The kiss was a collapse of worlds. It didn't begin gently—it began hungrily.

A touch born of despair and love at the same time, as if both knew that this instant would be the last that fate would allow.

Sylphie's lips trembled when they met his, but soon the hesitation gave way to surrender.

A heat coursed through Kael's body, rising up his spine, and for a moment he believed that time had stopped—that nothing but that touch existed.

She kissed him as one tries to etch memories onto skin, as one tries to say everything the soul screams but the mouth cannot pronounce.

And Kael kissed her back with the same force, with the same pain.

Each breath between them was an oath, a farewell, a silent plea for the universe to have mercy.

When they separated, the air between them was heavy—warm, dense, full of magic and emotion.

Sylphie's eyes were brimming with tears, their green glint distorted by the trembling tears clinging to the edges of her eyelashes.

Kael raised his hand and touched hers gently, his thumb wiping away a tear that slowly trickled down her pale skin.

He tried to smile, but his voice came out hoarse, broken, sincere.

"You… have no idea what you just did to me."

Sylphie let out a weak laugh, almost a sob.

"I did what I should have done before."

Kael moved closer, his forehead brushing against hers.

"If you meant to destroy me, you succeeded."

She smiled, even while crying.

"Then we're the same."

The silence that followed was long, heavy with everything that never needed to be said.

Kael took a deep breath and, without breaking the touch, murmured:

"I love you."

The words came out as a confession and a sentence.

There was no hesitation, no drama—only truth.

Sylphie closed her eyes, and two tears fell slowly.

"I love you too."

"No," he replied, almost in a broken whisper. "I love you more."

She opened her eyes, and the smile that came was small, but whole.

"Then prove it to me, when time allows."

He pressed her against his chest, holding her tightly. As if she were about to escape at any moment. As if everything around him was a mist, and she was the only solid thing.

Sylphie held his face, pressing her fingertips into the taut skin of his cheeks. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but instead, she moved even closer, until their lips met again.

The first sensation was taste. Sweet, like honey. Warm and moist. Their lips moved, pressing, rubbing, parting and returning. Their tongues intertwined, one entangled with the other. His mouth was wet and eager.

His mouth opened, the warmth of their breath lingering between the gaps. Their breath mingled, the unmistakable essence and taste of being like this, so close, at the center of the world.

Her hands traced the nape of Kael's neck, her fingers digging into his short, unruly hair. A strong tug, and his head fell back. The elf's mouth moved, kissing his chin, his throat, his neck. Sucking. Teeth and tongue.

He shuddered and took a deep breath. His voice came out in a growl: "Sylphie...". His hands slid inside her blouse, tracing her spine, her hips. Slipping into her trousers, her nails scratching the soft skin of her thighs.

Sylphie gasped and threw her head back. Her breasts rose and fell with her panting breath. Heat filled her from within, blood throbbing in her veins. A handful of fingers twisted in Kael's hair. She pulled him up, breathless.

"Bite," she begged, her voice hoarse and desperate. "I want to feel."

He didn't hesitate. With a swift movement, he unbuttoned her blouse and leaned over her exposed breasts. His mouth covered her hardened nipple, and he sucked hard, his teeth and tongue grazing the sensitive skin. Sylphie moaned and pressed herself against him, her neck throbbing.

"Kael... more." He didn't need to be asked twice. His hands roamed her body, exploring every inch, touching every curve and recess. He found her navel and pressed it, inserted a finger and withdrew it with a "poof."

Sylphie shuddered and gasped, her lips moving in endless kisses across his skin. Her hand snaked down, gripped the fabric of his trousers, and stretched them aside. She ripped the buttons off with a brusque gesture and tossed the trousers aside.

Kael's erection sprang free. Thick, throbbing, pulsating with hot blood. The tip of the glans was wet with pre-ejaculate. He writhed and groaned as Sylphie's hand closed around his member. Her palm slid down its length, moving up and down, squeezing the shaft.

Kael hissed through his teeth, his veins swollen with pleasure. Sylphie teased him with light kisses, moving up his abdomen, over his chest, stopping at his nipple. With the tip of her tongue, she traced circles around the hardened tip. Kael arched forward, panting. Pleasure reverberated throughout his being.

"Sylphie, please... I need... I need..." She didn't need any more encouragement. She took his penis into her mouth and sucked hard. The swollen head bumped against her throat, and she swallowed back. Kael groaned loudly, the sound echoing through the room.

