Moonlit Destiny

Morning Mischief and Tangled Bonds

Chapter Twenty-Three: Morning Mischief and Tangled Bonds

A soft beam of sunlight filtered through the heavy velvet curtains of Tristan’s chambers, casting a golden glow on the stone floor. The faint scent of pine and lingering magic still clung to the air from the night before. All was still, peaceful until a quiet gasp shattered the silence.

Shaya’s crimson eyes widened as she sat up from her pallet near the fireplace. She blinked twice, just to be sure, then gave Selene a sharp nudge.

“Selene,” she whispered, barely containing a laugh. “Wake up. You have to see this.”

“Mmm?” Selene rubbed her eyes. “What”

But her question died as her gaze followed Shaya’s pointing finger to the bed. There, tangled in the silk sheets, lay Tristan and Ariana, bare and wrapped around one another like they were made to fit. Ariana’s dark hair spilled across Tristan’s chest like ink, one of her legs draped over his hip possessively. His arm was curled protectively around her waist, his golden eyes still closed in sleep.

Selene clapped a hand over her mouth, a grin forming as she elbowed Lisette awake.

“Mmm, five more minutes,” Lisette groaned.

“Nope,” Selene snickered. “You’re going to want to see this.”

Lisette blinked herself awake, then sat up and promptly choked on a laugh. “Well, well. Looks like someone had a busy night.”

Shaya smirked. “I told you they were dancing around each other. Now they’ve tangoed straight into bed.”

A low grunt sounded from the couch, followed by Marek slowly sitting up, rubbing his eyes. “What’s with all the noise?” he mumbled.

Unfortunately, as he shifted, he accidentally jostled Lina who had been curled against his legs like a lounging cat. She stirred with a sleepy groan and blinked up at him, hair tousled and braid partially undone.

“Marek?” she yawned. “Did you kick me?”

“Sorry,” he muttered, before glancing toward the bed. Then he froze. “Oh.”

Lina squinted, followed his gaze, then broke into a wide grin. “Ohhh.”

In seconds, the group had flocked to the foot of the bed like curious wolves surrounding a secret. They didn’t dare wake the pair but that didn’t stop the teasing.

“Look at the way she’s clinging to him,” Selene murmured with a sly smile. “Like she’s guarding her personal treasure.”

Marek crossed his arms. “Should we cover them up or just let the cold do its job?”

“Please,” Lina chuckled. “The way she’s holding him? The cold wouldn't dare.”

Lisette tapped her chin. “Do you think it was his glowing eyes or his poetry that did it?”

Shaya added with a smirk, “I’m more curious about what she did to him.”

Lina turned to Marek. “You think they ”

“Obviously,” he said, amused. “Look at them.”

“Mmm,” Selene hummed. “This is going to be fun to tease her about for weeks.”

Lina folded her arms, raising a brow. “Don’t forget, she has fangs.”

“Oh, we’ll tease carefully,” Shaya grinned.

As the teasing continued in hushed, mischievous tones, Ariana stirred slightly, nuzzling deeper into Tristan’s chest with a soft sigh. His fingers instinctively tightened around her waist, and the whole room fell still.

“Do you think they’re waking up?” Lisette whispered.

“Should we leave?” Marek asked, already moving back toward the couch.

Lina gently tugged his arm. “No. I want to see how she reacts.”

Selene grinned. “You mean how he reacts when he realizes we all saw.”

A faint groan sounded from Tristan as his eyes fluttered open, still hazy with sleep. He blinked… then noticed them.

Five grinning faces. All staring.

He didn’t move. Just whispered, “Gods help me.”

Ariana stirred, her body instinctively curling closer to the warmth beside her. The steady thrum of Tristan’s heartbeat beneath her ear grounded her, pulling her gently from the depths of sleep. She let out a content sigh, fingers lazily tracing the lines of his chest.

“Mmm… mine,” she murmured, half-asleep, her voice low and silk-soft. “Next time, I’m tying you to the bed.”

A stunned silence blanketed the room.

Tristan blinked, a slow smirk creeping across his lips.

Then

Snort.

Shaya couldn't help it. The giggle slipped out before she could swallow it, followed by a stifled laugh from Selene and a choked gasp from Lisette.

Ariana’s eyes shot open, still hazy, but sharp enough to catch the amused, wide-eyed stares of her sisters, Marek, and Lina all gathered at the foot of the bed.

Her expression froze.

One beat. Two.

“Oh no.”

Her cheeks flushed scarlet, her fingers fisting in the sheets. With a small, mortified groan, she buried her face into Tristan’s chest.

“Tristan…” she whispered, voice muffled. “Tell me I’m dreaming.”

He chuckled, a hand lifting to stroke her hair. “Unfortunately, I’m wide awake.”

“I hate everyone in this room,” came her muffled grumble.

“Aw, don’t be like that,” Selene teased, resting her chin on her hands. “You said it so sweetly.”

“So possessive,” Shaya added, mock-swooning. “He’s yours now?”

“Next time, huh?” Marek quirked a brow. “Should I reinforce the bed?”

That earned a playful slap from Lina.

Ariana didn’t reply.

Instead, her shadows flickered first at her fingertips, then pooling beneath her, like a living thing stirred by emotion. With a thought, the shadows surged up, weaving around her and Tristan like a curtain, casting a thick black veil over them both.

