Nabu staggered but quickly regained his balance, immediately wrapping his arms around Aisha, gazing deeply into the woman he loved with an intensity that seemed to be trying to grasp the reality of what she had just said. "What did you say? You're pregnant? You're pregnant." As Aisha unknowingly nodded, Stella and Flora, shaken out of their own shock, stood up and helped Aisha to her feet. Nabu, rising awkwardly, gave the girls a puzzled look, but Stella, without uttering a word, let warm light spread from her hands as she ran them over Aisha's body, warming her. Flora, meanwhile, concentrated harder now, creating a sturdy shelter to block the rain.
Before Aisha had time to question the girls' silence, she was too focused on gauging Nabu's reaction, though what really troubled her was how she had broken the news. The truth was, she was in shock herself for learning about it this way, but how helpful would it be to question that now? When she nodded in confirmation, Nabu took a deep breath. This time, having digested Aisha's response, he pulled her tightly into his arms, holding her close. Stella furrowed her brows and shot him a warning glance, though Nabu, far too focused on Aisha, didn't notice.
As Brandon and Helia slowly approached the group, Brandon moved beside Stella, while Helia, in a daze, stood by Flora, who was staring at their friends. It was a long silence, one where neither the girls nor the boys knew what to say or how to act. The absurdity of the situation was so intense that it felt as if everyone was shaken by the presence of a baby in the middle of a battlefield. While the battlefield represented the struggle between the specialists and the fairies, Aisha's unborn baby symbolized the irony of a newborn not yet part of the chaos.
Flora, who finally broke the stifling silence with obvious discomfort, hadn't expected to receive a reaction as though she had just announced her own pregnancy. As everyone turned to look at her, Flora was taken aback, having only asked, "So, what happens now?" But, truthfully, yes, it was indeed a very heavy question. What would happen now?
"I think it would be best for them to talk privately first," Helia responded. Flora, frowning at his answer, turned her gaze to Aisha, about to find the courage to speak again when Stella cut in first. "Nabu, you can stay in our room tonight. I'll stay with Flora and Bloom." As Flora nodded in agreement, Brandon furrowed his brow and turned to Stella. "No need, I'll arrange a room for you." She was just about to ask why he hadn't offered the room to Nabu and Aisha when, catching the look on Brandon's face, her cheeks flushed, and she bowed her head. He was referring to his own room. What was strange, though, was that Stella, even noticing this, nodded in approval. Would they continue from where they left off? Would there be no end to tonight? Should there be?
"Alright then, let's head inside before Aisha catches a cold. We're all soaked through as it is." Flora's coldness stung Aisha slightly, but it wasn't hard to guess the real reason. Flora always talked about the sanctity of family and family bonds, something that made perfect sense, given that she was a nature fairy. After all, it was a well-known truth that the mother of all power and existence was Mother Nature. Here, Flora, though not the eldest, had assumed the role of the group's elder, setting the necessary tone from the beginning. Meanwhile, Aisha, under the influence of a completely different responsibility, had stepped into a whole new life without worrying about what others might think or say. Or had she? She wasn't sure.
Stella couldn't understand why she was standing there, waiting for Brandon to come instead of grabbing something from her room to wear. She was drenched from head to toe, and as soon as she removed the heavy, soaked jacket Brandon had hurriedly given her, the wet garment fell to the floor with a dull thud. Although she felt lighter, her mind was preoccupied with something else entirely. It was as if her world had changed, as if she had learned that she herself was pregnant. The bond she shared with Aisha was so deep that, considering Nabu was also involved in this, her feelings had intensified twofold. Two childhood friends were going to become parents. A shiver ran through her body as her hand, cold as ice, moved to her chest, making her feel as though she couldn't breathe for a moment. The first thing that would happen was Aisha and Nabu getting married—this also solved the issue Aisha had been worrying about for days, since Nabu, too, came from a family Aisha could easily marry into. It was strange, though—who had they preferred instead of Nabu? As far as she knew, after the royal family of Andros, Nabu's family was the most noble. That's why Stella had met them, keeping in contact since childhood to maintain strong ties. She didn't complain, but she was curious about who had been chosen over Nabu.
