Chapter 4: A Collision of Worlds
231 Words
Kael did not rush.
He never rushed.
Every movement he made was deliberate—controlled, measured, precise.
But as he carried her through the dark forest, something about him felt… off.
Unsteady.
Not in body.
In thought.
The warmth radiating from her seeped through his arms, into his chest—into places that had never held sensation before.
It was distracting.
Unfamiliar.
And he did not like unfamiliar.
Yet… he didn’t put her down.
The cathedral rose ahead, its towering spires cutting into the night sky. As Kael ascended, wings beating against the cold air, he kept his grip steady—but his gaze flicked down more than once.
Checking.
Watching.
Ensuring she was still breathing.
Why that mattered—
He didn’t question.
Not yet.
He landed at the highest tower, stepping into shadow as he laid her carefully onto the stone surface.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
Looking at her.
Her chest rose and fell steadily now.
Alive.
But different.
He crouched beside her again, closer this time.
His hand hovered over her arm—then slowly lowered.
The contact sent a quiet shock through him again.
Warm.
Alive.
Real.
Not like stone.
Not like him.
Kael’s brow furrowed.
“You shouldn’t exist,” he murmured.
As if hearing him—
Lyra stirred.
Her fingers twitched.
A soft sound escaped her lips.
And then—
Her eyes opened.
- Writer
