63. Desire & Despair

|| Lilac’s POV || The car door clicked shut behind me, sealing us in a cocoon of silence. Alaric’s presence filled the space, his scent of pine and earth overwhelming my senses. The engine purred to life, and we pulled away from the grand hall, leaving the red moon and the chaos of the gala behind. My phone buzzed in my clutch, the vibration sharp against my thigh. I pulled it out, the screen illuminating the dim interior of the car. 'Where are you?' Elara’s text read. I hesitated for a moment, my fingers trembling as I typed out a reply. 'With Alaric.' The response was immediate. 'Lil!' I could almost hear her voice, the mix of concern and exasperation in that single word. Before I could respond, another message popped up. 'I’ll let your parents know that you’re crashing at mine.' A small, grateful smile tugged at my lips. 'Thanks, Elara.' I put my phone aside, the screen dimming as the car sped down the winding road. The silence between Alaric and me was heavy, charged with unspoken