Wrapping her arms around herself this time, she shuddered. Brandon's room wasn't exactly cold, but it certainly wasn't warm either, and standing there in a thin nightgown clinging to her body wasn't helping. She couldn't go back to her room for something to wear, not wanting to disturb Nabu and Aisha, but she couldn't wait here forever either, with Brandon still occupied with Riven. Biting her lip, she glanced at the clothes hanging on Brandon's rack. He probably wouldn't mind—or maybe he would. Brandon was a meticulous man, and one never knew what mood he'd be in. He could very well get angry, but she was too cold and exhausted to care anymore. Resigned to whatever would happen, she quickly grabbed a black T-shirt from his rack and hurried to the bathroom. A short shower wouldn't hurt. She was already soaked, and the warm water would certainly help her relax.
Leaving the door slightly ajar, she undressed and got under the shower in record time. As she breathed in deeply, letting the warm water wash over her, she couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of relief that she wasn't the one pregnant. Of course, this was something a virgin might think, but given what she had planned for tonight, she could easily have ended up in Aisha's situation herself. But surely that wouldn't happen—how had they not been careful? Neither of them was careless, and it was clear they weren't ready to take on such a responsibility. How could they have acted so recklessly? Trying not to linger under the water for too long and to push the turmoil of thoughts about her friends out of her mind—at least for tonight—she quickly turned off the water, grabbed the towel she had prepared beforehand, and began drying herself.
She had no idea when Brandon would arrive, but she hoped she wouldn't have to fight too hard to stay awake. She wanted to wait for him, but she was so tired she wasn't sure how long she could hold on. As she towel-dried her hair, she simultaneously tried to slip into the T-shirt. She was brave, but not brave enough to wear just a T-shirt without any underwear. Reaching for her soaked underwear lying on the floor, she used a bit of her power to transform the fabric, changing it from wet and white to dry, clean and black. It took all her remaining energy. She was so drained that even altering a small piece of fabric made her feel her shoulders sag even more. Giving herself a quick glance in the fogged-up mirror, she used her fingers to comb through her hair. Though the wet, slightly tousled look didn't bother her much, Stella never liked feeling damp. Raising her hands to eye level, she hesitated for a moment before sighing and using a bit more of her power to comb through her hair again. This time, heat radiated from her palms, drying her hair just enough to make it bearable.
When she looked at herself again, a small smile tugged at her lips. Brandon's T-shirt was far too big for her, falling just above her knees. Instead of feeling lost in it, she felt like she was wrapped in Brandon's arms. It had the same rugged scent as him—a mixture of the comforting smell of rain-soaked earth and the luxurious feel of rich leather. It was hard to define, but even harder to pull away from. Trying to adjust the collar of the shirt, she found her shoulders slightly exposed, her collarbones entirely visible. It was pointless to fuss with it, but after the nightgown she had been wearing, this shirt certainly covered her body better.
As she stepped into the dark room, she collided with a body, a small gasp escaping her lips, but Brandon immediately silenced her by pressing his lips to hers, turning the gasp into a muffled murmur. Stella didn't need to see—taste and smell were enough to tell her who the hands gripping her belonged to. Wrapping her arms around Brandon's neck, she returned his kiss, and this time, there would be no interruptions. Knowing that brought her a sense of peace, but also a heavy weight of responsibility. As she cursed Nabu and Aisha in her head, she instantly regretted it—they wouldn't have wanted this either.
When she came back to her senses, Brandon's tongue was already in play, kissing her with hunger. His grip on her waist made it clear he was just as frustrated as she was. After so many interruptions, especially from Nabu, they were both on edge, their unspoken desires building up to an almost unbearable intensity. As Stella's scent filled his senses, the pleasure of inhaling his smell also from her only made his hunger grow. He reflected that hunger in the way he kissed her. As Stella moved backward on her tiptoes, Brandon pinned her against the wall by the door, trapping her between his body and the wall as his kisses became more intense. A pang of guilt struck him—though he knew Stella wasn't fragile, he couldn't help but approach her cautiously. The fear that he might hurt her loomed large in his mind, and he couldn't shake it.
