Page 97 of In Between Darkness
“It’s been so long since I watched the sunset.” His eyes sparkle with awe as he drinks up the orange rays. A sigh escapes his lips as he relishes this moment.
I lean closer to him and take in the view. It is beautiful. It’s hard to see the world through the eyes of a Moon when you have been brought up as a Sun your whole life. Here, in this moment, I see more than a glimpse of who he is. A soul forced to live in the shadows, fascinated by the mundane, a sunset. I suppose I have taken for granted the little things — the warmth of the sun on a cold day, the sight of the birds singing each morning, the dew that glistens under the light of its rising. All lost in transcript, just a picture on the wall of Moon Castle to be looked at and never lived. Made to hide from the sun’s beauty and dwell in the cold light of the moon.
“Do you ever crave another life?” I rest my head on his shoulder. “One where you don’t have to hide.”
He picks at strands of grass at his feet and throws them into the breeze.
“Who says I am hiding?”
I feel his shoulders tense under my cheek and imagine his defences going up.
“Maybe I wasn’t talking about you.” I sigh as I feel his body soften.
He turns to face me, lifting my chin gently with his thumb. His dark eyes swallow me whole, and I notice little freckles for the first time, spread out across his harsh cheekbones.
“Have you heard the stories about the crescent gem?” he asks, and I shake my head in response.
“It’s an ancient moonstone, blessed by the original God of the night. It vanished from its altar decades ago, leaving behind only whispers and legends. The God of Night enchanted the stone with a protection spell that paralyses anyone who looks at it. Only a chosen few possess the ability to handle the gem andits Gifts. Yet the search persists; it is believed that to keep such beauty locked away, unseen, is a disservice to the world even at such a morbid cost.”
He stares into my eyes as if he is searching for something deep within them.
“Hiding a beauty like yours would be a disservice to us all.”
My eyes lock onto his, and my stomach somersaults like an acrobat. He thinks I’m beautiful. My cheeks flush with a warmth that spreads beyond my skin, and I become lost in his features. Suddenly, the distant howling of the wind and sounds of nature fade into a blurry background. All that exists in this moment is him, his eyes reflecting a version of myself I have never seen before. A version I desperately want to become. His breath, warm on my face, intoxicates me, and my eyes fall onto his full, glossy lips. My heart thumps loudly in my eardrums, a frantic drumbeat against the silence that follows. I lean in, searching for a kiss as euphoric as the one in his bed. I crave his touch. My breath hitches, and just as our lips are about to collide, he pulls away.
My cheeks redden again, this time in embarrassment. He takes to his feet and scratches at the back of his neck. This hot and cold thing is really starting to get old.
“Can you, uh, portal me to my room? I am leading a search party in a couple of hours.” His voice is monotone, and he won’t make eye contact.
“Yeah, I guess.” I shrug and uproot a blade of grass from its earthy slumber, hoping the ground will swallow me up. A shaky sigh exhales from my lungs as I stand and conjure a portal big enough for him to walk through. The entrance looms in front of him, he looks at me before stepping into its depths, but my eyes turn from his.
“Thank you,” he says, as he begins to step into its vortex. I am still crippled by the awkwardness, but before I can cringe anymore, I feel his grip on my arm pulling me with him.
“What the fuck!?” I exclaim, peeling myself off his bedroom floor. “You want me, you don’t want me. I can’t keep up.”
I can’t hold it in any longer. This man has had my emotions strapped onto a rollercoaster, but now the buckle is loose, and there is nothing to stop them from falling out.
“I know.” He helps me the rest of the way up from the floor. “I know. I just couldn’t leave knowing you were upset.”
“Well, why say all of that about the moonstone? Why even call me beautiful?” I plead with him to make it make sense.
“Because you are.” He speaks with more emotion than I have ever witnessed, leaving me speechless. “It’s not that I don’t want to kiss you, Asha. It’s all I want to do. It’s everything I think about.”
“So what is the problem?” I furrow my brows, looking at him confused.
“It’s you. You make me weak, Asha. I was raised a soldier, taught not to show emotion…which I was fine at until I met you.”
His words sting me like a slap to the face.
“God’s forbid I’m the reasontheRyder Stormwood actually feels something.” I roll my eyes and walk over to his window, catching the last glow of the sun before it sets for the night.
“I don’t know if you realised, but there is some serious shit going down in Moon Castle.” He raises his voice and walks over to me, startling me into turning around. “Another Moon went missing last week. I should be out there looking for them, but instead I am training you.”
“Well, stop training me then!” I match his temper, failing to see the trouble I have caused him. “I’m done being your charity case.” My cheeks flush red with anger. I am done being used byhim. I push at his chest to make enough space to conjure my portal and leave, but he blocks my way.
“I wish it were that simple.” He huffs, at war with his emotions. My hands are still at his chest, his heart vibrates my fingertips with every beat. “Gods I’ve tried to distance myself from you, but it only makes me want you more.”
His eyes peer into my soul with a lust he tries to fight. He releases a shaky breath and tugs at his bottom lip between his teeth.
