Vael's POV
After the kiss, I didn't want to let Lirien go. I kept my arms around him, holding him close as we swayed slowly to the soft music. His head rested against my chest, and I could feel his heart beating fast. Mine was doing the same.
I kissed the top of his head gently.
"You're mine now," I whispered against his hair. "And I'm yours."
Lirien nodded against me, his arms tightening around my waist. I could feel how emotional he was. I was too.
We stayed like that for a few more songs, just enjoying the moment. Eventually, I took his hand and led him off the dance floor toward a quieter area with drinks and seating.
That's when I spotted Jax and Theo walking toward us. Both of them were wearing their masks, but I could recognize them easily.
Jax's eyes narrowed the moment he saw us. A slow grin spread across his face.
"Well, well," he said as they reached us. "You two look different. A lot happier than when we saw you earlier. Did something happen?"
I couldn't stop the small smile that formed on my lips. I glanced at Lirien, who was blushing under his mask.
I squeezed his hand gently and answered, "Yes. I asked Lirien to be mine tonight. And he said yes. We're officially together now."
Theo's eyes widened with genuine happiness. "Really? That's amazing!"
Jax laughed softly and stepped forward, pulling me into a quick, brotherly hug. "Finally! I knew you were going to do it tonight." He then turned to Lirien and gave him a warm smile. "Congratulations. You got yourself a good one. Even if he's a bit strict sometimes."
Lirien smiled shyly. "Thank you."
Theo hugged Lirien gently too. "I'm really happy for both of you. You two look good together."
We stood there for a few minutes, talking and laughing quietly. Jax kept glancing between Lirien and me, clearly pleased. Theo looked genuinely excited for us.
After a while, I noticed Jax shifting on his feet, looking a little restless. I knew exactly why.
I gave him a knowing look, one that said I remembered our conversation from before. Jax met my eyes and gave a small, nervous but grateful nod.
I turned to Lirien and spoke softly. "Would you like to get some fresh air on the observation deck for a bit?"
Lirien nodded immediately. "Yes, I'd like that."
I placed my hand on his lower back and looked at Jax and Theo.
"We'll see you two later," I said, giving Jax one last meaningful look. "Enjoy the rest of the night."
Jax's eyes softened with gratitude. "We will. Thank you, Captain."
As Lirien and I walked away, I glanced back once. Jax had already taken Theo's hand and was leading him toward the exit. They looked nervous but excited.
I smiled to myself.
Tonight was going to be special for all of us.
I looked down at Lirien walking beside me, his hand still in mine. He looked lighter, happier. The mask hid part of his face, but I could still see the joy in his eyes.
"How do you feel?" I asked him quietly as we stepped onto the observation deck. The stars stretched out endlessly before us.
"Happy," he answered honestly. "A little scared… but mostly happy. I still can't believe this is real."
I stopped walking, turned to face him, and pulled him close again.
"It's real," I said softly. "You and me. We're real."
Lirien looked up at me, his violet eyes shining behind the mask. In that moment, with the stars as our only witness, everything felt perfect.