would be incredibly proud of you. Proud of the strength you've shown, the fight you've taken against the Abyssals."
Her fingers tightened slightly, grounding Celeste in the moment. "They sacrificed everything so you could live. And you have honored that sacrifice in ways they could have only dreamed of."
A lump formed in Celeste's throat, but she refused to let the tears fall. Instead, she drew in a steady breath, gripping onto the only truth that mattered now.
Her parents had fought for her.
Now, she had fought for everything they had died to protect.
Jase's fingers tightened around Celeste's, steady, sure. "Ready?" he asked.
Celeste squeezed his hand. "With you?" She smiled. "Always."
Jase smirked, tugging her closer. As Jase led her forward, toward whatever awaited them next, Celeste knew that this was only the beginning.