Chapter 34 Thirty-three

• Avelyn released his face, her smile unwavering, eyes shining with relief. She didn't explain, yet Draeven, though puzzled, found himself smiling back, drawn in by her sudden shift in mood. For the first time in a long while, he felt something foreign yet welcome—genuine happiness.
• Before he could fully process it, his body acted on instinct. In a swift motion, he was above her, pinning her beneath him as he gazed into her wide, startled eyes. "What—" she barely managed to whisper, but before she could protest, his weight settled against her, and he lowered his lips to hers.
• The kiss was unexpectedly soft, a slow exploration that sent a shiver through both of them. Draeven kissed her with a gentleness that contradicted everything she knew about him, yet it felt undeniably right. But before he could deepen it, Avelyn pressed against his chest, urging him to stop. He pulled back slightly, hovering just above her, still close but no longer touching.