The cold night air wrapped around me as I pulled the hood of my cloak lower, shadowing my face from the moonlight. The weight of the dagger strapped to my thigh was reassuring as I moved swiftly through the quiet corridors of my kingdom. Every step carried purpose, every breath steadying my resolve. I had made my decision.
Killian had answers I needed, and nothing was going to stop me from getting them.
The stables were silent, save for the occasional snort from the resting horses. I moved quickly, untying my mare's reins and swinging onto her back. With a soft click of my tongue, we rode into the night, the wind whipping against my cloak as I pushed her faster. The journey to Killian's kingdom was long, but I knew the roads well. I had studied their patrols, memorized the blind spots along the castle walls. Getting inside wouldn't be easy, but I had done the impossible before.
By the time I neared the towering gates of his kingdom, dawn was still hours away. The guards stood at their posts, torches casting flickering light over the entrance. I slowed my horse to a stop, dismounting behind a thick line of trees.
I couldn't go through the front. That was a death wish.
Instead, I moved toward the shadows, pressing against the cool stone of the castle walls. My fingers found the familiar cracks in the aged brick, and with careful precision, I began to climb.
Every pull strained my muscles, but adrenaline kept me moving. When I reached the balcony of an unlit chamber, I swung over the railing and landed silently. My breath came quick as I pressed myself against the wall, listening. The castle was quiet, its halls asleep in the dead of night.
I knew where I needed to go.
Killian's chambers were on the upper floor, guarded heavily. But that wouldn't stop me.
I moved quickly, sticking to the shadows, avoiding the patrols. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as I approached his door. The wooden frame loomed before me, a barrier between myself and the answers I sought. I tried the handle—locked. Of course.
No matter.
I pulled a thin dagger from my belt, carefully working the lock until I heard a soft click. With one final glance down the hall, I slipped inside, shutting the door behind me.
The room was dark, save for the faint glow of embers in the fireplace. It smelled like him—steel and cedarwood, something undeniably Killian.
And then I saw him.
He was asleep, sprawled across the bed, the sheets low on his waist. His chest rose and fell in slow, steady breaths, dark hair tousled from sleep. My pulse skipped, a ridiculous reaction given the circumstances.
I had come for answers. Not to admire the way the moonlight cut across the sharp planes of his face.
Swallowing, I took a cautious step forward—
But before I could react, the room shifted.
In an instant, I was slammed against the wall, a strong hand gripping my wrist, a blade pressed to my throat.
"Took you long enough," Killian murmured, his voice laced with amusement.
My breath caught. His eyes, still heavy with sleep, gleamed in the dim light, scanning my face with something unreadable.
"You knew I was coming?" I whispered, heart hammering.
His grip tightened just enough to remind me who held the upper hand. "You think I wouldn't recognize your footsteps by now?" His lips tilted in a smirk, but there was an edge beneath it, something dangerous lurking in the depths of his gaze. "Now tell me, little warrior, why are you sneaking into my chambers in the middle of the night?"
I glared at him, refusing to be intimidated. "You already know why."
His thumb brushed the inside of my wrist, right over the mark. The heat of his touch sent an unwelcome shiver up my spine. "Do I?"
"Why didn't you kill me?" I demanded, my voice softer than I intended.
Killian's smirk deepened. "Ah. That question."
He leaned in, and suddenly, there was barely any space between us. My back pressed harder against the cold stone wall, his body radiating warmth against mine. He was teasing me. Testing me.
"What's the matter?" he murmured, his breath brushing against my cheek. "Does it bother you that you're still breathing?"
I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "It doesn't make sense. We were both given a name. A final kill. I was yours. You were mine. Yet here we are."
His eyes darkened, something flickering behind them—something almost dangerous. "And tell me, warrior," he said smoothly, "if I had tried—if I had driven my blade into your heart—would you have let me?"
Silence.
I hated that I hesitated. I hated that for a split second, I didn't know the answer.
His fingers traced along my wrist, slow and deliberate. "Exactly," he murmured.
I sucked in a sharp breath, heat pooling low in my stomach at the way he was watching me—like he saw everything, like he knew everything.
"You don't understand, Killian," I whispered. "I need to know why."
He exhaled softly, his thumb still grazing my skin. "And if I told you, you wouldn't believe me."
I lifted my chin, challenging him. "Try me."
For a long moment, he simply stared at me. Then, slowly, his lips curved into something unreadable.
"Alright, little warrior," he murmured, tilting his head. "But let's make a deal first."
I narrowed my eyes. "A deal?"
"You want your answers? Fine. But you'll have to earn them."
I scoffed. "Oh? And how exactly do I do that?"
Killian leaned in until his lips nearly brushed my ear. "Stay."
I blinked. "Stay?"
"Spend the night here. No sneaking out before sunrise. No running."
My pulse stuttered. "That's ridiculous."
His smirk widened. "Is it?"
I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died in my throat. He was still close—too close. And worse, I hated that some part of me didn't want to leave.
Killian watched me carefully, waiting. Daring me to refuse.
I should say no. I should.
But instead, my traitorous mouth whispered, "Fine."
The satisfaction in his gaze was infuriating.
"Good choice, warrior." He finally stepped back, his absence making the room feel colder. "Now, get comfortable. I have a feeling we'll have a lot to talk about."
I exhaled sharply, already regretting my decision.
Because one thing was certain—
By the time the sun rose, nothing would be the same again.