VIOLET
The moonlight slipped through the curtains, casting a pale glow across the room. The fire had burned low, but I could still feel its warmth—or maybe it was just him.
Zain stood near the window, shirtless, shoulders tense as if holding up the world. He hadn’t spoken in minutes, just stared out like the forest might steal before morning.
"Co back to bed," I whispered, pulling the sheet around .
His eyes t mine, and gods—there was so much in them. Hunger, fear, love. All tangled like thorns around a bleeding heart.
"I should’ve stopped you," he said hoarsely. "Tied you to this bed. Locked the doors."
I gave him a soft smile, even as it twisted sothing deep inside . "And you think I wouldn’t have burned the place down to get out?"
That earned the faintest grin. But only for a mont.
"I’ll hate every second you’re gone."
"I’ll co back." I stood and crossed the room slowly. The sheet slipped from my body, forgotten as I pressed my palm to his chest. "But tonight... I want you to remind what I’m fighting for."
His breath caught.
Then he moved.
Zain’s mouth crushed mine with a desperation that made tremble. It wasn’t rushed, but it wasn’t gentle either. It was all need, all fire. The way his hands gripped my hips, the way he kissed like I was his air—it broke sothing open inside .
He lifted with ease, carried back to the bed like I was sacred. Laid down like I was a prayer he wasn’t done saying.
Then he worshiped.
His lips trailed fire down my throat, over my breasts, across my ribs. His tongue mapped every curve like he needed to morize it—needed to take a piece of with him, just in case I didn’t co back.
I arched beneath him, fingers tangled in his dark hair, whispering his na like it was the only truth I knew.
He entered slowly, deeply, and for a mont we just... breathed. Nothing else existed but the rhythm of our bodies, the way we fit, the quiet groan he made when I whispered "I love you" into his neck.
Zain moved with a reverence that bordered on agony. Every thrust was a promise, every kiss a vow. His hands road my skin like he was afraid it would vanish under his fingertips.
"I’ll kill for you," he murmured, voice broken against my skin. "I’ll die for you. Just co back to , Violet."
"I will," I gasped, clinging to him. "I swear I will."
When we ca undone, it wasn’t loud.
It was deep.
Silent sobs against mouths, hearts slamming in sync, bodies locked so tightly it was hard to tell where he ended and I began.
We stayed tangled like that, breathless and damp with sweat, the world paused just for us.
And in the silence, I felt it—that ache of goodbye already blooming behind my ribs.
But I held him tighter.
Because for tonight, he was mine.
And I was his.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Daylight broke through the curtains faster than expected.
We have made love through the night, soft and slow, fast and frusting. Zain poured out his emotions into each of them. I had barely gotten four hours of worth of sleep but it was worth it.
His marks were all over my body now, reminding of who I am and where I should be.
By his side.
Breakfast was slow and silent. The pack house was as if an elder just died and we were in mourning.
I tried to make small conversations but it didn’t hold any grounds as he was lost in thoughts so I just left it instead.
The morning air was crisp, the sky streaked in soft gold as the sun peeked over the tree line, as I stepped outside. The scent of pine and dew clung to everything, grounding as I stood by the horses, dressed in dark leathers Selene had altered for stealth.
But the calm outside didn’t match the storm inside .
I fastened the final strap of my pack, fingers trembling even though I tried to hide it. Zain was a silent shadow at my back—arms crossed, jaw set, that sa unreadable look in his eyes that told too much and not enough.
He hadn’t spoken since we woke up. He just held . Kissed like it would be the last ti. I knew he was trying not to break.
I was, too.
Footsteps behind us broke the silence.
"Wow," Jade said gently. "You really are going through with this."
I turned to see her and Inara approaching. Jade looked paler than usual, arms wrapped around herself like armor. Inara stood tall beside her, but her lips were drawn in a tight line.
I hadn’t seen her in a while, since I recovered. I figured she blad herself for getting taken.
But I don’t bla her, I choose to leave and even though it resulted badly on the bright side I now know that I have a lineage with their type.
I smiled at her, hoping that she can forgive herself.
"Thought we’d at least get a goodbye," Jade added with a faint smile. "You know, in case you go rogue yourself."
I snorted softly. "Not happening."
Jade’s eyes welled up despite her sarcasm. "I know. You’re too damn stubborn for that."
I stepped forward and hugged her tightly. "Take care of Rhys," I whispered. "And yourself."
She squeezed harder than I expected, voice cracking. "I’m not ready to lose you again, Vi."
"You won’t."
I turned to Inara next. She didn’t hesitate to pull into a firm, warm embrace.
"You’ve got that look," she murmured. "The one that says you’ve already made peace with whatever happens."
I pulled back to et her gaze. "I haven’t. I’m not ready to die."
"Good," she said. "Then make sure you don’t."
Zain hadn’t moved.
But I felt him—coiled like a spring, his silence louder than words. When the others finally stepped away, giving us space, I turned back to him.
His eyes t mine, burning with sothing dangerous. Sothing wounded.
"I should be the one going," he said, voice like gravel. "You’re still recovering. You were nearly killed."
"I’m stronger now," I whispered. "And they won’t expect to co back."
His jaw ticked. "I can’t protect you out there."
"You don’t have to. You just have to trust ."
Zain stepped closer, cupped my face with both hands, and pressed his forehead to mine. "I trust you, Violet. I just hate this."
"I know."
He kissed , soft and deep, as if he could breathe strength into . As if he could hold back ti. But when we parted, I saw the truth in his eyes.
He rembered the rogue master’s words too.
She’ll co looking for answers. Try not to stop her.
Zain was trying.
Trying not to stop .
Trying not to fall apart.
"I’ll co back to you," I said firmly.
"You’d better." His voice broke. "Or I’ll hunt each of them down, tear them into pieces then join you soon after "
With one last glance at everyone—Jade’s clenched jaw, Inara’s quiet watchfulness—I mounted my horse.
And without looking back again, I rode toward the edge of the forest.
Toward the rogue camp.
Toward the truth that waited like a blade in the dark
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