When Stella pulled back slightly to catch her breath, Brandon allowed her to breathe but continued his exploration. Stella parted her lips and threw her head back between shallow breaths, while Brandon, now gripping her waist, pulled her closer and continued feasting on her neck with soft kisses between gentle bites. It was indeed a feast, one that Stella never tired of, whose taste never left her, always filling her with hunger. She was his feast, reserved solely for his appetite, and he didn't care how much this situation could be open to criticism. There was no doubt in his mind that Stella saw him as her feast, too. Her slender fingers glided through Brandon's hair, pushing his face deeper into her neck, a sign that no further proof was needed. She wanted him and wasn't shy about showing it. Stella lifted her hips toward Brandon, rubbing her body against his, while Brandon growled, squeezing her waist, and pressed her harder against him in rhythmic movements, quickening the pace of their friction. Even though Stella bit her lips, trying to stifle her moans, the intense feelings coursing through her body made it impossible to suppress them completely, and they echoed freely through the room. When Brandon finally raised his head and fixed his gaze on Stella, she returned his look with half-lidded, longing eyes, her chest rising and falling rapidly with every breath.
"You're so beautiful, the most beautiful creature the universe holds."
Not knowing how to respond, Stella tried to pull him back with her hand on his arm, but this time Brandon cursed himself for holding back and rested his forehead against hers. "Let's rest."
"No," Stella responded, and he couldn't help but laugh at her reply. Her brows softened at the sound of his laughter, and she waited for a moment, but then her lips sought his again, resuming their kiss. This time, Brandon knew he was losing control. He had to stop, because tonight had already been heavy; they were tired, and their energy was drained. He didn't want Stella to pass out from exhaustion and then leave him alone on a path that would be difficult, maybe impossible, to return from. But most of all, he wanted Stella with him in every moment. In every emotion and in every rising fall, he wanted her awake and present by his side. He didn't sense much exhaustion from her, and he himself was not tired. What drained him was the struggle to control himself, trying to hold back the effects that Stella's body left on him. He doubted that even cold water could help him now.
When Stella unwrapped herself from the wall and wrapped her arms around him again, Brandon thought, screw it, as he gripped her waist tighter, lifting her into his arms and swiftly heading towards the bed. Stella couldn't stop; the intensity of what she was feeling was so overwhelming that she squirmed in his arms, pressing herself against him. One of the sleeves of the shirt had slipped off her shoulder, exposing more skin for Brandon to feast his eyes on, creating more opportunity for exploration. As Brandon shifted, placing new marks along her neck and collarbone, Stella's back met the firm bed, and Brandon resumed his exploration.
Stella tilted her head back, running her fingers through his hair once more, as Brandon realized there was no turning back. His lips rediscovered her skin, and Stella, desperate to feel him closer, let her hands wander over every inch of him that she could reach. Brandon pulled back for a brief moment and hastily pulled off his damp shirt, revealing to Stella her own reflection etched into his skin under the faint light coming from outside. A wave of indescribable warmth surged through her as Brandon pressed his hands into the bed beside her and leaned in. He nuzzled his nose against hers, causing her to release a shaky breath. As her fingers traced his stubble jaw, Brandon inhaled her scent, lingering for a moment. "What do you know?"
Understanding dawned on Stella's face, as Brandon started kissing her face softly. She was about to ask him what he meant when she swallowed hard, realizing what he was referring to: the conversation they'd had before the rebellion. She really didn't want to talk about that, not now, not when they were in this position. From the beginning, the greatest cause of conflict between them had been the clash between light and darkness. A conflict far greater than the one between fairies and witches, and because of this very reason, Stella had stayed away from the man now smothering her with kisses. Brandon had ignited a war, following his father's directives, but he had chosen to stand on the opposite side, going against his feelings. And, on top of that, he had indoctrinated all of the specialists with the same mindset.
Fairies, those beings who try to deceive you with beauty and goodness—don't be fooled. They are a kind of demon. Wherever they dwell should be questioned, whatever they touch should be burned, and those who associate with them must be subjected to eternal scrutiny.
