were drawn, shutting out the city lights and any illusion of freedom. Ariana sat at the polished mahogany table, hands folded neat

ingdom built on alliances and legacy. Tonight, however, his usual calm

s voice cold but stead

storm. Her breath caught, but sh

t lie to me, Ariana. The late nights, the

e in her heart burned brighter than t

ned, heavy enough to suffocate. Then h

ything - our family's honor, your futur

the table. "I don't want Victor

riana. This engagement is not just a contract - it's a

the weight of centuries of expectation

," she said quietl

felt unbearable. "You will leave," he said finally. "Tonight. A po

d. "Leave town?

This is temporary

tasted bitter on her t

"you return and marry Vict

ls closing in, trapping her

sprawling sky scattered with stars. Ariana pulled her coat tighter aro

ripped away from the city, from Jace, from the fragi

e of the rooftop, she felt he

full of worry and longing. "T

s arms as if she could hold on

ay," she whispered. "T

s thumbs brushing away a tear she didn

ke it," she admi

h warm against her temple. "We'

- the feel of his hands, the steady beat of his heart against h

lose this,

e promised. "N

l it was just the two of them - a fragile bubble

lace where words could slip between them like si

a long silence, voice barely above a w

d gentle patterns on

e. I thought I was strong enough to handle it, but..." She t

he said firmly. "But even the s

ining with unshed tears. "Tha

nt of city smoke and distant rain. The seconds stre

hardest part

s he brushed a stray lock of hair f

ing freely now. "I don't know w

a kiss that was soft, desperate, a sil

in their hearts was a tangible thin

spered, "W

," Jace

d determination. The city lights blurred through her tears as she vani

he city recede like a fading dream. The promise to wait stretched fragile and brig

ows closing in, she dared to believe that l