The silence after their kiss felt sacred, soft, and painfully fragile.
Hermelyn’s forehead rested against Aldrich’s, her breath still uneven, her lips still warm from where his had pressed. He kept one hand at her waist as though letting go would undo the moment entirely. The lantern flickered beside them, painting their faces with trembling light.
He stared at her like he was memorizing every detail of her lashes still half-lowered, her lips faintly parted, her cheeks flushed with nervous heat. Hermelyn felt the weight of his gaze, the warmth of it, the danger of it.
“Aldrich,” she whispered, still trying to catch her breath, “what does this mean?”
He swallowed, thumb brushing her cheekbone. “I… don’t know.”
But the way he held her said he did. The way he kissed her said everything h