His hand snaked down and found her hardened clitoris. He pinched it between his thumb and forefinger, squeezing and smoothing the small bump. Sylphie squealed, her thighs contracting. Orgasm was approaching, her insides tightening into a knot.

Kael pushed her back, their bodies moving in a whirlwind of intertwined limbs. Sylphie slammed against the bed, her legs being parted with a sharp thrust. He covered her body, his thighs pressing against her throbbing center.

Sylphie whimpered and pulled at his penis with her hands, trying to guide it inside her. Kael crouched down and thrust into her in one go, his swollen head bursting inside her canal. Sylphie screamed, her voice echoing through the room. The walls tightened around him, a thousand hands massaging his member.

Kael withdrew, his lips glistening with both their fluids. He thrust again, faster and harder. Sylphie writhed beneath him, her hips rising to meet his. Her hands gripped his hips, her fingers digging into his flesh.

He grew faster, harder, faster. Each thrust hit Sylphie's G-spot, making her belly throb with pleasure. She screamed and trembled, her legs contracting around him.

Kael slid out and smoothed his shaft along the folds, spreading the fluids. He found her clitoris and rubbed it with the tip of his penis, the contact stony. Sylphie cried out, gasping for air.

The thrusts became harder, faster. Kael penetrated her deeply, his balls brushing against the entrance. Sylphie whimpered and writhed, climax approaching.

Kael's hands pressed against the upper thighs of hers, forcing them open even wider. He leaned over her, their bodies pressed together. His voice was a growl against her ear: "I love you. I love you so much it hurts."

He thrust harder, the bed shaking beneath them. Sylphie cried out and climbed on top of him, climax hitting her like a wave. Kael buried himself in her to the hilt and came, flooding her canal with hot, thick jets of semen.

They collapsed together onto the bed, breathless and exhausted. Their bodies clung together in sweat, their hearts racing. Sylphie snuggled closer to him and sighed, her voice thick with pleasure: "I love you too. And I always will. No one will ever separate us."

Kael smiled and kissed her forehead, his lips soft. "No, they won't."

…

[A short while ago…]

In the next room, the silence had been replaced by something… far less silent.

Amelia was lying face down on the bed, reading an ancient grimoire when the first sound pierced the wall.

She froze.

"…was that a groan?"

Irelia, who was sitting on the rug, sharpening a dagger, stopped moving. She stood completely still for a second… then slowly raised her eyes to Amelia.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure I want to believe it wasn't."

But then, the second sound came. More muffled, clearer. And it left no room for doubt.

Amelia's eyes widened, her face beginning to flush—a rare thing for someone who had faced necromancers, dragons, and politicians from the magic council.

"…they aren't…"

"They are," Irelia replied dryly, dropping the dagger and rubbing her face with her hands. "For all the moons of Eloria, they are."

Amelia put her hands to her head. "But his room is… the one next door! Next door, Irelia! Next door!"

"I noticed," the warrior muttered, already getting up. "Do you think I like hearing this?"

A new noise echoed—something between a sigh and a muffled laugh.

The two remained motionless. The silence lasted only long enough for another, even more compromising sound to pierce the wall.

Amelia buried her face in the pillow. "No, no, no, I'm not hearing this…"

Irelia grabbed a pillow too and pressed it against her ears. "It's impossible that I survived to end up traumatized by a couple in love."

Amelia began to laugh nervously. "They're insane! This is the royal castle! The walls are thin!"

"And their self-control too," Irelia added, her voice muffled by the pillow.

The two remained silent for a few seconds, until another sound—this time a long, overly loud sigh—made Amelia sit up in bed, completely red.

"ENOUGH. I'm going to put a seal of silence on it now."

"Please," Irelia pleaded, her eyes already closed. "Before I decide to cut off my own ears."

Amelia traced a small circle with her finger, and luminous runes formed in the air. A blue glow enveloped the walls, muffling the sound immediately.

Silence.

The two breathed a sigh of relief.

Irelia let go of the pillow and looked at the ceiling. "I swear, if he shows up at the café tomorrow pretending nothing happened, I'll throw the cup in his face."

Amelia murmured… "He did it to her first… and not to me… wicked…"

Irelia heard and looked at Amelia.

"What? I have sexual desires too, don't you? You must be all—"

"Quiet. Or I'll cut you in half." Irelia said, placing her hand on her sword.