Chapter 25 – A Moment Between the Chaos
The night air was cold against Adrian's skin as he and Evelyn tore through the darkened forest, their breaths ragged, their bodies running on instinct.
Behind them, Lucien's fortress burned. Explosions rocked the facility, sending plumes of black smoke spiraling into the sky.
But Adrian wasn't thinking about Lucien.
He wasn't thinking about Selene, or the fact that someone else had turned the battlefield into a warzone.
Right now, all he could focus on was Evelyn.
She was still gripping his hand, her fingers tight around his, her pulse thrumming against his skin. She hadn't let go since they'd made their escape. And neither had he.
They ran until they reached the edge of a lake—still, untouched, reflecting the moon like glass.
Adrian finally stopped, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath.
Evelyn staggered forward, pressing her hands to her knees. "We… made it…"
Adrian didn't answer. He was still watching her. Taking in every detail.
The way the moonlight danced in her hair. The way her lips were slightly parted, her breath coming in soft, shaky exhales. The faint bruise on her temple from earlier, one he should've been able to protect her from.
She shouldn't have been here.
She should've been safe—far away from Lucien, from Orion's Circle, from all of this.
But she was here.
With him.
Evelyn straightened, brushing damp strands of hair from her face. When she met his gaze, she frowned. "Adrian?"
He swallowed hard. His throat felt tight. Too tight.
He had spent years learning to survive.
Years training himself to endure pain, loss, betrayal—but nothing had prepared him for this.
For her.
For the way she looked at him like he was more than just a weapon.
Like he was a man worth saving.
She took a step closer. "Talk to me."
Adrian exhaled, running a hand down his face. "You shouldn't be here."
Evelyn's lips parted slightly. "What?"
"You shouldn't be here," he repeated, voice lower this time. Rougher. "With me."
Evelyn's brows furrowed, her chest still rising and falling from the run. "You think I regret coming with you?"
"You should."
Evelyn's jaw clenched. "And what about you?"
Adrian froze.
Evelyn took another step forward, her voice softer now, but just as unyielding. "Do you regret it?"
He couldn't answer.
Because he didn't.
Not for a second.
Not even when the world was burning behind them.
His silence was enough.
Evelyn exhaled, taking one last step until she was right in front of him. So close he could feel the warmth of her body.
"I made my choice, Adrian," she murmured. "And I'd make it again."
Adrian breathed her in. The scent of her—something soft, something real—cutting through the smoke and blood and violence that had followed him for so long.
His hands twitched at his sides.
He could still walk away.
Could still pretend that she wasn't the one thing keeping him tethered to something human.
But then—
Evelyn reached up.
Brushed her fingers against his cheek, tracing the faint cut there.
And just like that—
He was undone.
Adrian moved before he could think. Before he could stop himself.
His hands slid around her waist, pulling her flush against him. A sharp inhale left her lips, but she didn't pull away.
She didn't even hesitate.
Instead, her hands pressed against his chest, clutching the fabric of his shirt like she was afraid he would disappear.
Like she was afraid he'd run.
But Adrian didn't run.
Not this time.
His lips brushed against her forehead, his breath warm against her skin. "I don't deserve you."
Evelyn closed her eyes. "Let me decide that."
Adrian swallowed hard, pressing his forehead against hers. Their breaths mingled. Close, but not close enough.
She was waiting.
Waiting for him to let go.
And for once in his life—
He did.
Adrian closed the space between them, his lips crashing against hers.
Evelyn gasped softly against his mouth before melting into him, her fingers sliding up to tangle in his hair.
He kissed her like she was the only real thing in this world.
Like he needed her to breathe.
And maybe—just maybe—he did.
When they finally broke apart, Evelyn's eyes were still closed, her breath uneven.
Adrian didn't let go.
Not yet.
Not ever.
Evelyn slowly opened her eyes, searching his. "We should keep moving."
Adrian exhaled. Nodded.
But as they stepped away from the lake, as the fire and the past and the war waiting for them faded into the distance…
Adrian knew one thing for certain.
He wasn't just fighting for revenge anymore.
He was fighting for her.