The full moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the vast gardens of Ardent Castle. Flowers bloomed in the soft light, their petals kissed by the night breeze as they swayed gently. The scent of jasmine and lavender filled the air, mingling with the quiet murmur of the nearby fountain. Everything seemed alive with possibility, and the world felt still—almost too perfect.

Alderon stood at the edge of the marble fountain, his dark eyes reflecting the shimmering water beneath him. His cape, always billowing just right, fell elegantly around his strong shoulders. Tonight, he wasn’t the brooding prince of duty. Tonight, he was a man—one driven by a force even stronger than destiny.

Selene stood across the courtyard, hesitant to take another step. Her heart raced, her pulse loud in her ears as she watched him. The moonlight bathed him in an ethereal glow, making him appear almost otherworldly, but there was nothing distant about the way he looked at her. His eyes held hers, filled with something deep, something raw—something she couldn’t turn away from.

He took a step toward her, the sound of his boots on the stone path echoing in the quiet night.

"Selene," Alderon’s voice was a low whisper, like a secret meant only for her.

She didn’t move. Couldn’t. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding harder. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run—to resist. But how could she when his very presence made her knees weak, and the space between them seemed to shrink with every breath?

"I… I shouldn’t be here," Selene finally whispered, her voice barely above a breath. She tore her gaze away from his, forcing herself to remember the walls she had built, the promises she had made to herself to stay away from him. “We shouldn’t do this.”

But even as she said it, she didn’t move.

Alderon closed the remaining distance between them in one smooth stride. He reached out, his hand hovering over her cheek for just a moment, as though giving her a chance to pull away. When she didn’t, his fingers brushed against her skin, soft yet firm, like a caress that lingered with the promise of something more.

"We shouldn’t," Alderon murmured, his thumb tracing the curve of her jaw. "But I’ve never been one to follow the rules."

Her eyes fluttered closed as the heat of his hand spread through her, igniting something deep within her chest. His touch, his scent, the overwhelming intensity of his presence—it consumed her. She was drowning in it, lost in the way his fingers moved, in the way he made her feel like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Her breath hitched as his other hand gently slid to the small of her back, pulling her closer. Selene’s hands, almost of their own will, found their way to his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his tunic. She could feel his heartbeat—strong and steady beneath her palm.

Alderon’s forehead touched hers, his breath warm against her lips. "Tell me to stop," he murmured, his voice a hoarse whisper, his lips dangerously close to hers. "Tell me… and I will."

But she couldn’t. The words wouldn’t come. Not when every part of her ached for him, not when she had dreamt of this moment since the first time their eyes had met. It was wrong, forbidden, and yet… she had never wanted anything more.

"I can’t," Selene breathed, her voice barely audible.

Alderon’s eyes darkened, a flash of something primal passing over his features. His grip on her tightened, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was nothing short of fire. It wasn’t tentative, it wasn’t careful—it was fierce and full of hunger, the kind of kiss that stole the breath from her lungs and made the world spin.

Her fingers tangled in his hair as she leaned into him, losing herself in the heat of the moment. His arms wrapped around her, holding her tight against him as though he was afraid she might disappear. Their bodies pressed together, his warmth seeping into her, making her forget everything—who they were, where they were, the reasons they shouldn’t be together.

There was only him. Only this.

His lips moved against hers with a skill that made her knees weak. His hand slid from her back to her waist, pulling her even closer until there was no space left between them. She could feel the heat of his body through his clothes, could feel the way his breath hitched in time with hers.

She moaned softly against his lips, and that was all it took for him to deepen the kiss. His tongue teased hers, coaxing her into a dance of passion that left her trembling in his arms. Every touch, every caress, sent sparks through her, igniting something deep and wild.

Selene had never felt anything like it—this consuming need, this overwhelming desire. She was drowning in him, in the way his lips moved, in the way his hands explored her body with a mix of tenderness and desperation.

Alderon pulled back slightly, just enough to let their breaths mingle in the space between them. His eyes, dark and full of desire, locked onto hers. "You’re mine," he whispered, his voice rough and possessive, the words sending a shiver down her spine. "You always have been."

Selene’s heart skipped a beat. She knew it was wrong. She knew that this moment would change everything, that there would be no going back. But right now, with his arms around her and his lips on hers, she didn’t care. She didn’t care about the consequences, didn’t care about the risks.

All she cared about was him.

"Yes," she breathed, her lips brushing against his. "I’m yours."

