Nina stirred, the soft morning light creeping through the blinds and casting delicate lines across her body. The bed felt colder than it should have, and she reached out instinctively, searching for the warmth that had been there the night before. Her hand fell on nothing but empty sheets.

Her amber eyes shot open, her feline senses immediately alert. Shadow was gone.

Sitting up, Nina quickly glanced around the room, her heart sinking. It wasn't the first time he'd pulled away, but after everything that had happened last night—the kiss, the connection they'd shared—she thought they had finally broken through his walls. That he had finally let her in.

Throwing off the covers, she slid out of bed, her ears twitching in frustration. She padded silently down the hallway, following a feeling in her gut that told her she'd find him before he disappeared for good.

And there he was.

Standing at the edge of the balcony, Shadow had his back to her, the morning wind ruffling his quills. He was poised as if ready to leap into the shadows, as if the night's passion had never happened at all. Nina's tail lashed angrily behind her as she stepped forward, her bare feet light on the floor.

"Really, Shadow? You're just going to run away?" Her voice cracked through the morning quiet like a whip.

He didn't turn around. "It's not running. It's leaving."

"Is there a difference?" she shot back, her voice sharper than she intended. She crossed her arms, glaring at his back. "After everything we talked about, after last night, this is how it ends? You disappear without a word?"

Shadow's shoulders stiffened, but he still didn't look at her. "You wouldn't understand."

Her claws extended slightly as she growled in frustration. "Try me. Or was this just about my body to you? Another cold, emotionless mission you can walk away from?"

That made him turn. His crimson eyes met hers, and for a moment, she saw something crack in his gaze. "It wasn't like that," he said softly, his voice strained.

"Then what is it?" Nina demanded, stepping closer. "You can't just shut me out again. I deserve to know the truth."

Shadow lowered his head for a moment, as if battling with himself. Then, with a heavy sigh, he looked up at her, his expression hardening again into the familiar, steely mask he wore. "You're right. You deserve the truth. You deserve to know why I'm really here."

Nina's ears perked up at his words, a knot of uncertainty forming in her stomach. This wasn't going to be a simple apology.

"I'm not here by accident, Nina," he began, his voice dark and cold, like the deep shadows of the night he belonged to. "I came to this place for a reason. It's not about you. It was never about us." He paused, his gaze flickering with something unspoken. "I'm here because there are forces at play you can't even imagine. Power that shapes nations, that pulls strings from the shadows. And the Slovakian government is a pawn in that game."

Nina furrowed her brow, trying to follow his words, but he continued before she could ask anything.

"You see, the division of Czechoslovakia was never meant to last. The separation of Slovakia and the Czech Republic—it's part of a larger scheme, one that was orchestrated by powers beyond this world. And I'm here to set things right."

Her eyes widened as he stepped closer, his voice lowering to an intense whisper. "I'm here to take out the leaders of the Slovakian government. Every single one of them. And when it's done, Czechoslovakia will be united again, stronger than before. Under a new rule—one that doesn't answer to the corrupt, or the weak. That's my mission. That's why I'm here."

Nina blinked, her heart pounding in her chest. Shadow was staring at her, waiting for her reaction, expecting anger, shock, maybe even fear.

But instead, she just shrugged.

"Oh, okay," she said nonchalantly, her tail flicking behind her. "Can't be worse than our current government."

Shadow's expression twisted in confusion, his dark brow furrowing deeply. "What?"

Nina rolled her eyes. "I mean, have you seen our politicians? They've been running this country into the ground for years. You think assassinating them and reuniting us with the Czechs is the worst thing that could happen? Please. At least there might be some excitement for once."

Shadow blinked, clearly dumbfounded. He opened his mouth as if to argue, then closed it, his confusion deepening. "You... you're not mad?"

"Mad?" Nina laughed, stepping even closer to him. "Honestly, Shadow, I'm more surprised you didn't tell me sooner. You think I'd care about that? I've got more to worry about than some corrupt politicians. Besides, I've got my own priorities." Her gaze softened as she looked into his eyes. "And one of them happens to be you."

Shadow stared at her, completely thrown off balance. "I… don't understand you."

Nina smirked, stepping into his space and wrapping her arms around his neck. "You're not supposed to. That's part of the fun." She pulled him closer, her lips brushing against his as her voice dropped to a teasing whisper. "But if you think you're leaving without saying a proper goodbye, you've got another thing coming."

Shadow hesitated for only a second before his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her tight against him. "I'll come back," he promised, his voice rough but sincere. "When this is done… I'll return for you. That's a promise."

"You better," Nina whispered back, her lips capturing his in a deep, passionate kiss.

The world around them seemed to melt away as they lost themselves in each other again, their kiss growing more intense, more desperate, as if neither of them wanted to let go. Nina's claws dug into his back as they stumbled back toward the wall, bodies pressing together, each touch filled with unspoken emotion.

This time, the moment was tinged with the bittersweet knowledge of what was to come. But it didn't matter. Right now, there was only them, and nothing else existed.

When they finally pulled away, breathless, Shadow gently cupped her face, his crimson eyes locked on hers. "I'll be back. I promise."

Nina smiled, brushing a hand through his quills. "You better keep that promise, Shadow. Because I'm not letting you off that easy."

With one last lingering kiss, Shadow turned and leaped into the shadows, disappearing into the early morning light.

Nina stood there for a moment, watching the spot where he had vanished, her heart still racing. She had no idea what the future held for either of them, but she knew one thing for sure.

He'd be back.