Chapter 610: [R-18] The Night - Part 1

Inside Thoren’s room, the atmosphere was considerably quieter than the lively conversation taking place downstairs.

Fidelia sat at the edge of the bed with a bottle of alcohol in her hand, her cheeks carrying a faint red tint from the wine she had already consumed.

"I never would have imagined there would be such magical wine in the Abyss."

She turned her head toward Thoren, her eyes carrying a slight drunken haze.

"Can I have some when I’m going?"

She moved closer as she spoke, bringing her face near his. Her warm breath brushed lightly against his skin.

Under such a stimulating position, most people would have become flustered by Fidelia’s openness, especially with the faint blush covering her cheeks and the way she was deliberately closing the distance between them.

Thoren, however, remained calm as a faint smile played across his lips.

"No problem."

His eyes briefly moved over her boobs before returning to her face. "But what will you give me in return?"

Fidelia noticed where his gaze had gone and that did not bother her. Instead, she smiled.

"You know, without your help and influence..." She moved closer.

Her body gently touched his. "The chance of me and my party ascending to the second floor would have been slim."

Thoren listened quietly while keeping his gaze locked with hers. He could see the nervousness hidden beneath her confidence.

Fidelia was trying to appear bold, but the slight tremble in her breathing betrayed her. She had clearly thought about this moment before coming here.

She slowly sat closer to him, letting the bottle rest loosely in her hand before eventually allowing it to drop onto the bed beside them.

Her free hand rose and wrapped gently around his neck. "Since your departure, I’ve been thinking about you..."

Her voice became softer. "And fantasizing about when I would meet you again."

She paused for a moment. "If that was even possible..."

Thoren remained silent and the room suddenly felt much quieter. The distance between them had almost disappeared.

Fidelia looked directly into his eyes, and for the first time since entering the room, some of the confidence disappeared from her expression.

She was nervous, that was for sure. And more importantly, there was uncertainty. But beneath both was determination.

"And now..." She leaned forward and her lips met his.

The kiss was short but deep, carrying far more emotion than its brief duration suggested. For a few seconds, neither of them moved away.

Fidelia’s hand remained around his neck while Thoren remained still, allowing the moment to settle naturally between them.

Then they slowly separated and their eyes met again. The atmosphere inside the room had changed.

The warmth that had already existed between them now carried a distinctly sensual tension. Fidelia lowered her gaze for a moment before looking back at him.

"I know I’m not worthy of Thoren Starfall..."

Her voice became quiet, like a whisper. "The Grim Reaper."

She took a slow breath. "But I promise to follow your footsteps and never disappoint you."

The words were not simply meant for Thoren. They were a promise to herself.

As an awakener, Fidelia understood better than most that her life was not entirely hers to control. The path they had chosen was dangerous.

One day, they could be alive, laughing with their friends and discussing their dream and next, one of them could be gone forever.

Death was never far away.

The Abyss had taught them that lesson repeatedly.

Every battle carried the possibility of death.

Every exploration could become their last. And that was why she did not want to continue hiding what she felt.

If she had another opportunity to be close to the person she had come to love, she did not want to waste it.

She would regret it if she allowed fear and uncertainty to make the decision for her.

Thoren watched her quietly. For someone who had just fought through an entire battlefield without hesitation, she suddenly looked vulnerable.

He slowly raised his hand, and his fingers gently touched her hair. He stroked it softly, soothing her.

"Since I allowed you into my space..." He looked directly into her eyes.

"You’re worthy."

Fidelia froze.

For a moment, she simply stared at him. Those simple words struck deeper than she had expected.

Her eyes trembled slightly and the last of her restraint disappeared.

She pushed Thoren backward onto the bed, her heart pounding as the emotions she had kept under control for so long finally overwhelmed her hesitation.

The night was still young.

And for the first time since their paths had crossed in the Abyss, neither of them wanted to think about tomorrow.

His silver hair spread across the sheets, and for once he did not calculate and did not measure.

Fidelia hovered above him, her hair cascading down like a curtain that shut out the rest of the world. Her breath came quickly, uneven, and he could feel the warmth radiating from her skin.

He reached up and his palm settled against her cheek.

She leaned into his touch immediately, her eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment. When they opened again, they were glassy with emotion she had held back for too long.

Thoren studied her face in the dim light.

The faint blush.

The parted lips.

The way her brows drew together as though she were bracing herself for what to come.

"You’re shaking," he said.

His voice was low, filled with emotion and care.

Fidelia let out a breathless laugh. "I know."

She did not pull back. If anything, she pressed closer, her forehead lowering until it rested against his.

Their noses almost touched. The scent of the magical wine clung to her breath, sweet and faintly exotic, mingling with something warmer underneath.

"I’ve imagined this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "More times than I should probably confess."

Thoren’s hand slid from her cheek into her hair, fingers threading through the strands. He tugged gently, just enough to tilt her head, and her lips parted on a soft inhale.

"Then stop imagining," he said.