These words, belonging to an old specialist and also the father of the man she loved, were from an event Luna had once recounted to Stella. When Stella had first heard them, she'd wanted to hurl a good dose of light directly at that man's backside, but he had already passed away. One day, when she encountered a specialist and anyone dared to speak to her in that manner, she swore she'd personally stand up to them, causing Luna to smile affectionately. Yet, Radius was also a specialist. Brandon's father and her own father had been very close friends. Even when Radius had fallen into disagreement with Brandon's father, it was his love for Luna that made him stand up against those beliefs, going against his closest friend. For this reason, his career as a specialist had been brief, and soon after, he had assumed his role as the king of Solaria and quickly became a father. Like Aisha and Nabu, they too had faced early parenthood.
Stella had lost herself so much in these thoughts and Brandon's touches that she hadn't realized how far things had gone—her shirt had been lifted to her stomach, and Brandon was now slowly making his way down, leaving kisses on her abdomen. How had she noticed so late? As Brandon's gaze met hers, Stella watched him intently. His kisses seemed endless, and as she lifted her hips off the bed in anticipation, a muffled moan escaped her when Brandon's hand pressed her firmly back down. Her skin was tingling, and she wasn't sure if she wanted the sensation to stop or not.
"I think you know far more than you let on." Brandon paused at the hem of her underwear, looking up at her, and Stella cursed her voice for betraying her. She didn't want him to stop, but a part of her knew he wouldn't continue without an answer.
"Like what?" As he began to approach her face again, Stella tried to hide her disappointment, but Brandon's smirk showed that she wasn't doing a very good job. His gaze filled with desire, but he did his best to ignore it, though his hands and eyes told a different story. The firmness of him pressed against her leg, and Stella sighed with longing, her body reacting instinctively, not even knowing what it was yearning for. When Brandon's fingers traced her abdomen, Stella took a deep breath, pulling her stomach in reflexively. She had never felt such intense sensations before, nor had she ever wanted something so much. She wanted to fill herself with every part of Brandon, but that was impossible.
Brandon's fingers gripped her waist, pulling her roughly against him, and a muffled moan spilled from her lips as his lips found hers again. Though she wanted to hear what he had to say, she reluctantly pulled away. Brandon waited, lips hovering near hers, but his actions had left Stella so breathless that she struggled to find her words.
"Why you hate fairies and..." Brandon paused, and as he drew back ever so slightly, Stella froze as well, terrified he would leave the room. But she had no intention of keeping this hidden. She had already accepted her fears, and she wouldn't be afraid to tell Brandon. She was tired of letting fear win.
"And what happened to your mother." As Brandon's eyes met hers again, Stella recalled his first confession: I love you more than I ever loved my mother. The fear she had felt had not come to pass; Brandon hadn't walked away. Instead, he moved even closer to her, as if someone in the room might overhear and stop them. "What do you know?"
His calmness made Stella hesitate, but she watched him carefully. Brandon was testing her, trying to figure out if she knew the truth or just what everyone else knew. She realized it, and for a moment, Stella considered lying just to continue where they had left off. But her honesty wouldn't allow it. It was better to rip off the bandage all at once than live in fear of him leaving again.
"That your mother was sacrificed to open a gate to a parallel universe, and that's why she was killed." Brandon shot upright as if burned, and Stella immediately sat up alongside him, panting as she watched him. Had she been too blunt? But it was too late to worry about that now.
There was a parallel universe, and many beings who craved power and titles sought to reach it. The only known way to access it was through the union of darkness and light. Brandon's mother had been close to becoming the queen of darkness, but she had been killed so mercilessly that Luna had done everything she could to prevent it, though in the end, all she was left with was nothing. Thanks to Radius, the parallel universe had remained sealed, but it had cost Brandon's mother her life. Furious fairies, trying to use darkness alone, had failed, and in the end, they had saved themselves by sacrificing someone. They had sealed the darkness, creating another lock—one that could only be opened by light, or so they believed. They had tried and failed, and someone else had been sacrificed: Radius's father. That's why he had become king at such a young age.
Brandon knew all of this, but his father's method of implanting these ideas had been so poisonous that Brandon had turned it into an entirely different hatred. Yet, both sides had lost loved ones, and both had been tested by the same parallel universe.
Brandon's chest rose and fell rapidly as he breathed, while Stella felt her heart shatter. She had been just as horrified when she first learned about it, but Brandon's horror wasn't from learning this truth—it came from knowing that Stella knew it too. Because if Stella knew...
