ADANNA P.O.V (point of view)
The streets were quiet, but I could feel the city breathing around us. Every distant car, every flicker of movement in the alleys, made me tense but having Darian beside me, close enough to feel his warmth and the steady rhythm of his breathing, gave me courage I didn't know I had.
"I don't understand," I said softly, glancing up at him. "Everything we've been through… everything I've seen. Why didn't you tell me?"
He ran a hand through his damp hair, jaw tight. "I couldn't risk you getting hurt. You don't understand what they'll do, what they're capable of."
"I do now," I whispered, squeezing his hand. "And I still chose to follow you. I still chose to be here."
His eyes softened, dark and stormy, and for a moment, the weight of months without him melted from his shoulders. "You're reckless," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "But… I don't hate it."
I laughed softly, a short, breathless sound. "I told you, I've never been good at staying out of danger."
He pulled me closer, thumb brushing across my cheek again. "And I've never been good at staying away from you."
The words hung between us, heavy with meaning, full of longing and truth. I could feel it in my chest, the steady pull of our hearts, the bond that no amount of danger, time, or distance had broken.
We moved on through the quiet streets, careful but not afraid, because somehow being together made everything else fade. Every shadow, every risk, every threat seemed smaller when he was here.
At one point, we stopped under a flickering streetlight. I looked up at him, feeling the weight of months of pain, longing, and fear in my chest. "I need to know everything," I said, voice low. "No more secrets."
He nodded, exhaling slowly. "Okay," he whispered. "But it's not just one story. It's everything… and it's dangerous."
I didn't hesitate. "I can handle it. I trust you."
He studied me for a long moment, then finally took my hand and led me down another narrow alley. "Then listen carefully," he said, voice low, urgent. "Because once you know, there's no turning back."
DARIAN P.O.V (point of view)
I kept one hand on her back, guiding her, keeping her close, feeling the heat of her body next to mine. Every step reminded me of how fragile she was, how strong she thought she was, and how much I'd risked to keep her alive.
"I'll start from the beginning," I murmured, keeping my voice steady despite the pounding of my heart. "Everything that led to us being… here."
She tilted her head slightly, eyes bright, searching mine. "I'm ready," she whispered.
I swallowed hard. "Months ago, the organization… they marked me. My name, my life… everything was erased from the world. I had to disappear.... I couldn't contact anyone, not even you."
Her fingers tightened around mine. "And the explosion… the night before the wedding?"
I closed my eyes briefly, remembering the fire, the chaos, the pain. "I had to make it look like I was gone. If you'd seen me, if anyone had… they would have come after you. I thought I was protecting you by leaving."
She pressed her forehead to mine. "And all this time… you've been alive?"
"I've been watching," I admitted softly. "Hiding. Making sure you were safe. And every day, every hour, I wanted to reach you… to tell you… but I couldn't."
Her eyes glistened with tears, and she whispered, "I thought I'd lost you forever."
"You didn't," I said, voice cracking slightly. "I'm here now. I'm not leaving."
Her hand reached up, brushing my cheek, and I leaned into the touch. "Promise me," she said, voice low, "no more hiding. No more lies."
"I promise," I whispered. "No more hiding."
And in that moment, it wasn't just words. It was a vow. A truth. A tether between us that no one, no organization, no danger, could break.
ADANNA P.O.V (point of view)
The city seemed to slow around us, even the shadows felt different, less threatening, more like the night itself was giving us space. I tilted my head up to look at him, and without thinking, I pressed my lips to his.
The kiss was soft at first, testing, delicate… but the longing we'd both held back for months made it deepen quickly. His hands moved to my waist, pulling me closer until every part of me pressed against him. I could feel the strength in his arms, the warmth in his chest, the steady pulse of his heart.
"Adanna…" he whispered against my lips, voice thick. "I've missed you more than I can ever say."
"I've missed you too," I admitted, fingers tangling in his hair. "Every day."
We stayed like that, pressed together under the dim light, until the air between us seemed to shimmer with every unspoken word, every held-back emotion. There was danger all around, yes..... but for the first time, it didn't matter..... because he was here, I was here.... and we weren't letting go.
When we finally pulled back, breaths mingling, foreheads touching, I whispered, "We have to face them… together."
He nodded, eyes dark with determination and love. "Together. Always."
DARIAN P.O.V
I looked down at her, letting the weight of my feelings wash over me. Months of hiding, of fear, of longing… and now she was here. Alive, fierce, unbroken..... and I was never letting her go.
"Adanna," I murmured, voice low, "whatever comes next… we face it as one. No secrets, no hiding, no running."
She smiled faintly, a mix of relief and courage. "I can do that.... with you."
I pressed my lips to hers again, this time slower, savoring it, letting her know everything my words couldn't convey. Love. ....Desire... Protection.... Devotion.....And maybe, just maybe… hope.
For the first time in months, I felt a little of the weight lift. Not all of it, not the danger but enough to know that as long as we were together, we could face whatever came.
The streets remained quiet, but in the alley where we stood, the air hummed with tension, longing, and the quiet, unshakable truth....nothing, no one, could separate us now.
And as we stepped forward, hand in hand, hearts beating in sync, I realized that maybe, just maybe, this was only the beginning of the real fight, and that together, we were unstoppable.