That night carried a strange weight. Drexo felt it the moment he stepped out of his chamber. The air seemed thicker, as if the walls themselves were watching him leave. He paused at the doorway for a brief second, his hand resting against the woodie, his thoughts pulling him in two directions at once.
Duty, and desire.
He exhaled slowly, then pulled the hood of his robe over his head and slipped into the corridor.
The castle was quiet. Guards stood at their posts, unaware of the king moving past them like a shadow. Or perhaps they saw him and chose silence. It was hard to tell these days.
He moved quickly, his steps measured, until the stone walls gave way to open air. The night greeted him with a cold breeze that brushed against his face. Still, it did nothing to cool the storm inside him.
He walked toward the forest. Each step felt heavier than the last. By the time he reached the clearing, Maria was already there, waiting for him.
She stood beneath the trees, the faint light of the moon resting on her skin. The moment she saw him, her face softened, and that familiar smile appeared. The one that always made everything else feel distant.
"I have missed you."
She stepped forward, arms opening slightly, ready to pull him close. But Drexo raised his hand and stopped her. Not harshly. Not forcefully. Just enough.
The smile on her face faltered. "What is wrong?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
Drexo shook his head, though he hadn't answered anything yet. "We have to talk."
Maria studied him for a second, then nodded. "You know you can always talk to me."
He did know. That was the problem. He lifted his head, ready to speak. Ready to say the words that had been sitting in his chest all day, pressing harder with every breath.
But then his eyes met hers. And everything slipped. The tension. The resolve. The carefully arranged words.
Were all gone.
What replaced it was something far simpler. Far more dangerous. He stepped forward. Without thinking. Without stopping himself.
His lips found hers, and the world narrowed instantly. The cold air, the war, the throne, the pressure, all of it faded into nothing. There was only her. The warmth of her skin. The way she responded without hesitation, like she had been waiting for this moment just as much as he had.
The hunger between them burned fast. Too fast. It always did. They sank onto the dry leaves, lost in each other, letting instinct take over where reason had failed. Time blurred. The night stretched. And for a while, there was no king, no commander, no war.
Just two people who refused to let go. When it was over, they lay side by side, their breathing heavy, uneven. The silence between them was not empty. It was full. Thick with everything they were not saying.
Maria turned her head slightly, her eyes finding his. "What were you about to tell me?"
Drexo stared at the sky. The words were still there. Still waiting. But they felt distant now. Weak.
He shook his head slowly. "Nothing. Forget about it."
Maria didn't push. She simply watched him for a moment, then shifted closer, resting her head lightly against him.
Drexo turned to her, brushing a stray leaf from her hair. His fingers lingered longer than necessary, as if memorizing the feeling.
He didn't say the words out loud. But they were there. I do not know where this will lead to.
And yet, I cannot imagine my life without you. His chest tightened slightly. I will never give up on you.
Days passed, and nothing changed. If anything, it deepened.
The nights became a pattern. Silent exits. Hidden paths. Stolen hours beneath the trees. Each meeting felt like it might be the last, and yet they kept returning, unable to stop. Unwilling to stop.
But they were not alone. Havana's spy watched.
Again. And again. And again.
Each night, the same report. Each night, the same truth. And each time, Havana's expression hardened a little more.
Finally, she moved.
She walked into Drexo's chamber without waiting to be announced. He looked up as she entered, already sensing the storm in her presence.
"You are still seeing her," she said.
No greeting. No softness. Just the truth, laid bare. Drexo didn't deny it.
"Yes," he replied. His voice was calm, but there was something stubborn beneath it. "I couldn't do it. I love her and I cannot imagine myself without her."
Havana's expression tightened immediately. "This love you are holding onto will destroy your claim to the Golden Throne."
Her words came sharper now. "Without Ashford, we are nothing. Do you understand that? We go back to nothing."
Silence filled the room.
Drexo held her gaze. "You think I do not know that?" he asked quietly. "I know what is at stake. I know what we need."
He paused.
"But what I have with Maria is secret. They do not have to find out."
Havana let out a short, humorless laugh. "If it were that secret," she said, "I would not be standing here."
That hit.
Drexo went still. His mind began to move, quickly, trying to piece together how she knew. Who had seen. Who had spoken.
But Havana didn't give him time to chase it. "And just like me," she continued, "the Kenwools can find out."
The room felt smaller again. Tighter. Drexo exhaled slowly. "I will be more careful."
Havana's eyes narrowed. "That is your answer?"
"It is all I can promise," he said. Then, more firmly, "But I will never leave Maria."
The words settled heavily between them. Havana stared at him for a long moment. Then she shook her head.
"You are a stubborn man," she said, her voice edged with frustration. "I only hope this does not lead to your destruction."
She turned and walked out. Drexo didn't stop her. He couldn't.
That evening, Havana stood by her window, looking down at the city. The noise of life continued below. Soldiers moved. Merchants called out. Nothing seemed out of place.
But everything felt fragile. Her fingers tapped lightly against the stone. "Talking to him will not work," she muttered to herself.
A pause.
Then a quiet realization. "Maybe I should speak to her." The thought settled quickly. And just as quickly, she decided. "That is what I will do."
She didn't wait. Within moments, she was already moving, guards falling into place behind her as she left the castle.
Maria's residence was alive with quiet energy when she arrived. Laughter. Movement. A brief sense of ease.
It stopped the moment Havana entered. The room went still. Every girl rose to her feet at once, heads bowing in respect.
Havana's gaze swept across them, unreadable. "Leave us," she said. "I want to speak to your commander alone."
No one hesitated.
They filed out quickly, the guards following, until the hall was empty. Just the two of them.
Maria stepped forward slowly, her brows drawn together slightly. Havana had never come to her like this before.
Not alone. Not like this. "What do you want to talk about?" Maria asked.
Havana didn't soften it. Didn't circle around it.
She spoke directly. "I want you to end your affair with Drexo."
The words hit hard. Clean, and unavoidable.
Maria felt it like a strike she hadn't seen coming. And for the first time in a long while, she didn't have an immediate answer.