"You knew..." Brandon's voice cracked, and as Stella moved closer, he didn't react. At least he hadn't pulled away, which Stella took as a small comfort as she inched nearer. "You knew why I acted that way toward you, why I kept my distance... and you didn't say anything." Stella tried to lighten the mood, smiling up at him as she added, "I thought you were staying away because of the age difference between us." Brandon shot her a sharp look, causing Stella to blush and lower her head. In response, Brandon gently lifted her chin with his finger. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and before they could fall, he pulled her lips into a hard, desperate kiss, one so intense that they were left breathless. Their retreat from each other was slow, and Stella didn't care that her breath was running out. If Brandon hadn't rested his forehead against hers, she doubted she would have let him pull away at all.
"Why?" Stella shook her head as tears slipped freely down her cheeks, "You were just trying to protect me." Brandon nodded in agreement, but something inside him ached. History was repeating itself. Anyone who knew Brandon possessed the power of darkness would try to use both him and Stella, just like in the past. This had been Lord Darkar's plan too—he had captured Bloom as soon as he heard she wielded the Dragon's Flame, attempting to open the gate. But only those with the power tied to the seal could open the door, in this case—Stella and Brandon. Bloom had failed, and Darkar, even though he could read Bloom's thoughts briefly, realized that the true key was Stella and Brandon. He had bluffed, threatening to kill Brandon, but Brandon had been as valuable to him as Stella. This parallel universe would reverse the balance of light and darkness, creating a mirror world where Darkar and the witches could merge the two realities, making darkness the dominant force in all realms. By crushing celestial forces like Stella's, of course.
Even as a young boy, when Brandon learned of these things, his heart filled with hatred, and he had come to despise fairies. He never hid his loathing and disgust for them, not until he met Stella. The pull between them was so strong that Brandon had realized he was in love the moment he saw her. Even though he knew this, he continued to play his role, keeping his father and everyone else from noticing that his hatred for fairies had lessened, or worse, that he had fallen in love with one. He still hated fairies—after all, it wasn't a lie that his mother had died because of them. But not all fairies were the same. The more he got to know Stella, the more he saw her, the more he secretly watched her, the more Brandon could make this distinction. When his father died and left Brandon alone, contrary to what others might have thought, Brandon hadn't grieved—he had felt relief. Without anyone trying to control him, he could finally breathe freely. But his attitude toward Stella had also begun to weaken. People were talking. Many could sense Brandon's obsession from miles away, and the moment Brandon realized Stella's life was in danger, he found himself on the battlefield. Fighting against the fairies, he had knowingly put himself in the line of fire, attacking Stella first, showing everyone that he didn't have any care for her. But knowing damn well that Stella was well protected before he did so.
As Brandon wiped away Stella's tears and planted soft kisses around her face, Stella felt a deep sense of calm, though an indescribable fear also spread through her. Brandon had figured out the connection when he was just sixteen, predicting that others would try to take him and force him to break the seal. He knew that it would involve a fairy too, but the fairy part hadn't concerned him... until he learned that the fairy would be Stella. As Brandon leaned back against the headboard, pulling Stella into his lap, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and curled into him. There was no doubt she had figured out the connection as well—he didn't need to ask. But it was clear that this was still new to her. As his fingers traced the bare skin beneath her shirt, Stella shuddered with a shaky breath. Darkar was dead, and for now, there didn't seem to be anyone left who wanted to lift the seal and open the gate to the parallel universe. Still, that didn't mean it would never happen.
When Stella raised her head and pressed her forehead against Brandon's, she was a little surprised by the determination in his expression. Brandon held her so tightly, so possessively, that she was momentarily stunned. It felt as if there was a different Brandon in front of her.
"I won't leave you." His voice sent a shiver through her, and though normally those words would have sent her soaring, she remained silent. She couldn't quite grasp what had made him say it. This night, filled with so many conflicting emotions, had become even more complicated than she'd expected. Just as Stella was about to say the same thing in return, Brandon pulled her tighter against him, sealing her lips with another kiss before his words filled her with a new and unfamiliar thrill. "It doesn't matter which parallel universe we're tangled in," Brandon's voice was a low growl as he pulled her closer, his eyes dark and intense. "I've already made my promise, Stella. This knot between us—it's never getting untied. You're mine, in every world."
