Tristan rushed after her. "Where do you think you're going?"
Valeria stopped mid-step, her jaw clenched as she turned slightly but didn't meet his eyes.
"Valeria," Tristan said firmly, stepping in front of her, his presence blocking her path. "You're not walking away from me. Not until you hear me out."
"Why should I?" she snapped, still refusing to look directly at him. "You don’t get to confuse me and then act like everything’s fine. I can’t figure out what I just saw."
He exhaled. "I get it. I also don’t understand it too. You're mad, maybe even scared. But just give me five minutes. I want to show you something. Please."
Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What is it?"
A small, crooked smile appeared on Tristan’s face. "Come with me and find out."
Valeria hesitated, torn between anger and curiosity. But the latter won, and without another word, she followed him.
The path he took wasn’t familiar. It twisted through the dense woods behind the training fields, winding deeper into territory rarely explored. Moonlight spilled between tree branches, casting soft silver patterns on the forest floor.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked after a few minutes of silence.
Tristan looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Somewhere special. Somewhere only we will know."
Finally, they arrived. Nestled within a hidden alcove of the woods was a secluded garden, protected by a half-crumbled stone arch and overgrown ivy. Candle-like lanterns flickered faintly, their warm glow lighting up a small wooden bench surrounded by soft moss and vibrant wildflowers.
Valeria gasped softly. "What is this place?"
"I've been working on it for days," Tristan said, stepping beside her. "I know how much you love peace... quiet... space. So, I made this for you. A sanctuary. Yours."
She turned to him, eyes wide. "You did this... for me?"
Before Tristan could answer, a soft rustle came from behind a bush. Valeria turned quickly, eyes darting toward the noise. Out hopped a small, fluffy white rabbit, its ears twitching and nose sniffing the air.
She dropped to her knees with a delighted gasp. "A rabbit? Whose is it?"
Tristan walked over and knelt beside her. "Yours."
Valeria blinked. "What?"
"One of the vampires mentioned the Princess’s favorite pet was a rabbit," he said. "So I thought... maybe this little guy would make you feel at home. You can keep it as a pet or... you know, as food. But I’m hoping it’s the first."
She looked down at the rabbit, which had started to nuzzle her hand. Her lips parted in astonishment. "Tristan... why are you doing all this?"
He leaned back slightly, his expression suddenly serious. "Because of the flashes. Because they’re real. Because... I’m meant to be with you."
Her eyes flickered. "But the enmity between our clans—"
"Will never end if we keep saying it won't," he cut in. "But what if it could? What if we end it with us?"
Valeria bit her bottom lip. She wanted to deny it, to push him away again. But deep down, she knew he was right.
He stepped closer. "Do you know what a mate means in my world, Valeria?"
She shook her head slowly, eyes locked on his.
His voice dropped to a whisper as he approached. "It means you're mine. My other half. My soul. To claim. To mark. To make mine."
Her breath hitched. Her pulse quickened.
Tristan gently touched her cheek. "I could mark you right now. But I won't, not unless you accept me first."
Her heart thudded in her chest. "And what if I never do?"
A grin tugged at his lips. "Then I’ll never stop running after you."
A snort escaped her before she could stop it. And then, for the first time in what felt like forever, Valeria smiled.
Tristan’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. "God... you look beautiful when you smile."
Valeria looked away quickly. "I saw you earlier. With that girl."
His brow arched. "Were you jealous?"
She shook her head—too quickly. "No! I wasn’t."
"Then why bring it up?"
She shrugged. "Just curious. That’s all."
He chuckled. "Right. Just like I was ‘just curious’ seeing you talking to Lucien."
Her nose wrinkled in disgust. "Ugh. You know how much I despise him."
"Oh? Why’s that?"
"He’s pompous. Full of himself. Talks like the world owes him a throne."
Tristan laughed. "Well, when you put it like that..."
He took a step closer and placed his hands on her waist. "What about me? Do you like or hate me? What exactly do you like... and hate about me?"
Valeria tilted her head with a smirk. "Hmm. I hate that you’re too hot."
"Too hot?"
"Yeah. It's distracting. And I like... that you’re too obsessed with me."
Tristan burst out laughing, his forehead resting against hers. "Guilty."
And before she could say anything else, he leaned in and kissed her.
Valeria melted into it, her hands moving to his shoulders as he deepened the kiss. He pulled her gently to the soft mossy ground, their bodies flush together as the candlelight danced around them.
But then, a thought shot through her mind like a bolt of lightning.
She pulled back abruptly. "Wait. The Academia. The photo—"
Tristan caught her before she could sit up fully. "No one’s watching. Not here."
He pushed her gently back down, his lips finding hers again.
"You're mine."
She didn't resist. Not this time.