Dawn filtered through the high windows of the castle, painting the corridors in a melancholic gray.I had spent the night awake, replaying the tension with Kaelis and the look in Selene's eyes—one that seemed to promise something I wasn't yet brave enough to claim.
I stood on the balcony of my chamber, letting the cold morning air clear my thoughts, when a soft knock echoed on the door.
"Nyx?"Selene's voice—gentle, yet steady—drifted into the room.
"Come in," I replied, without turning from the horizon.
She entered, dressed in a light tunic, free from the heavy garments of the court. Her dark hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and her eyes gleamed with something that made me tense—an unusual blend of nervousness and determination.
"Can we talk?" she asked, closing the door behind her.
I turned to face her, tilting my head slightly."We always can."
Selene took a few hesitant steps forward, fidgeting with the folds of her tunic as if summoning courage. Finally, she lifted her gaze.
"I want us to go out."
I frowned."Out? Where?"
"To the capital," she said, without hesitation this time.
The words took me by surprise. The capital was a place where races mingled freely—but also where rumors spread faster than fire. For someone like me—hybrid, newly awakened, feared even in my own home—it was a dangerous idea.
"Why?" I asked, half curious, half cautious.
Selene moved closer, just enough for me to feel the warmth radiating from her body despite the distance."Because everyone here looks at you with fear or judgment. Because within these walls, all you hear are chains and prophecies. I want to show you something different. I want you to see the world beyond these towers—away from the eyes that call you monster or savior."
Her words stirred something deep inside me. The thought of walking among strangers, of feeling the hum of a living city without every stare cutting like a blade… it tempted me more than I wanted to admit.
But it was dangerous."What if someone recognizes me? What if they discover what I am?"
Selene's lips curved into a subtle, mischievous smile."Then we'll let them wonder whether what they saw was real… or just an illusion. I'll make sure nothing happens. Trust me."
I met her gaze—deep, determined blue, filled with something rare in this castle: hope.
My heart pounded, not only because of her proposal, but because I suddenly realized something—Selene didn't just want to free me from these walls.She wanted to free me from myself.
"Alright," I said at last, a nervous smile tugging at my lips. "We'll go to the capital."
Selene exhaled in relief and, for a brief moment, her hand found mine—warm, gentle, reassuring.
I didn't know what waited beyond the castle walls.But if I was going to take that step…I didn't want to take it alone.