CHAPTER 119: BENEATH THE BLOSSOMS

Lilith’s heart thudded wildly in her chest. She hated how easily he could unravel her. She hated even more that she couldn’t seem to look away from him.

"Why do you keep doing this?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with frustration.

"Doing what?" he asked, his gaze dropping briefly to her lips. "I want to know because everything about you fucking unnerves me."

Lilith’s breath caught. "You shouldn’t say—"

He spun her gently, catching her once more as she landed back in his arms. The world blurred around her until there was nothing but him.

"If only you knew what you do to me, Lilith," he whispered, his fingers trailing from her cheek down to the base of her neck.

She swallowed hard, her eyes locking with his. He had called her by her name again only the second time but it had never sounded so beautiful. The intensity of his stare, the burning of his touch, it was overwhelming.

"Excuse me... I—I need air," Lilith muttered, pulling away before he could stop her.

Without another word, she slipped through the crowd, ignoring the stares, ignoring the frantic pounding of her heart. Her heels echoed softly down the corridor until she found an open archway that led into the gardens. The cool night air swept over her skin as she stepped outside, her lungs expanding with relief.

The night was quiet, save for the distant strains of music and the low grumble of thunder in the sky. Lanterns lined the cobbled path, flickering gently in the wind. Lilith walked with her arms wrapped around herself until she reached a cherry blossom tree. She looked up and smiled faintly, reminded of the one back at the castle. Her eyes drifted down to the bench beneath it.

She sat and exhaled slowly, tilting her head to watch the trembling branches above her.

"It’s going to rain soon," came a familiar voice behind her.

Lilith’s breath caught as she turned.

The prince stood just behind the bench, hands tucked in the pockets of his trousers.

"You shouldn’t be here," she said quietly.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stepped closer but stopped beside the bench, not yet sitting.

"It’s peaceful here," he murmured.

She glanced at him. "Why did you follow me?"

"I needed to make sure you were safe," he replied without looking at her.

Silence stretched between them. A gust of wind rustled the blossoms, sending a few petals drifting down into her lap.

"May I sit?"

Lilith nodded, and Hades lowered himself beside her. Thunder rumbled again, louder this time. Another breeze passed through, lifting strands of her hair. Without thinking, he reached over and tucked a loose strand behind her ear.

Lilith turned to him. The prince was watching her like she was the only real thing in the world. Slowly, he reached out and took her hand, brushing his thumb gently over her knuckles. Then he brought her hand to his lips and placed a lingering kiss on it, his eyes never leaving hers.

Lilith swallowed hard, goosebumps rising across her skin. She pulled her hand from his grasp and stood abruptly, breathing unevenly.

Hades stood as well, stepping forward, but she raised a hand between them.

"Don’t come any closer. I can’t keep doing this. We can’t keep doing this." Her voice trembled. "You’ve made it clear—you can’t have anything with me. But then you touch me, you look at me like I’m... like I’m something special. Why can’t you just keep to your word and stay away from me?"

Her voice cracked on the last sentence, raw and aching.

A beat of silence passed. Neither of them spoke.

Lilith didn’t want to look at the prince’s face, so she brushed past him, intent on walking away—but Hades caught her gently by the arm.

"What are you doing? Let go of me," she said, her voice tight. "I don’t want to be here anymore."

She tried to pull away, but his grip held firm.

Hades let out a shaky breath, running a hand through his hair. "Is that truly what you want?" he asked quietly.

"No," she whispered. "What I truly want is you. But you clearly don’t want me. You only seem to enjoy toying with my emotions. Does it make you feel good knowing I’m so madly attracted to you that it’s clouded my judgment? Are—"

"What are you saying?" he interrupted, voice sharp with disbelief. "Are you even listening to yourself? Do I look like I’m enjoying this?" His eyes flashed with emotion. "Do you think it’s easy for me not to touch you whenever I want? To stop myself from tasting you, worshipping every part of you?"

He groaned in frustration, fingers digging into his hair. "You have no fucking idea how hard it is to keep myself from kissing you senseless every minute of the damn day. I want you, Lilith—more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life."

Her breath caught. "Then what’s stopping you from taking me?"

His jaw clenched. "The demon in me," he said, voice lower now, more tired. "If I let myself fall for you, if I give in completely, it opens the door for Zal to take control of my mind, my soul. If that happens, Valyron will fall. There will be chaos. Bloodshed. And I cannot, will not let that happen."

Lilith felt her heart squeeze painfully at his confession. "I... I didn’t know," she murmured. "Forgive me for being harsh. For not understanding. I... I get it now. And as much as it hurts, I’ll stay away. I won’t show myself to you unless it’s necessary. I’ll—"

Hades let out a dark chuckle. "I’m afraid it’s too late for that, Lilith. You’ve carved yourself into my soul and now I can’t stay away from you."

He stepped closer, until their chests brushed, the space between them vanishing. Rain began to fall, drops tapping softly against their skin and clothes.

Hades cupped her cheek, his other hand reaching up to remove the pins from her hair, letting it tumble down over her shoulders.

"Did I tell you," he whispered, "how breathtaking you look in this dress?"

Lilith’s lips parted, but no sound came out.

"I need to taste you," he murmured, voice low and aching. "And I can’t wait any longer."

Then he leaned in and kissed her deeply, desperately as if she were the air he’d been dying to breathe.