---
The journey back to the Eclipse Clan was swift, but Luna's mind was anything but calm.
She sat on her horse, Ren riding beside her, their cloaks billowing against the wind. The weight of the Sun Prince's sudden change of heart lingered in her mind, pressing against her instincts like an invisible threat.
"Are you really considering meeting with him?" Ren asked, her small voice barely carrying over the sound of hooves against dirt.
Luna exhaled. "Yes. But I don't trust him."
Ren frowned. "What if it's a trap?"
Luna's lips curled slightly. "Then I'll be ready for it."
Ahava, riding a few paces behind them, let out a scoff. "He went from hating you to inviting you to a meeting within a day. That's suspicious as hell."
Luna hummed in agreement but said nothing.
The tension among them was thick as the Eclipse Clan's grand kingdom came into view. The once-empty land had transformed into a thriving, fortified empire. Towers stood tall, warriors trained in vast courtyards, and trade routes bustled with merchants from distant lands.
And waiting for her at the gates—Ahava, arms crossed, his sharp gaze locked onto her the moment she came into view. The moment she dismounted, he strode toward her.
"You left again," he said, his voice laced with restrained frustration.
Luna sighed, already knowing what was coming. "I came back, didn't I?"
Ahava's jaw tensed. "That's not the point. Every time you go somewhere without us—"
"I had to," she interrupted, placing a hand on his arm. "And you know why."
He exhaled sharply through his nose. "And? Did the Sun Clan prince try to kill you yet?"
Luna smirked. "Not yet. He invited me to a private meeting instead."
Ahava stiffened. "That's a trap."
"I know."
His expression darkened, but before he could argue, Ren slipped between them.
"She's not going alone," the girl declared, crossing her arms. "Right, Luna?"
Luna chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Of course not."
Ahava shook his head, muttering under his breath. "I swear, you're going to get yourself killed one day."
Luna simply grinned. "Not today."
---
Midnight Whispers
The Eclipse Clan's throne room was bathed in soft moonlight as Luna sat on the grand chair at the center, her mind tangled in thought. Her advisors and warriors had long since gone to rest, but sleep was the last thing on her mind.
A cold breeze drifted through the open windows, rustling the banners of her growing empire.
Then—she felt it.
A dull pull, deep in her chest.
Her brows furrowed, fingers tightening against the armrests. It was the same strange sensation she had felt before—one she hadn't told anyone about. It wasn't pain, not exactly, but something… unnatural.
And she knew where it was coming from.
Kael.
Luna touched her collarbone absentmindedly, where his hand had brushed against her skin during their battle. The celestial energy that had surged between them had left something behind.
Something binding.
And for the first time, she wondered—
Did he feel it too?
---
The Prince's Torment
Kael sat in his chambers, his body drenched in sweat despite the cold night air.
The celestial mark on his chest glowed faintly beneath his tunic, its light pulsing in tandem with his erratic heartbeat.
He gritted his teeth. Damn her.
He could feel her.
Even now, miles away, her presence pressed against his senses, invading his thoughts like a whispered curse. His fingers dug into his arms as he struggled to suppress the unnatural longing clawing at his insides.
He was a prince. A warrior. The heir to the Sun Clan's throne.
And yet…
The more he tried to resist it, the stronger it became.
He slammed a fist against the wooden table beside his bed, sending goblets and scrolls crashing to the floor.
His breathing was ragged, his mind filled with her.
Luna Nyx Astraeus.
His enemy.
His obsession.
His fingers ghosted over the mark on his chest, the celestial energy within it flickering violently.
What had she done to him?
Kael's golden eyes darkened, his grip tightening.
In twenty days, he would see her again.
And one way or another—
He would make her his.
---
A Silent Storm
The following morning, Luna stood at the highest tower of her kingdom, gazing over the vast lands she had built. The wind was sharp against her skin, but she welcomed it.
Ahava approached her from behind. "Still thinking about him?"
Luna sighed. "I'd be a fool not to."
Ahava leaned against the railing beside her. "And if it's a trap?"
Luna smirked. "Then I'll turn it into my advantage."
Ahava scoffed. "You're impossible."
Luna chuckled. "And yet, you still follow me."
Ahava gave her a side glance before sighing. "Of course I do."
They stood in comfortable silence for a moment before Ahava spoke again. "You should rest."
Luna shook her head. "Not yet. I need to prepare."
Ahava narrowed his eyes. "For what?"
Luna turned to him, her night-colored eyes glowing softly under the moonlight.
"For war, if necessary."
---