Page 132 of The Last Guardian

“I haven’t done that in a long time,” I admitted, in a whisper. “Not since she passed.”

A comforting silence surrounded us for a moment. Zaid’s gaze fell on me, taking in every inch of my face.

“The memory with your uncle…” Zaid murmured, looking away at last. “I felt everything from you. The despair. Your willingness to die.” His voice broke. “It crushed me.”

My gaze found his in a matter of seconds.

We had not talked about this memory… After the one with Nevan, there was no point.

That day—that moment in the Sacred Domes—I remembered it well.

The day I had decided to let go of my heart.

“Seeing you like this… Gods, I wish I’d known you back then. I would’ve clung to you and dragged you toward the light myself—just to prove that life isn’t only made of hurt. It can be beautiful again.”

My heart stopped.

“You did,” I whispered, a small smile curled on my lips. “Even years after, you manage to bring the light.”

A silence lingered between us when only our gaze spoke. Unyielding. Ready to face the truth of this pull between us.

His gaze fell on my lips, and his tongue rolled over his upper lip. His hand lifted, gently caressing my cheek, and I closed my eyes instantly, leaning into his warmth. Savoring his skin against mine, I felt the vibrancy of this connection, and I brought my hand to his.

“Sometimes I look at you, and I can’t believe you exist,” Zaid whispered, his voice broken. “Even in my dreams, I’m haunted by you.”

His fingers trailed down my cheek, brushing against my skin and my nose, in a soft, aching caress. “From the little freckles on your nose to the way your lips tremble whenever an emotion sweeps through you.” His fingers settled on my lips, drawing them slightly apart, before tracing the curve of my upper lip. “How your eyes light up when you laugh. How they darken when your demons return.” He brushed the side of my face, as if I were the most precious thing in the world. “I would gladly burn the whole world to hear you laugh or see your beautiful smile.”

My heart pounded like a thunderstorm in my chest, my blood racing through my veins.

Our faces slowly leaned closer, eyes on lips, then on eyes, and again. Until our noses touched, grazing slowly against each other.

“What have you done to me?” he whispered against my lips, touching the corner of my mouth with his left thumb.

Once more, I met his gaze, and the realization of our need made us both crumble. I felt the barrier in his eyes shatter as our lips slightly brushed, his warm breath melting mine. Our lips parted, grazing each other, closing⁠—

A thunderous noise echoed in the back of the garden. Bushes trembled. Something—someone—growled.

In a second, if not even less, Zaid’s warmth was gone.

His hand was no longer on my skin, our faces were no longer close, and his lips were no longer brushing mine.

“Seven fucking Hells,” Dax cursed and called out, “Zaid! Where the fuck are you, man? I can’t see shit out here.”

Zaid was already standing as I looked over at him as Dax’s footsteps approached us.

“Sorry to interrupt, but…” Dax glanced at Zaid awkwardly, then at me. “You received a letter from, uh… camp.”

Zaid frowned at Dax, taking the note from his general’s hands. Whatever he read on it, his jaw tightened, and he closed his eyes in annoyance.

“Eirlys is waiting for us,” Dax added, glancing in my direction, before returning to Zaid.

Zaid nodded, breathing heavily, and said to Dax, “Go ahead, I’ll be with you in a moment.”

Dax nodded, his gaze wandering several times between Zaid and me, and left us facing each other. The sound of Dax’s footsteps faded into the distance.

Zaid’s eyes still searched mine. My chest was heaving with each uneven breath. “I have to go,” he murmured, pointing to where Dax had disappeared.

I nodded with a shy smile. “Of course. And they’re probably waiting for me inside…”