"Are you not going to marry me?!" Her voice stopped him. Cold, haunting. He slowly turned to her, then fixing his gaze on the wall where a heart-shaped light hung, the colour very bright and yellow as though thousands of fire flies dwelled inside.
"Do you not think it's still early... talking about marriage now?"
"Early?" Luna chuckled in a scoff. Then they stood in silence for a while which seemed like ages to Kael. The look on Luna's face was one he had never seen before, deadly serious and intimidating.
"It's fine. When you're ready to say something, you know how to find me." She said and waved her right across her face, disappearing. Kael saw the silvery fog that followed her action. It smelled of her. His legs gave way as his knee fell to the ground, covering his face with his palms.
"This is hard," he cried. "I can't do this, I can't."
The first rays of dawn spilled through the emerald canopy, painting the forest floor in flecks of gold and green. Luna stood near the crystal brook behind the palace, her white cloak fluttering like a breath of moonlight. The stillness broke when the ground trembled softly beneath heavy, rhythmic steps.
From the mist emerged her guardian — a towering white bear, its fur gleaming like snow caught under sunlight. Its eyes were a deep, liquid blue — ancient and knowing, reflecting the sky and sorrow in equal measure. The forest birds fell silent as it approached, their tiny hearts sensing the sacredness of its presence.
Luna smiled faintly, stretching out her hand.
"There you are, Aurelian," she whispered, her voice tender, reverent.
The bear rumbled, a low, melodic sound that vibrated through the earth itself. It bowed its great head, pressing its muzzle softly against her palm. The cold of its fur met the warmth of her skin — a balance of power and gentleness that only Luna seemed to master. Then it stood with huge sadness in its eyes, and tapped its foot on the ground.
"What?!" Luna demanded with her face frowned, arms folded. Aurelian continued, then snuggling close to her.
"He doesn't want me," Luna told her. "I can't go back to him. He doesn't even know if he's going to be with me forever. He...he has deceived me."
The bear shook its head and nudged her, then she looked forward and stood still. She knew it had seen something.
What?..." Luna turned and froze. There, Kael stood, gazing at her, breathing like he had raced up a mountain.
"Luna," he breathed her name. She wondered how he got there so fast. She wasn't expecting him to come find her that soon. It was admist an acre of white lilies, where the dew covered it in alliance with big pervertious moon.
He began coming closer, but she took her steps back. His heart cringed at this act.
"I'm... sorry," his voice broke. Luna saw his eyes, filled with sadness, weary. "Do I scare you now?"
She was silent for sometime. Aurelian just stood, watching behind Luna with her big blue eyes.
"No, but... trusting you do. It scares me. A lot."
There was a long pause which felt like eternity. Luna finally scoffed and turned back on him. "We both made this mistake. We fell deep into something we don't even know, not even knowing our deepest secrets. Not even knowing our intention."
"And now we can't come out," Kael said as he stepped closer again, and Luna turned immediately.
"I can, if I want to. Do you really think I cannot..." She halted. "Are we really going to be like this, Kael?"
"We're going to be forever. Our love. My love for you. Do not mind my brother. He's just worried and afraid because of the bad blood between our realms... but I don't care. I only want you."
Luna kept quiet while Delan's blue eyes smiled. Kael continued closer to her and this time, she didn't move an inch. She was just nervous, unsure as goosebumps filled her skin. He came and held her arm.
"It's alright," he said,his voice so calm and reassuring. "Luna, I'm not leaving you."
"We're going to be forever?"
He gently held her head and buried it deep between his chest. "We're going to stay till forever. Nothing will stop us."
"No one will stop us." Luna smiled as she rubbed her head on his chest. "I was afraid. I thought this it. The end to our folly."
"Folly?" Kael's voice came as he looked at her, sounding disappointed.
"Luna it is not folly. I can't... I can't be without you."
"Neither can I." Luna smiled, pleased to the brim. "I can't leave. Even if I should."
Then he stared at her for some time and came to her lips. " You don't know how I felt when you disappeared on me."
Luna kept quiet as she gazed directly into his eyes. Deep, absorbing.
"How did you feel?"
"Words can't even say, but I only know that it was not funny. And now, you'll have to pay back." He said and grabbed her lower lip with his teeth, gentle, cautious.
"Do you want to bite me?"
"I might," he chuckled, "So be careful."
Luna smiled and turned round immediately, making him lean instead on the very tall tree where she was leaning earlier. Aurelian hummed softly and she sprawled on the dew polished ground, watching with eyes filled with her own emotions.
She came to his ear. "Then let me show you, how I do mine." Kael hummed softly at her breath above his ear. She then wrapped her lips round his' and passionately kissed him. Passionate at first, but violent after. So violently that Kael smiled and took over, turning round and pushing her gently against the tree again. Luna opened her eyes and gazed at him. Amazing, and funny. But then the feeling dropped. From funny to nervous, flustered.
His warm hands were finding it's way down her shoulders, in attempt to slip of the gown she was wearing. Her blue royal favorite, dipped in crystals. The moon that caught her hair made it shimmer under the whole act, and for a moment, she was confused. Confused at whether this whole thing was worth it, whether this was right. She pulled away from the kiss and rubbed her face on his chest.
"Aurelian is watching."
"Then close your eyes," Kael said to her ear, gentle enough to make her shiver. "And you won't see her."
Luna held her breath as Kael began kissing her again, and her gown finally slipping off. They heard Aurelian purr loudly, covering her eyes with her paws, then darting away immediately into the woods.
"She's gone," Kael said, his hands tracing down her body, by her sides, then cupping her breasts. Luna felt very ashamed at first, then moaning. This feeling, something she could not describe. The warmth of his hands on her body, caressing her breasts. Something she never dreamed of.
"Yes, she is." She moaned, deepening her kiss. Kael held her waist and pressed her closer to himself, reaching for her lingerie. He began kissing her neck as he did so, this feeling getting Luna wet more than ever.
"You're.... perfect." His voice came from the crook of her neck, his hand trailing back to her soft breasts and pressing it. Luna turned her back on him as she gasped, moaning softly. With her body pressed back on his', Kael found more of the opportunity he craved.
"Luna,"
"Kael, please." She didn't know what she was begging for, maybe for him to stop, or continue. And Kael continued, his hands sliding into her lingerie. He let his tongue trail down her neck and then stroking her nipple, and Luna couldn't take it anymore. She threw her arm back, around his neck, while her hips unknowingly danced up and down his hands.
"Please Kael, you're killing me."
"It's just a punishment. Don't worry, I won't kill you now."
He slid in deeper, his fingers getting wet as he rubbed his hand in her clit, making Luna to release a sharp moan. The he did it faster, rubbing his palms inside her, as she gasped and rocked on him.
"I want you Luna. You're killing me."
"Oh, am I now? Not you? You're...ahh, so...so..."
"What?" He asked, kissing her neck as his other hand reached her nipples.
"Ahh... you're so good."
He chuckled, then laid her down gently. "This is just the beginning."
And then she woke up. She had been dreaming. She looked around, no Aurelian. No Kael. Just sitting in the middle of stretched meadows, the moon turning red.