---
Kael stood motionless in the moonlit clearing long after Luna had disappeared into the night. His hands curled into fists, his breath ragged. The mark on his chest still pulsed—a maddening reminder that she had touched him.
He growled under his breath, his nails digging into his palms.
What has she done to me?
He had thought it was hatred. He had wanted it to be hatred. But every time she was near, his body betrayed him.
His mind screamed at him to stay away, but the burning in his veins whispered otherwise.
And that whisper was growing louder.
---
Luna's Resolve
Back at the Eclipse Clan, Luna entered her chambers, her expression unreadable. Ren sat on the windowsill, her bright violet eyes watching intently.
"You're back late," Ren mused.
Luna sighed, removing her cloak. "It was necessary."
Ren tilted her head. "Did you get what you wanted?"
Luna hesitated. "Not yet. But I will."
Ren hummed, hopping down. "Ahava won't like this."
Luna smirked. "Ahava rarely likes my decisions."
At that moment, the door swung open, and Ahava stepped in, his arms crossed, a scowl on his face.
"I don't like this," he said immediately.
Luna chuckled. "I know."
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "You're playing a dangerous game with that Sun Prince."
She met his gaze, her expression turning serious. "I know exactly what I'm doing, Ahava."
His jaw clenched, but he nodded. "Just… be careful."
Luna smiled. "Always."
---
Kael's Torment
Back in the Sun Clan's palace, Kael stood before the massive mirror in his chambers, his tunic discarded.
The celestial mark burned against his skin, glowing like molten silver.
He exhaled heavily, pressing a hand over it, as if he could will it away.
But it was a part of him now.
A curse.
A mark left by her.
His golden eyes darkened as he thought of Luna—her smirk, her touch, the way she had whispered against his skin.
His entire body ached.
With a snarl, he slammed his fist against the mirror, cracking the glass.
"One day," he muttered, his voice low and full of conviction. "One day, I will make you pay for this."
But even as he spoke the words, the fire inside him burned hotter.
And deep down, in a place he refused to acknowledge—
He wasn't sure if he wanted revenge.
Or something far, far more dangerous.
He sent another later asking to meet at the same spot the next night if she wanted to get the documents she needed
Nightfall she was running from some men on her way to meet him not seeing the bumps she clashed into him
The clash of steel had long ceased, leaving only the sound of ragged breaths and the rustling of leaves in the night breeze. The moon cast silver light upon the battlefield, illuminating two figures entangled in a moment neither had foreseen.
Luna gasped as she landed on her back, her body sinking into the soft grass. The force of the fall knocked the air from her lungs, but it was the weight pressing down on her that left her truly breathless.
Kael loomed over her, his golden eyes dark with something more than hatred. His chest heaved, sweat trickling down his jaw, dripping onto her collarbone. His hands pinned hers above her head, fingers pressing into her wrists as if letting go would mean losing control completely.
She could feel his heart pounding—fast, hard, erratic—just like her own.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The night around them seemed to still. The stars above bore witness to the dangerous tension crackling between them.
Luna's night-colored eyes glittered under the moonlight, locked onto his, defiant yet unreadable.
Kael swallowed hard, his throat dry.
His hatred burned, yes, but something else burned alongside it—something raw, something primal.
"You…" His voice was hoarse, low, almost a growl.
Luna smirked despite the heat rising to her cheeks. "If you're done panting my name like a starving wolf, you might want to get up now."
Kael stiffened. His jaw clenched, his nails digging into the soft earth beside her head.
He should get up. He should leave her beneath him, walk away, never look back.
But he didn't.
Instead, his gaze flickered down, tracing the sheen of sweat on her exposed collarbone, the way her chest rose and fell with each breath. His fingers twitched.
And then, as if drawn by some unseen force, he reached out.
His hand ghosted over her silvery locks, his fingers threading through the strands, marveling at their softness.
Luna's breath hitched.
Then, his thumb traced the curve of her lips—hesitant, curious, before pressing lightly, parting them ever so slightly.
A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes as he exhaled sharply.
"I hate you," he murmured, as if reminding himself.
Luna, heart pounding, smirked up at him, her voice smooth like silk.
"If you hate me so much," she teased, tilting her chin slightly, "then why don't you act like it?" She paused, her lips curving into a challenge. "Or better yet… kiss me."
She had meant to provoke him, to toy with his temper.
She never expected him to actually do it.
In a single breath, Kael's restraint snapped.
His lips crashed onto hers, hard, urgent, and utterly consuming.
The force of it stole the air from her lungs.
Her eyes widened in shock, but the moment his hands moved—one gripping her waist, the other tangling into her hair—her body betrayed her.
She trembled beneath him, her pulse hammering against her ribs. His kiss was fierce, demanding, his lips molding against hers as if trying to claim something unseen.
The heat of his body seeped into hers, their sweat mixing, the scent of battle and raw desire clouding her senses.
His hands wandered—one sliding from her waist to the curve of her hip, pressing possessively, the other moving up, fingers grazing the fabric covering her chest.
A shudder wracked through her.
Luna gasped against his lips, her fingers digging into his shoulders, unsure if she wanted to push him away or pull him closer.
A dangerous heat coiled in the pit of her stomach, foreign yet electrifying.
Kael's tongue swept across her lower lip, parting her mouth further, deepening the kiss until she felt like she was drowning in him.
Her body arched slightly against his, and he let out a low groan, his grip tightening as if he was on the verge of losing himself completely.
But just as his hand slid further up—just as the kiss turned from a battle to something far more dangerous—
Luna snapped back to reality.
Her breath hitched. What am I doing?
Panic surged through her veins.
With a desperate push, she shoved him away, breaking the kiss with a gasp.
Kael barely moved, his golden eyes dark and unreadable as he hovered above her, lips slightly parted, breath heavy.
Luna, face burning, scrambled to her feet.
She took a shaky step back, her fingers pressing against her swollen lips as if trying to erase what had just happened.
"This…" She struggled for words, her voice barely above a whisper. "This never happened."
Kael just stared at her, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his expression unreadable.
She turned on her heel and ran.
Ran back to her chambers, back to the safety of her own thoughts.
But even as she slammed the door shut behind her, pressing her back against the cool wood, her heart refused to calm.
Her fingers traced her lips, trembling.
She closed her eyes, willing herself to forget.
It was just a mistake.
Just a mistake…
But her body still burned from his touch.
And she wasn't the only one suffering.
---
Kael's Obsession
Kael sat on the edge of his bed, his fingers curled tightly around the sheets.
His lips tingled with the memory of her taste.
His body ached for more.
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His golden eyes flickered with a dangerous glint.
She had run from him.
But the next time?
She wouldn't.
He leaned back, staring at the ceiling, his chest rising and falling erratically.
One day…
One day, she would be his.
And that day couldn't come soon enough.
---