Chapter 11: The First Kiss
The journey to the temple began under a full moon.
Only four of us traveled.
Kael.
Me.
Mira.
And my mother.
The mountains became increasingly dangerous.
Three days into the journey, we found an ancient stone bridge.
Kael stopped.
“We cross one at a time.”
Mira frowned.
“Why?”
“Because the bridge is unstable.”
I stepped forward.
The moment my foot touched the stone—
The bridge cracked.
“Elara!”
Kael grabbed me.
The entire structure collapsed.
We fell.
Kael caught my wrist.
His body slammed against the cliff.
“Hold on!”
I looked down.
Nothing beneath me.
“Kael!”
“I’m not letting go.”
The stone beneath him began breaking.
“You’re going to fall!”
“I know.”
“Then let me go!”
“No.”
The cliff cracked again.
I reached for the mountain wall.
My flames erupted.
Silver energy spread through the stone.
The mountain itself responded.
New roots emerged from the rock, wrapping around us.
Kael pulled me upward.
We collapsed together on the cliff.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then I realized his arms were around me.
His face was inches from mine.
Our breathing mixed.
His silver eyes searched mine.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Good.”
He didn’t move.
Neither did I.
I whispered:
“Kael.”
“Yes?”
“You can let go.”
“I know.”
But he didn’t.
His hand moved to my cheek.
I should have stepped away.
Instead…
I leaned closer.
His lips touched mine.
The kiss was gentle.
Careful.
Nothing like the desperate bond I had once imagined with Damon.
There was no possession.
No demand.
Only choice.
When we finally separated, I looked at him.
“That was a mistake.”
His mouth curved into a smile.
“Do you regret it?”
I thought about it.
“No.”
“Then it wasn’t a mistake.”
I laughed.
“You always have an answer.”
“Only when you’re wrong.”
I pushed his shoulder.
He smiled.
Then Mira shouted from above.
“Are you two finished?”
I looked up.
She was standing beside my mother.
My mother was smiling.
I covered my face.
Kael laughed.
For the first time in years…
I felt happy.
But far away, beneath the mountain…
something woke.
And it had felt the bond between us.
—