Alderon’s gaze darkened, and with a growl, he claimed her lips again, this time even more demanding, more urgent. Their kiss deepened, full of heat and want, and Selene felt herself melt into him, completely lost in the storm of emotions raging inside her.

The night seemed to disappear around them, the world fading into nothingness as they stood there, locked in each other’s embrace. It was as if time itself had stopped, and all that remained was the two of them, their hearts beating as one.

But just as their passion reached its peak, a sudden chill filled the air. The moon, bright and full, seemed to flicker, casting eerie shadows across the garden. Selene pulled back, her breath ragged as she stared up at the sky, confusion flashing in her eyes.

"Alderon… do you feel that?" she whispered, her voice shaky.

He frowned, his arms still wrapped around her, but there was a tension in the air now—a sense that something was wrong. The moon flickered again, the light dimming as a strange, unnatural cold spread through the garden.

Alderon’s hand tightened on her waist as he glanced around, his eyes narrowing. "Something’s not right," he muttered, his voice low.

Selene’s heart pounded, but it wasn’t from the kiss anymore. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked around, suddenly aware of how still everything had become. The flowers that had been swaying gently in the night breeze were now perfectly still, and the usual hum of crickets had faded into silence.

But then, her gaze met Alderon’s again, and everything else seemed to fall away. The tension, the strange cold, the flickering moonlight—it all melted into the background as she focused on the warmth of his body pressed against hers.

She smiled softly, her fingers curling into the fabric of his tunic. "It’s nothing," she whispered, her voice steadying. "We’re alone here. Just you and me."

Alderon hesitated, his jaw still clenched, but Selene gently placed a hand on his cheek, turning his attention back to her. "Stay with me," she said, her eyes searching his. "Don’t let whatever that was ruin this moment."

His eyes softened, the storm in his gaze slowly clearing. The tension in his shoulders eased as he exhaled, his grip on her waist loosening but not pulling away. "You’re right," he said quietly, his voice now softer, filled with a new kind of warmth. "I’m here. With you."

Selene felt her heart steady, her earlier unease fading. She leaned into him, her lips brushing his again, this time slower, more deliberate. His hands slid up her back, pulling her closer as their kiss deepened, the outside world forgotten for the moment.

The strange cold in the air seemed to lift, replaced by the heat between them. The flickering moonlight steadied, casting a soft glow over the garden as if it, too, had decided to let the night be theirs.

Alderon closed his eyes, savoring the closeness between them, as if he could hold onto this moment forever. "I can’t remember the last time I felt this... free," he admitted, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Selene smiled, her fingers tracing light patterns on the back of his neck. "Maybe that’s what this is," she murmured. "A chance to be free, just for a little while."

He opened his eyes, his gaze full of something softer now—a warmth that had been buried beneath all the brooding, the duty, the weight of his title. His hand moved up to cup her face gently, his thumb brushing her cheek. "And what if I don’t want to let go?"

"Then don’t," Selene whispered, her lips brushing against his cheek. "Not tonight."

The garden seemed to breathe with them, alive with the energy of the moment. The cool breeze returned, but this time it was gentle, carrying the sweet scent of jasmine through the air. Above them, the moon shone brightly once more, as if blessing their union.

They stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world around them both still and moving. Time seemed to stretch and blur, bending to the rhythm of their hearts.

For now, there was no kingdom. No responsibilities. No shadows lurking at the edges of their minds. Just the two of them, alone in a moonlit garden, where nothing else mattered but the way they felt in each other’s arms.

Alderon kissed her again, slow and tender this time, savoring every moment. Selene melted into him, her body relaxing against his, her heart beating in time with his. It was as if the entire world had shifted, narrowed down to the simple, undeniable truth of their connection.

They stayed like that for what felt like hours, wrapped in each other, the night cocooning them in a perfect, unbreakable silence.

Finally, as the moon dipped lower in the sky, casting a softer, gentler light over them, Alderon pulled away just enough to look into her eyes. "Whatever happens tomorrow, whatever we face… I won’t forget this. I won’t forget you."

Selene’s breath hitched in her throat, her heart swelling with the weight of his words. She reached up, her hand resting against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm. "Neither will I."

There was no need for more words. They had said everything that needed to be said, and the rest—whatever it would be—could wait until the sun rose again. For now, they were together, and that was all that mattered.

The night held them close, and in that moment, it felt like it always would.