Maria couldn't respond. Her breath came uneven, like she had been running for miles instead of standing still. Drexo's presence filled the space between them, heavy, undeniable. He didn't touch her yet, but it felt like he already had. Like his hands were everywhere.
He stepped closer. Slowly. Deliberately. His lips hovered just inches from hers. "Tell me that," Drexo repeated, his voice lower now, rougher, like something inside him was breaking loose. "And I will be gone for good."
Maria opened her mouth. Nothing came out. No words. No protest. Not even a lie. Just the sound of her breathing. Loud. Uncontrolled.
Her fingers twitched at her sides. She could feel it, that pull. That dangerous, reckless pull that had been growing since the first time their eyes met and held just a little too long.
They stood like that for what felt like forever. Or maybe it was just a few seconds..Then something inside her snapped. Not gently. Not slowly. It shattered.
Her training, her discipline, her vows, they didn't disappear. They were still there, somewhere. But they were no longer in control. They were distant voices now, drowned out by something louder. Hotter.
More honest. Her chest rose sharply. Her hands moved before her mind could catch up. She grabbed Drexo's head, almost violently, like she was afraid he might disappear if she hesitated.
And then she kissed him. Hard. Drexo froze for half a heartbeat. Then he answered. Not carefully. Not politely.
He met her intensity with his own, his hand finding her waist, pulling her closer like he had been waiting for permission he no longer needed.
The door shut behind them. Neither of them looked at it. Nothing else existed at that moment.
Not Robert. Not Friya. Not the kingdom. Not tomorrow. Just them, and their burning desires for each other.
They moved without thinking, guided by something deeper than reason. The distance between them vanished completely, and before long, they were no longer standing. They were on the bed.
The world outside the room faded. Time blurred. And for a while, they stopped fighting it. When it was over, silence crept back in. Not a peaceful silence. But a heavy one.
The kind that presses against your chest and makes it hard to breathe. Drexo lay beside her, his chest rising and falling, slower now. He turned his head slightly, studying her. "It was your first time," he said quietly, almost to himself.
There was something like a surprise in his voice..Maria didn't answer. Her eyes were open, staring at nothing. The fire that had consumed her moments ago was gone. Now replaced by regret.
Her fingers curled slowly against the sheets. Then she sat up. "What have I done?" The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Drexo frowned slightly, pushing himself up on one arm. "Relax, my dear.".That was the wrong thing to say. Maria turned sharply, her eyes blazing now, but not with desire..With anger.
"You made me break my vow," she snapped. "You lured me into this."
Drexo blinked, caught off guard. "I thought… we both wanted it.".She let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Wanted it?
Yes. That was the problem.
She stood quickly, grabbing her clothes, pulling them on with quick, almost aggressive movements.
"Get out of my room." Drexo sat up fully now. "Maria!"
She didn't let him finish. Her hand moved to her sword. The sound of metal sliding free cut through the room. Clean, and final.
Drexo raised both hands instinctively, stepping back slightly. "Alright alright. I will leave." There was no hesitation in her eyes. No softness. Whatever had happened between them, it was gone now. Buried under something harder. Something colder.
He dressed quickly, glancing at her once, like he wanted to say something more. He didn't..She raised the sword slightly. That was enough. "I am leaving," he said, slower this time.
Then he walked out. The door shut loudly. .Maria stood there for a second..Then her strength gave out. She dropped to the ground, her back hitting the door as her hands flew to her face.
"Oh God! what have I done?" Her voice broke..Not softly. Not quietly. It cracked open. "I broke my vows!"
Her fingers tangled in her hair, gripping hard, like she could undo what just happened if she pulled hard enough. "He… he made me do it."
She stopped. No. That wasn't true..Her breathing slowed, just a little. "I let him.".That truth hit harder.
She pressed her palms against her eyes. "If my brother finds out." The thought alone made her stomach twist. "I am done.".Not just punished.
Finished and ruined. Her shoulders shook slightly. "I must keep this a secret.".The words came out firmer this time. More controlled. "I do not want this." But even as she said it, something inside her didn't agree.
And that made it worse.
Meanwhile, Drexo moved carefully through the corridor. Every step was measured. Every turn was cautious. The last thing he needed was to be seen leaving her chambers at this hour.
His mind was still spinning..Not from fear. From something else. Something deeper. He had just turned a corner when a hand shot out of nowhere, grabbing him and pulling him into a nearby room.
Drexo reacted instantly, his body tensing, Then he stopped. "Theon?" He exhaled sharply. "You scared me."
Theon didn't respond immediately. He just stared at him. Hard. "What were you doing in the Woodland girl's room?"
Drexo's jaw tightened. "What Woodland girl? I didn't visit anyone." Theon's lips curved slightly, but there was no humor in it. "Don't do that," he said. "I saw you go in. I heard enough."
Drexo's eyes narrowed. "You were eavesdropping?"
"That's not important.".Theon stepped closer, lowering his voice. "What are you doing sleeping with your cousin's fiancée… the night before your own engagement?"
Drexo opened his mouth, then closed it. Then, he looked away.
"I… couldn't help it." The words sounded weak, even to him. Theon studied him for a moment.
Then sighed. "You need to be careful," he said quietly. "Your father is not a man who overlooks things like this. Not even for blood." Drexo nodded slowly. He didn't argue. Because he knew it was true.
Later, back in his room, Drexo sat on the edge of his bed.
Still, and unmoving. But his mind refused to be quiet. Everything replayed..The way she looked at him. The way she hesitated. The way she didn't. He placed a hand on his chest, pressing lightly, like he was trying to steady something inside.
"I've been with women before now". That part was true. Plenty of them..It had never been complicated. Never meant anything beyond the moment.
But this: "This feels different."
He exhaled slowly. "I didn't just want her.".That would have been easier. "I felt her." That was the problem. "I didn't have sex." He shook his head slightly. "I made love."
The word lingered in the air. Strange, and unfamiliar. But it fits too well..His thoughts drifted. Tomorrow. To the engagement.. To Friya.
His jaw tightened. "It would have been easier if I never met Maria." That much was certain..Life would have stayed simple.
Predictable, and controlled. But now? He let out a short breath. "Now I know what love feels like." And that changed everything.."I can't marry for politics anymore."
The words came out firmer this time. Stronger..He stood up suddenly, his hands clenching into fists.
"I won't."
There it was. Decision. Clear, and solid. "I will cancel the engagement." No hesitation now. "I will tell my father." Even as he said it, he knew what that meant. The consequences. The fallout. But for the first time, he didn't care.
"I don't want it." Not anymore. Not after tonight.