: The Uns

d since Nora began

ething more than friendship

her silver hair catching the sun

le more often than she realized

murmured, low enough t

t teacher," Nora

the sharp line of his jaw, the curve of his lips, the q

shed and felt a sensation he h

urmured, stepping close

and then their hands touched a

it sent butterflies swi

egan to dip, painting the co

softly, breathless, as Nic

t her eyes like moonlight on water, drawing him

smelled of night-blooming jasmine and ancient roses, and the f

s fingers lingered against hers. This

ice low and rough as velvet. "Mor

rise. "Captivating?" she whispered, th

k and intense as midnight s

followed felt h

But the echo of that lingering touch stayed with Nor

aining, concern pulled Nicole through the marbl

enough by now to let hi

he heavy oak door clo

ken gown the color of dawn mist. Moonlight from the tall arched wind

way that made something protective

he quiet beauty of the woman who had slowly claimed

ttered open, widening slightly when th

soft and a little hoarse from wh

owly, the silken gown sh

ol breeze. "Forgive the intrusion, Princess. You w

rawing a light shawl around her shoulders. "It is onl

teps until he stood beside the bed. "Ma

reached out and pressed the back of

the contact sent a differen

le longer than strictly necessary, tracing the fa

e said, his voice

rged and thick with the scent of night flowers drifting th

lips for the briefest insta

row worse," she whispered, the words bolder than she had int

g in his expression. He leaned in slowly, one hand b

warmth of his breath against her cheek, close eno

between them simmered, bright an

ss heartbeat, th

nd Nora's lashes fluttered, her heart thunderi

s forehead nearly resting against

ng a stray lock of silver hair fro

rtips grazed the back of his hand. Their palms

htened, though his eyes still burned wit

voice rough. "I will return to

softly, her cheeks flus

htly, and lef

long after the doo

her palm, as if trying to hold o

cing wildly, drowning out the dull

e softened when he said her name, the restrai

wanted to...," she whispered faintly to herself

too. More than she had

eks warming, not from sickness this time, bu

t and glowing, wrapping a

oke through her h

stepped in, carrying a sma

older sister than a mere attendant. She had worked

vident in her eyes. "You should not be si

hough only just re

he tray down. "You were unwell thi

augh, slightly unfocus

sted gently, placing a hand on he

to the door Nicole had just walked through

a knowing glint in h

smile deepening. "He s

urgeoning emotions, looked directly at Li

caution crossed her features. "I see it, Princess. But his backg

ora's voice was

ollowed. "Then perhaps that explains why

he sound airy and full

t didn't drink immediately, inste

" she added quietly, as though the wo

shook her head fondly. "Then you mus

a sip, though her

it corridors in silence, his steps measured

was anything

ngered in h

forgotten who he was

is side as he stepped into th

exhaled slowly, forcin

l. She was the Princess

against his and the softness in her voice

mind, cold and sharp, like a voice he could n

as a sign of weakness.

again, resolve hardening behind the storm in hi

e, the memory of he