The others yelped as the darkness enveloped the bed.

“Rude,” Selene huffed.

“Very rude,” Lisette agreed, though she was grinning.

Lina laughed. “I think we embarrassed her.”

“You think?” Marek replied dryly. “She practically evaporated.”

Inside the veil of shadows, Ariana remained curled against Tristan, mortified and hiding behind both magic and muscle.

“Can I melt into the floor?” she whispered.

He chuckled again, nuzzling her hair. “Not a chance. Not when you’re this adorable.”

She groaned louder. “You were supposed to be the quiet one.”

“I was,” he murmured. “Until you said that.”

Her fingers pinched his side, but her lips curled into a reluctant smile.

“I can’t believe I said that out loud…”

“I can,” he teased. “But I liked it.”

She looked up at him from beneath the cascade of her raven-black hair, her crimson eyes still glowing faintly. “I’m never waking up again.”

“Then I’ll stay right here,” he said softly, “until you’re ready to face them.”

She groaned again. “That might be never.”

Outside the shadowed veil, Shaya crossed her arms. “Should we poke the bubble?”

“Nope,” Lina said. “Let them stew in their own awkward romance.”

Selene nodded sagely. “Besides… she did say ‘next time.’ We should be afraid.”

The shadows swirled like mist on water, thinning with a gentle pulse of magic before dispersing completely. Light filtered back into the room, revealing Ariana still curled in Tristan’s arms though now with the sheet firmly tugged up to her shoulders and her face redder than ever.

Tristan sat behind her, one arm draped protectively around her waist, the other resting lazily on the mattress as if the chaos of teasing voices meant nothing at all.

“Welcome back,” Marek said with a grin, clapping his hands. “Did the royal couple enjoy their privacy?”

“We weren’t” Ariana began, only for Shaya to cut in with a smirk.

“Oh please,” she drawled. “You called him yours in your sleep and declared plans for bed-bound domination.”

“I did not” Ariana’s voice cracked.

Selene, ever the most dramatic, mimed fanning herself. “We should give them privacy more often. Imagine what we’ll hear next time.”

“I’m surrounded by traitors,” Ariana muttered, trying to burrow under the sheet again.

“And I’m loving every second of it,” Lina chimed, grinning from where she leaned on Marek’s shoulder. “You know, Tristan, I think you’ve officially been claimed.”

“She’s got bite, that one,” Marek teased, giving a knowing look to Tristan.

Tristan didn’t flinch. Instead, he lowered his head to whisper into Ariana’s ear, voice low enough that only she could hear. “I’d let you claim me a thousand times over.”

Ariana gave an audible squeak and promptly shoved her face into his chest again.

Lisette leaned against the bedpost, arms crossed, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “Should we step into the shadows for a bit? Maybe give them round two?”

“More like primal,” Shaya added, making everyone laugh again.

Tristan chuckled softly, rubbing Ariana’s back in gentle, soothing strokes. “You all done?”

“Not even close,” Marek said. “But we’ll ease up. For now.”

Ariana finally peeked out, eyes narrowed. “If I had energy, I’d shadow-step each of you into a freezing lake.”

“I’d enjoy that,” Selene teased. “Especially if Marek ends up shirtless.”

“You’re impossible,” Marek said with a groan, though his ears turned slightly red.

Lina chimed in, “Well, if anyone’s keeping score Ariana’s shadows, one. The rest of us? Thoroughly roasted.”

Tristan shifted, resting his chin lightly on Ariana’s shoulder as he glanced at the others. “Are we just going to stand around all morning, or is someone going to get breakfast?”

“Someone’s grumpy,” Lisette said. “Didn’t sleep enough?”

“Got distracted,” he replied smoothly, which earned him a light swat on the arm from Ariana.

Shaya waggled her brows. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

Selene laughed, “Honestly, I would love to slip into the dining hall and harass some guards, but…”

Her words faded as her eyes shifted toward the curtained windows and the reinforced door.

Lisette sighed, understanding instantly. “Right. No walking the halls.”

Ariana winced, guilt flickering in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to trap you all here.”

“We’re not trapped,” Shaya said firmly. “We’re just... stealthy royalty on lockdown.”

Selene gave her a little hip bump. “I like that phrasing.”

“I’ll bring breakfast here,” Marek offered. “I know what everyone likes now more or less.”

“And maybe wine,” Lina added, lifting her hand.

“I thought you didn’t drink before noon,” Marek teased.

“It’s not for me, it’s for the ‘stealthy royalty’ I’m a gracious host,” she said with a wink.

“Fine. Food, wine, and privacy.” He moved to the door and paused. “No unlocking this until I get back, alright?”

“Trust us,” Lisette said. “We’re already halfway to planning a shadow-illusion escape route.”

As Marek stepped out, the teasing still echoing behind him, Tristan remained with Ariana, still gently rubbing her back. Her shadows curled protectively around them once again softer this time, more like an embrace than a shield.

“I’m sorry,” Ariana whispered.

Tristan shook his head and kissed her temple. “Don’t be. You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”

She shifted to look up at him, her eyes still glowing faintly crimson. “They’re being locked away because of me.”

“They’d do it a hundred times for you,” he said simply. “So would I.”

Her expression softened. “You’re too good to me.”

“Or just smart enough to never let you go.”

She smiled genuinely this time and nestled into him again.