Ficool

Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Tides of Temptation

The moonlight spilled through the gaps in the curtains, casting silver shadows across the stone floor. Liora sat by the edge of the window, her knees drawn up to her chest as she watched the stars blink lazily above the forest canopy. The soft chirping of crickets was the only sound in the room—until she heard the door creak open.

She didn't turn. She didn't have to. She knew it was him.

Killian.

His scent—fresh rain, pine, and fire—reached her before his voice did. And it still had the same effect. Her breath caught, heart clenching.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked quietly, his voice husky, as if he had just woken from a dream.

Liora shook her head, still not facing him. "It's hard to rest when your life is wrapped around a curse you don't understand."

Killian stepped closer, his bare feet silent on the floor. She could feel the warmth of his body behind her, not touching her, but close enough to ignite the tension between them.

"I wanted to give you space," he said, voice low. "But every time I walk away, I regret it."

Liora turned to look at him then, her eyes reflecting the stars. "Then stop walking away."

It wasn't a challenge. It was a plea. And Killian heard it loud and clear.

He took a step closer, finally closing the distance. "You terrify me, Liora."

Her brows furrowed. "Why?"

"Because I'm falling," he admitted, voice raw. "And I don't know if I'll survive the landing."

She rose to her feet, now standing inches away from him. "Then fall with me."

The air between them thickened. Magic pulsed, alive and crackling. Her heart thundered in her chest as Killian reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. His fingers lingered, trailing down the curve of her jaw, igniting fire where they touched.

"I've wanted to kiss you since the night you told me to shut up in the woods," he murmured, his lips hovering just above hers.

She smiled. "I remember. You looked so offended."

"I was offended… and turned on," he confessed with a smirk.

She laughed—soft, sweet—and it broke something inside him. He didn't wait a second longer.

Killian's lips found hers.

It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was a storm. Desperate. Fierce. Years of pain and secrets poured into a single, searing connection. Her fingers tangled in his hair as he pulled her against him, one hand at her waist, the other cradling her jaw like she was something precious.

His kiss was a question. Hers was the answer.

The magic between them exploded.

A pulse of energy radiated out from their bodies, shaking the walls, flickering the lanterns. Somewhere in the distance, a vase shattered. But they didn't care.

Killian pulled away first, barely breathing. "What… what was that?"

Liora's eyes were wide, her fingers trembling. "I don't know. But I felt it. Did you feel it too?"

He nodded slowly. "Like the curse reacted to us. Like it… shifted."

They stood in silence, both panting, unsure if they had broken something—or awakened it.

Before either of them could speak, the door burst open.

Elric stormed in, eyes wild. "You need to see this. Now."

Killian stepped protectively in front of Liora. "What is it?"

"The stones," Elric said breathlessly. "The stones are glowing again."

They rushed to the main chamber, where the ancient magical stones that had once been dead and cold now pulsed with a warm, violet light. One stone in particular was shining brighter than the rest—the one Liora had touched before.

Elric turned to them, expression stunned. "Whatever you did… it triggered something."

Killian didn't respond. He just reached for Liora's hand and held it tightly.

"Is it possible that we've started breaking the curse?" she whispered.

Elric's face was grim. "Or waking it up."

Later that night, as everyone else scrambled to study the runes, Liora and Killian found themselves back in the library, searching ancient scrolls and records. Liora's fingers brushed across a faded parchment etched with a prophecy neither of them had seen before.

It read:

"When the cursed blood touches true flame,

And lips meet under the moon's claim,

The curse shall stir, secrets unfurl,

Unraveling fate, and dooming the world."

Killian stiffened. "That… sounds like us."

Liora's hands trembled. "What if our connection isn't just a cure… what if it's a trigger?"

He reached out, gripping her hands tightly. "Then we'll figure it out together. Whatever this prophecy means, I won't let it take you away from me."

A sudden crack of thunder outside made her jump. The sky had turned ominous—black clouds swirling unnaturally fast. Magic pulsed in the air, heavier than before.

"Killian…" she whispered. "Something's coming."

He nodded, pulling her into his arms protectively. "Let it come."

But deep down, they both knew—this was just the beginning.

The curse wasn't done with them.

Not even close.

More Chapters