The ballroom had quieted, the crowd thinning as guests began to drift toward dessert, the gardens, or whispered conversations in shadowed corners. Shyla lingered near the edge of the floor, her fingers still brushing the locket at her chest. The warmth of the bond hummed steadily, a quiet reassurance that Nickolas had anchored her in a way she hadn't fully realized until tonight.
She felt light-headed, not from exhaustion but from the intensity of the evening. Every glance, every step, every heartbeat with Nickolas had felt like a conversation without words — deep, grounding, and strangely intimate. The locket pulsed in gentle rhythm, a steady reminder of Leo's watchful presence, though his voice felt distant now, more a murmur than an insistence.
"Shy?"
The soft voice pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see Nickolas, leaning casually against the railing near the balcony, eyes warm and attentive. He gestured toward the quieter corner of the ballroom. "May we step outside for a moment?"
Her pulse quickened — the night had already been overwhelming, but the idea of stepping away with him, even for a moment, was irresistible. She nodded, allowing him to guide her through the thinning crowd. Their hands brushed, fingers briefly intertwining, and she felt a subtle, almost electric thrill run through her.
Outside, the garden was cool and fragrant with the scent of late-blooming flowers. Lights hung from the trees like captured stars, reflecting softly off the dew-laced grass. The sound of the distant fountains mingled with the last strains of music, creating a private world, separate from the murmurs and glittering chaos inside.
Nickolas turned to face her fully, his expression unreadable yet gentle. "Shy, tonight… you did more than impress anyone. You… held steady. You let yourself feel without faltering. That is rare."
Shyla swallowed, cheeks flushing under his intense gaze. "I… I was nervous. And I still am. But…" Her fingers pressed against the locket, and she let out a soft breath. "…being here with you, it's… grounding. I think I understand, at least a little, what Leo means."
His gaze softened, and for a brief moment, the intensity faded into something warmer, almost protective. "Good. That is the bond speaking — the bond between us. It doesn't rush. It doesn't demand. It waits… patiently. But it expects honesty. And openness. Both ways."
Shyla nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle into her chest. "I want… I want to understand it. All of it. I just… don't always know how."
He stepped closer, the space between them narrowing, though still respectful. "Then you learn, as we go. Slowly. One step at a time." His hand hovered near hers but didn't touch. The gesture alone carried reassurance, and she felt her pulse slow slightly, tension easing from her shoulders.
A soft laugh drifted behind them. Shyla turned, and there was Nora, leaning against the doorway, her usual mischievous grin in place. "Didn't think I'd find you out here, all serious and dramatic," she teased, though her eyes were kind. "The room can wait, you know. Some things… are better out here."
Shyla smiled, a mixture of exasperation and warmth. "Nora! Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"I'm not sneaking. I'm just… observational." Nora's smirk widened. "And I had to see if you were actually… human under all the flustered princess stuff. Looks like you are. Barely."
Shyla rolled her eyes, laughing despite herself. Nickolas' lips curved into a soft smile at her reaction, amusement flickering briefly across his features. It was the first time she noticed him so openly relaxed, and it made her heart ease further.
"Come on, Shy," Nora continued, stepping closer. "Tonight isn't just about… you know, glances and dances. It's about being present, enjoying what's yours. Don't let the anxiety make you forget the moment."
Shyla nodded, glancing at Nickolas. He inclined his head slightly, a silent agreement passing between them. For the first time tonight, she felt fully present, aware of herself and the bond, without fear of faltering.
Nickolas offered his hand again, a quiet invitation. "One more dance? Just… us?"
Shyla hesitated for only a fraction of a second before placing her hand in his. The warmth of his touch spread through her chest like sunlight through clouds, steadying, familiar, grounding. The music drifted faintly from inside, but here, in the garden, it was merely background, a gentle accompaniment to the rhythm of their steps and the quiet hum of connection.
"You're stronger than you think," Nickolas murmured, eyes locked on hers. "Stronger and more capable than you've been told. Tonight… you proved it."
Shyla let the words sink in, allowing a smile to form. "And you… you make it easier. I think… I could actually learn to trust it. To trust us."
The moment stretched, the garden around them fading into soft focus. Even the faint hum of guests inside seemed distant, irrelevant. The bond pulsed gently, steadying her, reminding her that despite the chaos of expectations, of family, of whispers and anxieties, she had a place — and he had a place alongside her.
Her chest swelled with a mixture of relief, anticipation, and a quiet pride. For the first time that night, she felt the world narrow to the two of them, unbroken, unthreatened by shadows, unseen presences, or warnings.
Nora clapped softly from the doorway. "Don't get too sappy out here, lovebirds. People are still watching. Not that it matters. But still."
Shyla laughed, releasing Nickolas' hand reluctantly. "Nora, you're impossible."
"And you love it," she said, winking. "Just don't forget to enjoy tonight. The world may wait, but moments like this… they don't."
Nickolas nodded toward her sister. "She's right. Tonight… take it in. Feel it fully. You have the right to it."
Shyla let out a soft, shivering breath, aware of every heartbeat, every pulse of warmth through the locket. Leo's voice remained a faint hum in her mind, steady and calm. Do not falter… stay grounded… your mate is here.
She looked up at Nickolas, eyes shining with newfound certainty. "I… I will. Tonight… I want to. With you."
A quiet smile tugged at his lips, genuine and unguarded. "Then let us."
And for a long moment, the world was only theirs — the garden, the night, the lingering scent of flowers, and the steady pull of the bond between them. Shyla felt herself finally exhale fully, allowing relief, joy, and anticipation to mingle freely. Tonight had been overwhelming, yes. But it had also been affirming, grounding, and… beautiful.
As the garden lights flickered softly, and the distant sounds of laughter drifted through the air, Shyla realized something important: she was ready. Ready for the bond. Ready for Nickolas. Ready to face what lay ahead — whatever challenges or choices the future might hold.
Tonight, amidst the quiet after the storm of the ball, Shyla understood that she was no longer just reacting to events, to expectations, or to warnings. She was present. She was grounded. And she was stepping fully into her own story.