7.

905 Words

📖 Chapter 7: The Taste of Danger The cool night air felt different. Quieter. Safer. Elara stood near the balcony, her fingers lightly touching the stone railing. Below, the royal garden stretched into the darkness. Soft lights glowed between the trees, and the distant sound of water could be heard. It was peaceful. Very different from the noisy hall behind her. She closed her eyes for a moment. Just one moment. “I should leave now” she whispered to herself. But she didn’t move. Something felt… unfinished. Behind her the music continued. Laughter. Voices. Soft footsteps. But out here.... Everything felt distant. Then.... She heard it. A step. Slow Controlled Elara opened her eyes. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Her heart beat faster. “Why is he here…?” she thought. Adrian stopped a few steps behind her. For a moment..... Neither of them spoke. The silence between them was not uncomfortable. But it was heavy. “You came out here alone” His voice broke the silence. Low. Calm. Elara turned slowly. “Yes” Her answer was simple. Adrian looked at her. Up close again. Her face was calm. But her eyes.... Were different. Not afraid. Not greedy. Not fake. Real. “You shouldn’t” he said. Elara held his gaze. “Why?” Adrian stepped closer. Not too close. But close enough. “This place is not safe” Elara gave a small quiet smile. “I already know that” For a moment.... Adrian said nothing. He studied her. Carefully. “You still came” he said. “Yes” “Why?” A simple question. But not an easy one. Elara looked away for a second. Toward the garden. “Because I had to” Adrian frowned slightly. “Everyone has a reason” he said. Elara looked back at him. “But not everyone can say it” Their eyes met again. There was something in the air. Something quiet. Something dangerous. Inside the hall.... Seraphina stood still. ...... Her eyes fixed on the balcony doors. “They’re together” she thought. Her smile slowly faded. “I won’t let this happened ” Without hesitation..... She moved. Back on the balcony..... Adrian took another step forward. This time..... Closer. Elara didn’t step back. She should have. But she didn’t. “Do you know who I am?” Adrian asked. Elara nodded slightly. “Yes” “And you’re not afraid?” “No” That answer surprised him. Everyone feared him. Respected him. Avoided him. But not her. “Why?” he asked again. Elara thought for a moment. Then she said quietly..... “Because you haven’t given me a reason to be” Silence. Adrian looked at her. Really looked at her. For the first time..... Something inside him shifted. A feeling he didn’t recognize. “You’re strange” he said. Elara smiled faintly. “I’ve been told that” A soft wind passed between them. Her red hair moved gently. Adrian’s eyes followed the movement. And then.... Something happened. A memory. A feeling. A moment from somewhere… He couldn’t reach. His hand moved.... Without thinking. He caught a strand of her hair between his fingers. Elara froze. The distance between them disappeared. Her breath slowed. His touch was light. But it felt.... Too real. Too familiar. Adrian’s gaze darkened slightly. “Have we met before?” he asked. Elara’s heart skipped. For a second.... She didn’t answer. Then... “No” Her voice was calm. But something in it… Was not. Adrian didn’t let go. His fingers still held her hair gently. “You’re lying” The words were soft. Not angry. Just certain. Elara looked at him. “I’m not” Their faces were closer now. Too close. The air between them felt warmer. He could feel her breath. She could feel his. And then..... “Your Grace” A voice cut through the moment. Seraphina. She stepped onto the balcony. Her smile still there. But her eyes.... Sharp. Cold. “I was looking for you” Adrian slowly released Elara’s hair. The moment broke. Elara stepped back immediately. Distance. Safety But the feeling remained. Seraphina’s gaze moved between them. She saw everything. The closeness. The tension. The connection. And she hated it. “There you are” she said softly. Her voice sweet. Perfect. But her eyes stayed on Elara. Measuring. Judging. “Who is this?” she asked gently. Adrian did not answer immediately. Elara spoke first. “Elara Vance.” Seraphina smiled. “I don’t remember seeing your name among the noble families” Elara met her gaze calmly. “You wouldn’t” A small pause. Seraphina’s smile tightened slightly. The air became tense. Adrian looked between them. ...... Then.... He spoke. “She is with me” Silence. Seraphina froze. Elara froze. Even the wind seemed to stop. “With you…?” Seraphina repeated softly. Adrian expression did not change. “Yes” That one word... Changed everything. Seraphina’s smile cracked. Just a little. But she quickly fixed it “Of course” she said gently. But inside... Her thoughts were burning. “This woman…” she thought “is a problem.” Elara stood still. Her heart was beating fast She didn’t understand why he said that. But she knew one thing... This night… Was no longer simple. And it was only getting worse.

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