Chapter 334 First night after Ashen land

Chapter 334: Chapter 334 First night after Ashen land

Talia’s POV

Kaelen’s hand was warm in mine as he led me down the hallway.

The torches flickered, casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. The stronghold was quiet, and the only sound was the soft echo of our footsteps and the distant howl of a wolf in the mountains. The night was deep and still, and the world felt like it was holding its breath.

I looked at him, and I felt the tears still wet on my cheeks. "Kaelen," I said, and my voice was soft. "I do not want to be alone tonight."

He squeezed my hand, and I felt the warmth of his fingers against mine. "You will not be alone, Talia. I am right here."

I nodded, and I let him lead me to our room.

He opened the door, and I walked inside.

Our room was warm and familiar, with a fire crackling in the hearth and soft blankets on the bed. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting silver light across the floor. The shadows danced on the walls, and the flames cast a golden glow over everything.

I looked at the bed, and I felt the exhaustion pulling at me. I had not slept properly in days. I had been running on adrenaline and hope, and now that the hope was fulfilled, the adrenaline was fading. My body was heavy, and my mind was foggy.

Kaelen walked to the bed, and he pulled back the blankets. "Come," he said, and his voice was soft. "Rest."

I walked to him, and I let him help me into the bed.

He climbed in beside me, and I felt his arm wrapping around me. I pressed my back against his chest, and I felt the warmth of his body against mine. His breath was warm on my neck, and his heart was beating steady and strong against my back.

The fire crackled softly, and the moonlight streamed through the window. The room was warm, and the world was quiet.

I closed my eyes, and I let myself breathe.

"Kaelen," I whispered.

He pressed his lips to my hair. "I am here, Talia."

I nodded, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes again. But I did not let them fall, and because I was too tired to cry. I just lay there, feeling his warmth, and I let myself rest.

We did not speak.

Because there were no words that needed to be said. We had been through so much together, and we had survived. We had walked through the Ashen Lands, and we had fought Malachai’s guards, and we had broken my mother out of a silver cage. We had done all of that, and we had found our way back to each other.

I felt his hand on my stomach, and I felt his breath on my neck. His fingers traced small circles on my skin, and I felt the tension leaving my body.

I closed my eyes, and I let myself feel the moment.

The room was warm, the fire was crackling, and the world was quiet.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, I was at peace.

"Kaelen," I said, and my voice was barely a whisper. "I was so scared."

He tightened his arms around me. "I know, Talia. So was I."

I turned in his arms, and I looked at him. The firelight flickered across his face, and I saw the love in his gray eyes.

"I thought I was going to lose you," I said. "In the dungeon, when the silver was burning you. I thought I was going to watch you die."

He reached up, and he brushed a strand of hair from my face. "But you did not lose me, Talia. I am here, and I am not going anywhere."

I shook my head. "I know. But I was so afraid."

He pulled me closer, and I felt his arms tightening around me. "I was afraid too," he said. "I was afraid of losing you. I was afraid of watching you break those bars with your blood, and I was afraid of watching you collapse over and over again."

I pressed my face into his chest. "But we made it. We made it out."

He pressed his lips to my forehead. "Yes, Talia. We made it out."

I looked up at him. "What happens now, Kaelen? After all of this?"

He was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke, and his voice was soft. "Now we live, Talia. We heal, we rebuild, and we prepare."

I nodded, and I felt the weight of his words settling on my shoulders. "Malachai is still out there."

He nodded. "Yes. He is. But we will face him together. When the time comes, we will be ready."

I looked at him, and I felt the love in my chest. "Together?"

He smiled, and I saw the love in his eyes. "Together. Always together."

I leaned into him, and I felt his arms wrapping around me again. But then I remembered how the Ashen land had affected him.

I reached up, and I touched his face. His skin was warm beneath my fingers, and I felt the stubble on his jaw. "Kaelen," I said. "You need to see the chief healer tomorrow. Your skin was burned by the silver, and I need to know that you are okay."

He shook his head. "I am fine, Talia. I have healed before."

I looked at him, and I felt the worry rising in my chest. "Kaelen, I saw your skin. I saw the welts and the burns. You cannot just ignore that."

He reached up, and he covered my hand with his. "Talia, I am fine. I promise."

"Kaelen..." I started to say.

"Talia," he said, and his voice was soft. "I will go. But not tonight. Tonight, I want to hold you. Tonight, I just want to rest. Let tomorrow come."

I looked at him, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes. "Promise me, Kaelen. Promise me you will go."

He smiled, and I saw the love in his eyes. "I promise, Talia. Tomorrow. I will go."

I nodded, and I pressed my face into his chest. "Thank you."

He held me tighter. "I am fine, Talia. I am here, and that is all that matters.”

I smiled, and I felt myself drifting. The exhaustion was pulling me under, and I could not fight it anymore. I did not want to fight it, I just wanted to sleep. I wanted to rest.

"Talia," Kaelen whispered.

I did not open my eyes. "Yes?" I answered.

He pressed his lips to my forehead. "I love you."

I opened my eyes, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes. "I love you too, Kaelen."

He held me tighter, and I felt the warmth of his body against mine.

I closed my eyes again, and I let myself drift into sleep.

The fire crackled softly, and the world was quiet.

And for this one night, there was only peace.