Ch 5: Something in the stars

We strolled along the winding garden path, the night air brushing cool against my skin, carrying the soft hum of music and the distant clinking of glasses. I clutched my empty champagne flute, still flustered by what I had witnessed and from who I was walking beside.

"I hope I didn't, you know—" I tilted the glass towards him, "accidentally pour this on you when I ran into you."

Cassian let a low chuckle, smooth as the velvet of his voice.

"I would know if I were wet, Miss Moon."

I nearly tripped over my own feet.

My face flushed instantly, betraying me in glorious, red tomato fashion. "I— right of course. That makes sense," I mumbled, eyes darting everywhere but his face.

He laughed, again, a rich, amused sound that vibrated through the cool air.

Without a word, he shrugged off his coat and draped it over my shoulders. The weight of it was solid, warm and smelled like cedarwood and crisp winter air.

"Thank you," I said quietly, adjusting it around me.

"Can't have you freezing before you enjoy what Veloria has to offer."

I looked up at him, trying to read him. But his face gave so little away, save for that glint of mischief lingering behind his dark eyes.

"It's....kind of a weird coincidence," I said softly. "That we ran into each other again."

He glanced sideways at me, lips quirking. "Is it?"

"I mean, I thought you forgot me."

"Never," he said, gaze fixed ahead. "Hard to forget the lady who groped me in a spa."

I stopped walking and gasped. "I did not grope you!"

He turned to me grinning.

"I walked to the wrong locker room," I protested, visibly flustered. "You were the one standing there half naked."

Cassian simply raised a brow. "A towel counts as clothing by the way."

I groaned and playfully slapped his arm. "You're impossible."

As soon as my hand made contact with his forearm, realization struck. Oh...I had hit a member of the royal family who I wasn't closely acquainted to.

"I— I'm so sorry," I stammered. "That was meant to be light."

Cassian was laughing now, deep and genuine. "Relax, Lisa, I've survived worse."

I stared at him, embarrassed and trying not to smile but I failed miserably.

We continued walking,  and soon a stone path led us to a small structure nestled just beyond the garden. A round building with a glass dome roof, dimly glowing from within.

Cassian slowed beside it.

"I built it for Cole," he said voice gentler now. "He loves the stars and the Palace restrained that."

I looked at the observatory in awe, "it's beautiful."

He nodded, quite for a moment. "I loved seeing his eyes sparkle while he did what he loved."

I smiled.

Cassian looked at me, something thoughtful passing through his expression. The breeze stirred again, lifting the hem of the coat around me.

And for just a second under that glass dome and the blanket of stars, I didn't feel like just a guest. Inside the observatory it was warm and quiet.

Cassian turned towards me, his coat still wrapped around me. His expression shifting, not teasing now. Just a serious, unreadable intensity that settled somewhere deep in my chest.

"I want to be honest with you," his voice low.

I swallowed, every nerve in my body suddenly on high alert.

"You've been in my thoughts," he said plainly. "Since the spa. Since the look in your face when you realized where you were. Since the way you looked at me just now in the garden."

My lips parted, unsure what to say. Flattered? Shocked? Exposed?

"I followed you," he added, a little softer now. "When you wandered off into the garden. I wanted to know why I was drawn to you. What type of person you are, when no one's watching."

His gaze lingered on me— searching, steady, full of heat and something hard to name.

"I wasn't expecting to bump into you, I was only going to watch you from afar." The corner of his mouth curved slightly, but his eyes didn't waver. "I wasn't expecting to want more."

My breath caught in my throat.

He stepped closer.

"May I kiss you, Lisa?"

The sound of my name on his lips nearly undid me. I nodded— barely just once.

Cassian leaned in slowly, giving me time, letting the anticipation build.

Then he paused, inches from my lips.

He pulled back slightly.

My heart sank. Maybe he changed his mind. Maybe I read too much into this.

But then—

He dove forward, capturing my mouth in a kiss that knocked every rational thought straight out of my head.

It wasn't tentative. It was hungry.

He kissed me like he'd waited longer than he wanted to admit. Like he wasn't just curious, he was starved.

His hands slid to my waist, anchoring me against him, and I reached up instinctively, fingers fisting the lapels of his open shirt. He tasted faintly of wine and something impossibly addictive.

I let out a soft sound, and his hands slid up my back, steadying me as my knees nearly gave out.

"Careful," he murmured against my lips. "You're not allowed to fall, not yet."

"Says the man making me lose my balance." I whispered breathless.

His laugh vibrated through me as he kissed me again— slower this time, deeper.

Every touch felt deliberate. Reverent. Like he was memorising the shape of this moment.

Someone cleared their throat behind us. Cassian and I froze.

I pulled back my heart still racing, breath shallow and turned towards the voice.

A woman stood in the observatory doorway, silhouetted against the faint moonlight. She was poised in a sleek, silver gown, one manicured hand still resting on the frame. Her eyes flicked from Cassian to me and the faintest curl of a smile lifted her lips.

"Cassian," she said, cool and composed like she hadn't walked in on us tongue battling. "I've been looking for you."

Cassian's posture changed. Not tense, but more guarded. "Victoria, what brings you here?"

Victoria. The name dropped into the air with much familiarity.

She took a step in, heels silent on the polished floor. "You left the party. People noticed. I noticed."

Cassian didn't move. "I needed air."

Her gaze drifted back to me. "Clearly."

Something had happened between them. I didn't know what, but the energy between the two of them  was too polished, too tight to be casual. And suddenly I felt like an outsider again.

"I should go," I said quickly, removing his coat from my shoulder and handing it to him. My voice sounded too bright, too rehearsed. "It's getting late."

Cassian turned to me, something flickering in his eyes. But he didn't stop me.

"Lisa—"

"I'll find my way back," I said already moving towards the door.