Nytherra paced the edge of the old pond, toes skimming the grass every few steps. The moon was high, the night warm, and the reflection of the wisteria blossoms floated ghost-pale across the water.
He was late.
Kaelith was never late.
Not in three months of secret meetings.
Not once.
She tried not to think about the reason her heart was pounding harder than her footsteps.
Then a sound tore through the quiet—
A harsh, strangled exhale.
She spun around.
Kaelith stumbled from between the trees like he'd been running from a ghost or toward one. His shoulders rose and fell fast, his breathing ragged, his hands trembling.
"Kaelith?" Her voice cracked.
Moonlight hit him.
Her breath left her completely.
Scales.
Black-blue.
Flaring along his jaw, his throat, the edge of his collarbone.
The same scales from the night they first met.
This time, they were brighter.
More alive.
Like they were reacting to her.
Nytherra stepped forward despite her pulse screaming.
"What happened to you?"
He didn't answer.
His gaze slammed into hers.
Not soft.
Not careful.
Hungry.
"Nytherra," he said, voice low, ruined. "Why are you here first? I told you to wait until—"
"You told me to wait," she shot back, "and then you vanished for an hour. So I came here. Like we planned."
His jaw clenched. "You shouldn't be out alone."
"And you shouldn't look like you're about to tear the forest apart."
He exhaled through his teeth, something feral flickering across his features.
"Don't push me tonight."
She froze.
The tone wasn't a threat.
It was a plea.
Her voice went soft. "Kaelith… what's wrong?"
He stepped toward her.
Slow at first.
Then faster.
"Kaelith—"
Too late.
He caught her by the waist, fingers digging into the back of her shirt as if anchoring himself to reality, and the next thing she knew her back hit the ground beneath the wisteria tree.
The world spun.
Her breath vanished.
His body hovered above hers, hot, shaking, trying so hard not to touch her more than he already was.
His voice came out rough.
"You don't know what you do to me."
Nytherra's heartbeat slammed so hard it hurt.
"I didn't do anything."
"You exist." His forehead nearly touched hers. "I can barely breathe when you're near me."
Her lips parted. "Kaelith…"
His hands slid to the earth beside her head, trapping her, but not hurting. He lowered himself just enough that his hair brushed her cheek.
"I came here to calm down," he whispered, like a confession. "But you… you make everything burn."
Her whole body flushed.
"Kaelith."
He shut his eyes like her saying his name was agony.
When he opened them again, his pupils were blown wide and shimmering molten at the edges.
"Tell me to stop," he breathed. "Say the word, Nytherra. Please."
She shook her head. "I'm not scared of you."
"You should be."
"Then tell me why."
He lowered his mouth until their breaths tangled.
His voice broke.
"Because I want you. More than I should. More than I can control tonight."
Her entire body went still.
"…Kaelith."
He leaned in, slow, deliberate, as if fighting the instinct to claim her on instinct alone. His breath ghosted her lips, warm and shaky. Her fingers curled into the earth beneath her.
He was so close she could see the faint shimmer of scales across his temples.
"Nytherra," he murmured. "If I kiss you now, it won't be gentle."
Her heart tripped.
She lifted her chin.
Just a little.
"I don't—"
He pulled back sharply, breath tearing out of him like it hurt.
"No."
His voice was raw.
"Not like this. Not when I can't guarantee I'll stop."
Anger, desire, and restraint battled across his face, each emotion flickering through the scales.
She reached up before she could stop herself, brushing her fingers against his jaw.
He inhaled sharply like the touch was fire.
"Nytherra," he warned, voice shaking, "don't."
"Why?"
"Because I'm one wrong move away from losing every bit of control I have left."
Her eyes softened.
"Then tell me to stop touching you."
He closed his eyes.
"I can't."
She exhaled shakily. "Then don't pull away."
His fingers dug into the earth on either side of her head so hard the ground cracked.
He lowered his forehead to hers for one excruciating second—
torment, longing, hunger all twisted together—
then tore himself back, stumbling to his feet like the space between them was the only thing saving him.
His voice came out hollow and desperate.
"If you pull me in again—
I won't walk away next time."
Nytherra sat up slowly, breath unsteady, heart in pieces.
Under the wisteria tree, Kaelith stared at her like she was the one thing in the world he wasn't allowed to want.
And the one thing he couldn't stop wanting.
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