CHAPTER 06— One Breath Away.
744 Words
(Kaela)
Dinner ends awkwardly.
Not because of the food—Blackwood chefs cook like they’re bribing gods—but because Vionn spent the entire hour acting like a statue carved from jealousy and silence.
She barely ate.
He ate nothing.
Now she’s walking down the long corridor toward her room, her pulse still misbehaving from earlier.
And like always…
She feels him behind her.
Vionn doesn’t walk loudly.
He doesn’t need to.
His presence is a soundless storm.
Kaela slows, pretending to study one of the paintings on the wall.
She knows he's watching her.
“Are you going to follow me all night?” she finally mutters.
Vionn stops a breath behind her.
“I follow you when I think you need protection.”
“From what?” She huffs. “Garden staff saying hello?”
His jaw tenses.
But his voice stays soft.
“From anything that touches what is mine.”
Her stomach flips.
“Vionn…”
She turns around.
He’s too close.
Again.
His face half-lit by the dim hallway lamps, shadows running along his cheekbones like ink.
Kaela tries to force out a laugh.
“You can’t say things like that.”
“Why?”
His voice is low, almost dangerous.
“Because it affects you?”
She refuses to look away.
“It doesn’t affect me,” she lies.
Vionn hums a little sound in his throat—something between amusement and disbelief.
He steps forward.
She steps back.
He steps forward again.
She bumps into the wall.
His palm lands beside her head, caging her in.
Not rough.
Not forceful.
Just… claiming space.
Her heartbeat is a runaway train and Vionn definitely hears it.
“Liar,” he whispers.
Kaela’s mouth goes dry.
His other hand lifts—slowly, giving her time to stop him—
and then grazes her cheek.
Barely-there. Featherlight.
She melts anyway.
Vionn’s fingers trail down to her jaw, then lower, his knuckles brushing the side of her neck.
Her breath catches.
He breathes in softly, like she’s something he’s been starving for.
“I’ve been trying to stay away,” he whispers, voice rough.
“For your sake.”
Her chest tightens painfully.
“Then stay away,” she manages, even though she doesn’t mean it.
Vionn’s eyes darken.
“You don’t want that.”
“Vionn—”
He leans in.
Her heart leaps into her throat.
His forehead almost touches hers.
His breath ghosts across her lips.
His nose brushes hers—soft, slow, devastating.
Kaela’s voice trembles.
“This is inappropriate.”
“Everything about you is inappropriate for me,” he murmurs.
“And I can’t stop.”
His hand slides to the back of her neck, warm, firm, drawing her just a little closer.
Her lips part.
His gaze locks on them.
He leans in another fraction—
and she feels the warmth of his mouth hovering over hers.
One more inch.
Half an inch.
A breath.
Kaela whispers, “Vionn… don’t.”
He doesn’t move away.
“Tell me to stop,” he murmurs, voice shaking for the first time.
“Say it like you mean it.”
Her fingers curl into his shirt without thinking.
“I…”
She can’t finish.
He leans closer—
—a sharp knock explodes at the end of the hall.
Kaela jolts.
Vionn’s jaw clenches, fury flashing across his face like lightning.
Footsteps rush toward them.
It’s Sophia, breathless.
“Kaela! I’ve been looking everywhere—oh.”
Her eyes widen as she realizes what she just interrupted.
Kaela pushes gently at Vionn’s chest—
He steps back, but only an inch, eyes still locked on her, breathing ragged.
Sophia fumbles, cheeks burning.
“S-sorry. I didn’t mean to— I just—”
Vionn cuts her a frigid glance that could freeze fire.
Sophia shrinks.
Kaela steps away from the wall, clutching her racing heart.
“I should go,” she says quietly.
Vionn finally tears his gaze away.
“Kaela—”
“No,” she whispers.
“I need a moment.”
She walks down the hall with Sophia, trying to steady her breath.
Behind her, Vionn doesn’t move.
He stands in the dim light, hand still flexed like he’s fighting the urge to drag her back.
And Kaela knows—
If Sophia had been three seconds later…
She would’ve kissed him.
Or he would’ve kissed her.
Or both.
And nothing would’ve been the same again.
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