An unexpected fall into darkness

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Chapter 12: In the Arms of Darkness

The walk back to the palace was quiet.

Aurora found the silence unsettling, but Lucas didn't seem to mind it. His steps were steady, his gaze fixed ahead, as though lost in thought.

She, on the other hand, felt restless. Her mind kept wandering to the peaceful moment they had shared just a while ago. The way the stars shimmered above them, the cool breeze carrying the scent of the night—it was the most beautiful thing she had seen since arriving in this strange world.

But now, the air between them was thick, heavy with something unspoken. Aurora hated the silence. It felt suffocating.

So, she spoke.

"Where I come from, nights like this are rare," she said, trying to keep her voice light. "The stars don't shine as brightly, and the air is never this fresh."

Lucas didn't respond.

Aurora glanced at him, frowning slightly. "You're really not a talker, are you?" she teased, hoping to get a reaction.

Still, no response.

She sighed but refused to give up. "Back home, my grandmother used to tell me stories about the stars," she continued, her voice soft. "She believed each one carried a soul—a lost traveler finding their way through the sky."

Lucas finally glanced at her, his green eyes glowing faintly under the moonlight. "Do you believe that?"

Aurora hesitated. "I don't know," she admitted. "But I like the idea of it. It makes me feel less alone."

Lucas didn't say anything, but she noticed the way his fingers twitched slightly at his sides. Was he uncomfortable? Or was he simply lost in thought?

Aurora decided to push further.

She started talking about her world, about how different things were. She spoke of her childhood, her parents, the mornings filled with their endless arguments. The memories were painful, but she had grown used to them.

But then, a sudden thought struck her.

Her grandmother.

How long had it been since she had arrived here? Days? Weeks? Would her grandmother be worried sick, searching for her?

Panic surged through her. She needed to go back. She had to find a way home.

Her steps quickened as she moved ahead of Lucas, blocking his path. She turned sharply, her hazel eyes locking onto his.

"Lucas," she said, her voice almost pleading. "Do you know how I can get back home?"

Lucas stilled, his expression unreadable.

"I came here through a portal," she continued. "Is there a way back?"

Lucas held her gaze, but something flickered in his eyes. Something unreadable.

Aurora didn't know why, but her heart started pounding.

He wasn't answering.

The silence stretched between them, tense and suffocating.

Then, just when she was about to ask again, Lucas stepped forward—so close that the warmth of his body brushed against hers. Aurora inhaled sharply, her breath caught in her throat.

His green eyes darkened as he studied her face, as though searching for something. Then, slowly, his gaze dropped—to her lips.

Aurora's heartbeat became deafening.

The way he was looking at her... it sent a shiver down her spine.

Lucas was always composed, always unreadable. But right now, something in him seemed to be unraveling.

His fingers twitched again, as if restraining himself. But then, before she could react, he reached up—his cold fingers brushing against her cheek, his touch both chilling and electrifying.

Aurora froze.

Then, without warning, he leaned in.

His lips brushed against hers—light at first, hesitant, as though testing the waters.

Aurora gasped softly, her mind going blank. But she didn't pull away.

She couldn't.

Something about his touch, the way his lips moved against hers, sent a warmth coursing through her veins. It was intoxicating, overwhelming.

Lucas deepened the kiss. His hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer. Aurora shivered as his fingers tangled in her hair, his grip firm yet gentle.

Her hands instinctively clutched his cloak, as if holding onto something solid in the midst of a storm.

The world around them faded. The only thing that mattered was the feeling of his lips, the heat of his breath, the way their bodies gravitated toward each other like opposing forces finally colliding.

The kiss was desperate. Unspoken emotions poured into it—confusion, longing, something darker, something neither of them fully understood.

Aurora had never been kissed before. Not like this.

Lucas tasted different—cool, yet dangerously addicting. He moved with control, yet there was an underlying hunger in the way his lips pressed against hers.

Aurora felt lightheaded, dizzy, lost.

And then, just as suddenly as it had started, Lucas pulled away.

Aurora barely had time to catch her breath before she felt the loss of warmth. She opened her eyes, dazed, lips still tingling from the kiss.

Lucas was staring at her.

His chest rose and fell in slow, controlled breaths. His expression was unreadable again, but his green eyes... they burned.

Aurora's mind was a mess. What just happened?

Why did it feel so right?

But before she could process anything, a voice shattered the moment.

"Your Highness."

Aurora jolted, spinning around.

James stood a few steps away, watching them. His face was impassive, but there was something knowing in his gaze.

Lucas straightened instantly, his usual cold demeanor snapping back into place. "What is it?"

James bowed slightly. "It's late. We should return to the palace."

Lucas nodded. "Let's go."

Aurora stood frozen for a moment, her lips still tingling.

Did that just... happen?

She swallowed hard before following them back toward the palace. But this time, she stayed quiet.

For once, silence wasn't so bad.

Because her mind was too loud.

Lucas, walking ahead, clenched his jaw. His hands curled into fists at his sides.

What the hell was that?

He had never lost control before.

And yet, with Aurora...

He had almost forgotten himself.

This was dangerous.

She was dangerous.

And yet, he couldn't stop himself from wanting more.

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