The tension from the kiss lingered between Aurelia and Kaelen like an invisible thread neither of them dared to sever. It clung to the air whenever they were near each other, an undeniable force that both terrified and exhilarated her. They could try to ignore it, pretend it hadn't happened, but deep down they both knew it was a turning point. The silence between them was now charged, full of things unsaid, of emotions they couldn't quite bring themselves to face.
Aurelia, ever the master of masking her feelings, forced herself to concentrate on the present. The weight of her duties, of her position, should have been enough to occupy her mind, but the memory of Kaelen's touch, the feel of his lips against hers, was impossible to shake off. It was like a spark that refused to extinguish, smoldering beneath her skin. Every time she looked at him, her breath caught in her throat, and the air between them seemed to thicken.
Tonight, however, there was no avoiding the façade. Kaelen had insisted she attend the grand gathering—a formal event full of nobles, political figures, and power plays. It wasn't just about appearances; it was about control. He wanted to remind everyone that Aurelia belonged to him, that she was his possession, a fact he paraded as a badge of authority. The thought made her blood boil, but she knew better than to protest. Refusing would only have consequences she wasn't willing to face.
Standing before the mirror, Aurelia adjusted the crimson gown that Kaelen had chosen for her. The fabric was luxurious, the color striking against her fair skin, but she couldn't ignore the feeling of confinement it brought. It was beautiful, yes, but it was also a cage, one that limited her movement, both physically and emotionally. As she caught her reflection in the mirror, she almost didn't recognize herself. The woman staring back at her was someone who had been shaped by this life—by Kaelen's world—and there was no escaping that.
When she entered the ballroom, the crowd parted in deference. Whispers filled the room, but Aurelia kept her gaze straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge the gazes that followed her every step. She had trained herself well to keep her emotions hidden behind a mask of indifference, but tonight, it was harder than ever. The weight of Kaelen's presence was inescapable.
Her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for him. And when she found him, standing by the entrance, her heart skipped a beat. He was surrounded by people, yet his gaze never wavered from hers. There was no smile, no outward sign of warmth, but the intensity in his eyes spoke volumes. It was as if he were claiming her with nothing more than a look, and despite herself, Aurelia's stomach flipped. She had to fight the urge to look away, to break the connection, but she couldn't. His stare held her captive, as if it were an unspoken challenge, one that neither of them could back down from.
The evening stretched on, but it felt as though time had slowed. Aurelia moved through the crowd, doing her best to interact with the other guests, but her attention always found its way back to Kaelen. Every time she turned her head, his eyes were there, locked on her with a possessiveness that she couldn't escape. His presence was like a constant pressure, a weight on her chest that made it hard to breathe, let alone think.
She tried to focus on the conversations around her, but they felt distant, muffled. There was no getting away from him, from the tension that crackled between them like static. And then, in a moment that sent a shockwave through her, their hands brushed as she passed him. The contact was brief, almost accidental, but it was enough. Enough to send a jolt of electricity through her, enough to make her pause, her breath catching in her throat. She couldn't help the way her body reacted, the way her heart raced in her chest. She could feel him standing so close, his presence wrapping around her like a consuming force.
She didn't dare to look at him, didn't want to acknowledge the effect that one simple touch had on her. But when her gaze flickered back to his face, she saw it—the heat in his eyes, sharper, more intense. He knew. He knew exactly what that brief moment had done to her, and somehow, that made it worse. Aurelia wanted to scream, to run away from the pull he had over her, but she couldn't.
By the time the night was winding down, the guests had begun to trickle out, but the pressure between her and Kaelen only seemed to increase. She tried to make her escape, to retreat to the solitude of her room where she could think, where she could breathe without feeling his gaze burning through her, but Kaelen wasn't going to let her get away that easily.
He was there, in front of her, blocking her path as if he had been waiting for this moment. His expression was unreadable, but the intensity of his gaze was unmistakable. His presence felt almost suffocating, and Aurelia's heart skipped a beat as she stood frozen, unsure of what to say, unsure of how to handle the storm that seemed to be brewing between them.
"Kaelen…" she began, but the words died in her throat as his eyes darkened, as if he could see right through her.
"You think I don't know what's happening between us?" His voice was low, barely above a whisper, but the weight of his words hit her like a physical blow. His breath grazed her ear, sending a shiver down her spine, and Aurelia couldn't suppress the trembling that started deep in her chest.
"I—" she stuttered, trying to maintain her composure. "You don't know what you're talking about."
Kaelen's lips twisted into a faint smirk, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I know exactly what I'm talking about. You feel it too. Don't pretend you don't."
Aurelia's pulse quickened. She could feel her heart hammering in her chest, and every instinct within her screamed to deny it. She wanted to say the words, wanted to push him away and tell him he was wrong. But she couldn't. He was right. She could feel it—the way her body responded when he was near, the heat that spread through her veins every time they were close. It terrified her, and yet, it was also undeniable. She was drawn to him, like a moth to a flame, and that was the last thing she wanted to admit.
"I don't…" She tried to speak, but her voice faltered. She hated the weakness she could hear in her own tone, the way her breath hitched as he moved closer.
Kaelen's hand reached out, his fingers grazing her wrist. The touch was light, almost tender, but it sent a jolt of heat through her, igniting every nerve in her body. The way his fingers tightened ever so slightly around her wrist, pulling her just a little bit closer, was both comforting and maddening. She didn't pull away. She couldn't. Her body betrayed her, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to lean into the touch.
"You can lie to me all you want," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion, "but I know you feel it. And one day, you won't be able to deny it anymore."
Her breath hitched as the space between them closed even further. The heat of his body pressed against hers, and for a fleeting moment, she could feel his breath on her skin, the intensity of the connection between them growing with every passing second.
And then, just as they were on the brink of something they could no longer escape, a voice shattered the moment.
"Aurelia, there you are," a man's voice called out from across the room.
Both Aurelia and Kaelen froze. The world seemed to stop for a moment as they pulled away from each other, the tension between them snapping like a taut rope. Aurelia turned quickly, forcing a polite smile as she faced the new arrival, the mask she had perfected slipping back into place.
But Kaelen's gaze remained locked on her, the desire still burning in his eyes, unspoken but undeniable.
Aurelia's heart hammered in her chest. The night may have ended, but the game between her and Kaelen was far from over. Not by a long shot.