Moments later,

Author

They stayed there for a long time, wrapped in the quiet and the warmth of what they had just said. Outside, the moon climbed high, and the wind rustled the oak trees, but inside the room there was only the crackle of the fire and the soft sound of breathing.

Aria thought about all the times this moment had felt close - when the bond pulled so hard it made her dizzy, when custom demanded it, when fear had almost made her run. She thought about how every version of this choice had never truly been hers. Until now.

She pulled back just enough to look him...