Chapter 27: Before The Walls Fall

“Because if you are giving me orders now, I might have to salute you properly later.” Luz leaned in closer, lowering his voice so only Amelia could hear over the distant clatter of camp life. “Fine. I will hold you to that deal. You run when things get bad, and I will fight like hell to come back to you.” His gauntleted hand finally gave in to temptation, gently cupping her cheek. The touch was hesitant but firm, the metal cool against her skin. “Good,” Amelia said satisfied. “Now, where is our tent?” she looked around as she asked. Luz chuckled softly, the sound surprisingly warm against the backdrop of Corrompido camp noises. “Our tent? I suppose we can share one tonight. Though I doubt it will be very comfortable.”

He gestured with his head toward a cluster of larger tents set apart from the common soldier’s tents. “Over there. Those are for high-ranking officers and their... companions.” His crimson eyes flicked meaningfully toward Amelia before returning to scan their surroundings discreetly. Most Corrompido kept their distance from Luz’s personal space, aware of his volatile nature when threatened. “Come on, let’s find whatever passes for privacy in this army of monsters.” he said, starting to lead her through the maze of canvas and firelight. “Tonight?” Amelia echoed. “More like every night for the rest of our liver.” Luz’s step faltered for a moment, his crimson eyes widening at her bold declaration.

The casual certainty in her voice sent a jolt through him, a mixture of hope and terror warring beneath the surface. “Every night?” he repeated softly, stopping completely to face her under the flickering torchlight. “Amelia, you have no idea what you are asking. My life is not just about battles anymore. It is about darkness and corruption and…” he trailed off, glancing around nervously to ensure no one was listening to closely. his gauntleted hand ran through his ask-silver hair in a gesture of frustration and longing. “I wake up every morning wondering if today will be the day this darkness inside me takes full control. Do you truly want that kind of future?” despite his words, there was an undeniable pull toward her confidence– the way she acted as if their shared destiny was already written in stone.

“We already discussed this,” Amelia said easily as they entered Luz’s tent. “I am not going anywhere.” The tent flap fell shut behind them, plunging the interior into relative quiet compared to the cacophony outside. A single brazier cast dim red glow over the simple furnishings– a cot with furs piled atop it, a small table cluttered with maps and strategy notes. Luz stood frozen for a moment, his crimson eyes adjusting to the low light as they settled on Amelia’s determined expression. Her easy dismissal of his doubts ignited something protective and possessive within him– the very thing he had fought to suppress for years. “You are impossible,” he muttered, unstrapping his gauntlets with deliberate movements. Each piece of black armour came off methodically until her stood in just his tunic and trousers, revealing more of the black veins crawling across his chest and shoulders like living shadows.

“I am also starving,” Amelia said as she slumped down on the cot. “What does a girl have to do for some food?” she asked playfully as she removed the knee-high brown leather boots. Luz’s crimson eyes followed the movement of her boots hitting the floor, a flicker of something warm and familiar breaking through his hardened façade. The sight of her settling onto his cot as if it were their own bed sent a jolt through him. “Food,” he repeated, his voice losing its commanding edge and taking on a more intimate tone. “Right. I suppose even fallen heroes need to eat.” He moved toward the small table where a servant had left a tray of dark bread, dried meat, and a flash of spiced wine.

The provisions were standard rations– nothing like the fresh fruit and honeyed pastries they shared in the past. “Here. It is not much, but it will keep you going until morning.” Luz said, offering her a piece of bread. His hand hesitated before setting it down beside her on the cot. “Thanks,” Amelia said casually as she picked up the bread and took a bite. Luz watched her eat; the casual way she accepted the grimy bread and bit into it sending a strange mix of warmth and guilt through him. This was his life now– darkened rations and stolen moments in enemy camps. “You always did eat like you had not seen food in a week,” he remarked, leaning against the tent pole with his arms crossed. The position made his tunic stretch taut across his muscular frame.

His crimson eyes softened as he studied her profile– how the dim light caught the freckles dusting her nose, how her hair spilled over the fur pillows in a way that looked far too comfortable for this violent world. “Why are you standing so far away?” Amelia asked as she chewed the bread thoroughly. “Are you going to avoid me all night?” she asked as she swallowed the bread and looked at him questioningly. Luz’s crimson eyes widened slightly at her direct challenge, caught off guard by the casual intimacy in her tone. For a moment, the hardened commander façade cracked, revealing the man beneath who craved closeness but feared it.

“Avoid you?” he repeated his voice laced with dry humour. “Amelia, I have been avoiding you for six years. It seems I am failing spectacularly at it tonight.” He pushed off from the tent pole and took a few deliberate steps closed, stopping just shy of reaching distance. The braziers’ red light danced across his features, highlighting the tension in his jaw and they way his fingers flexed as if resisting the urge to touch her. “If I get any closer, I will not trust myself not to kiss you,” he admitted bluntly, his crimson gaze fixed on her mouth as she finished chewing. “What if I want you to kiss me?” Amelia asked challengingly.