Chapter 35 Chapter 35

Chapter 35 Chapter 35
Liora’s POV

Did he just ask that?
If not for the proximity between us, I would have thought it was my imagination playing tricks on me.
My heart jumped straight into my throat, as my eyes fell to his lips. Green, have mercy.

My fingers twitched. I wanted to feel his lips so bad. Were they as soft as they looked?
There was only one way to find out the answers to my questions.

I knew what I wanted at that moment, more than I've known anything in my life.
I didn’t answer with words. I couldn't even if I had tried.
I just nodded softly.

I didn't miss the relief that flashed across his features as he moved closer to me again.
Our breaths mingled.
His hand came up to cup my cheek, warm and steady, and he leaned in.

My eyes fluttered shut as his lips brushed mine softly.

My breath hitched.

He was still hesitating, almost like he was scared he would break something sacred.

I really didn't need your thoughtfulness at that moment of all times.

So, I leaned in instead.

And that was all the permission he needed.
The kiss deepened, unhurried and full of everything we hadn’t said out loud yet.

His lips were so soft, moving against mine like he’d memorized the shape of my mouth already. I melted into him without meaning to, my hands finding his chest, gripping the fabric there like I needed something solid to hold onto.
He made a quiet sound in his throat, like he was caught off guard, but his lips didn't leave mine.

He continued to kiss me, even slower this time, and our lips melted into each other like we've been studying for this moment for ages.

His forehead rested against mine again when we finally pulled apart, both of us breathing harder than before.

He didn’t let go.
And neither did I.

We stayed like that for a moment. Foreheads touching, breaths still uneven, the cave air humming softly around us like it was holding its breath too.
His hands were warm where they rested on my waist, grounding me, anchoring me to the fact that this was real. Not my imagination or some reckless dream I’d let myself fall into.

I laughed softly under my breath, more of an exhale than a sound.
“What?” he murmured.

“I just…” I shook my head slightly, my nose brushing his. “I spent so long pretending you didn’t get under my skin.”

“And?” he asked.

“And now you’ve gone and done this,” I said, gesturing vaguely between us. “Ruined me completely.”

That earned a quiet huff of a laugh from him. His thumb traced slow circles at my side, that sent ripples over shivers through my body.

“I was already ruined,” he said. “And I've always known, but somehow, you just made me even more aware of it.”

I swallowed.
I didn't know how to react when he said things like that.

His gaze was different now.
Like something heavy had finally shifted out of the way and let the real him step forward.

“I meant what I said,” he added quietly, his head shifting slightly away from mine, as he looked at me. “About you not carrying this alone.”

I nodded. “Good. Because I don’t plan on letting you either.”

For a second, he just looked at me like he was trying to memorize every detail. My eyes followed his as he stared at me.
My wings folded tight behind me, the way my hair fell into my face, the way I still hadn’t quite recovered my breath.

Then he leaned in again.
Not for another kiss this time.
Instead, he pulled me closer to himself and closed his eyes.

“I don’t know how to be gentle,” he admitted. “Even worse with things or people that matter.”

“You’re doing fine,” I said softly, attempting to reassure him. “You asked, and you waited for my decision. You didn’t force your way. How more gentle can you be?.”

His eyes opened slowly.
“Is that what you thought I’d do? Force my way?”

“No,” I said. “It’s what I know you’re afraid of doing.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, a heavy sigh following.

“You won’t,” I replied. “Not like that.”
He searched my face like he was checking for doubt. He didn’t find any.

He smiled slightly before pulling me flush against himself.
My cheek pressed against his shoulder, his chin resting lightly on the top of my head.
I could feel his heartbeat under my palm where my hand was still on his chest.

I let myself relax into him.
It felt so dangerous but safe at the same time.

“I don’t usually let people this close,” he murmured into my hair.

“Same,” I said.

He smiled faintly against my temple.
“Figures.”

We stayed like that longer than I realized. Long enough for the world to stop feeling like it was spinning out of control. Long enough for the fear to quiet down.

When he finally pulled back, his hands didn’t leave me. They just slid to my arms, his thumbs brushing over the edge of my wings, which I just realized had popped out at some point.

“Your wings were twitching earlier,” he said, clearly teasing.

“So were your hands,” I replied, deflecting smoothly.

“Yeah,” he admitted. “Guess we’re even.”

I tilted my head, studying him again. The bruises, the cut and the exhaustion still written into the lines of his face.

“You should let me help you clean those,” I said.

He raised a brow. “Is that an order, Commander?”

“Don’t push your luck, Dravon heir,” I replied, but I smiled when I said it.

He smiled back.
“Come on,” I added, standing and offering him my hand this time.

“You look like you’ve been through a war council and a bar fight at the same time.”

He took my hand without hesitation.

We walked deeper into the cave, toward the small pool where the water dripped from the stone ceiling in slow, steady rhythm. I grabbed a cloth from my satchel and dampened it.

“Sit,” I said.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I rolled my eyes but he sat.

Carefully, I cleaned the cut at his mouth.
He didn’t even flinch.
Ugh, show off.
He just watched me like I was doing something far more important than tending to bruises.

“You’re staring,” I muttered.

“Can’t help it,” he replied. “You look different when you’re not trying to be untouchable.”

“And you look different when you’re not trying to be unbreakable.”
That shut him up.
Good. I felt so accomplished.

When I finished, I stepped back.
“Better,” I said.

He reached out and gently caught my wrist.
“Thank you,” he said.

Then, quieter, he added “For staying.”

I met his eyes.
“For asking,” I replied.
And he understood what I meant.

The space between us tightened again.
And this time, when he leaned in, I didn’t have to nod.
I was already pulling his shirt and moving toward him.