Lyra didn't realize how close they were until she felt Kael's warmth—steady, grounding, overwhelming in a way she didn't yet have words for. The room was quiet except for the low hum of the night outside, and the way her heart betrayed her, beating far too loudly for someone who was supposed to be calm.
"You're shaking," Kael said softly.
"I'm not," she lied, even as her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress.
He didn't call her out. Instead, he moved slowly, deliberately, as though every step closer was a question rather than a demand. Kael had always been careful with her—too careful, some days—and tonight was no different. He stopped when only a breath separated them.
"You can tell me to stop," he said. "At any point."
Lyra nodded. She trusted that more than she understood it.
When his hand finally found hers, it wasn't sudden. His thumb brushed over her knuckles, a light, exploratory touch that sent an unfamiliar warmth through her chest, then lower—confusing, fluttering, impossible to ignore. Her breath hitched, eyes widening as though she'd just discovered a secret she hadn't known her body could keep.
"Is this… normal?" she whispered, embarrassed by the way her voice trembled.
Kael smiled—not teasing, not amused. Reverent. "Yes. It's normal."
He guided her gently, never rushing, letting her react, letting her learn. Every touch felt magnified—his hand at her waist, the way he leaned in just enough that she could feel his breath against her cheek. Lyra clutched his shirt as the sensations built, overwhelming but not frightening, like standing too close to the edge of something vast and bright.
She gasped his name without realizing she'd said it.
"That's it," he murmured. "Just breathe. I've got you."
And she believed him.
When the feeling crested—soft, dizzying, unlike anything she'd ever known—Lyra hid her face against his chest, overwhelmed by the intensity of it all. Kael held her through it, arms firm and protective, as if anchoring her to the world again.
Neither of them spoke for a long moment.
Lyra finally looked up at him, cheeks flushed, eyes full of wonder and confusion. "I didn't know it could feel like that."
"There are a lot of things you haven't been taught yet," Kael said gently. "We'll go slow."
She nodded, trusting him—not just with her body, but with the fragile, unfolding parts of her heart.
And for the first time, the slow burn between them felt inevitable rather than frightening.