31. UNDER THE MOONLIGHT

Caelan stood by the large windows of his mansion, the cool glow of the moon washing over him. His grey eyes shimmered as he gazed at the twinkling stars above, his mind far from the night’s beauty. Alina’s invitation to her college event lingered in his thoughts, a small but persistent memory. There was something different about her lately. She felt distant, even though they hadn’t spoken much before. But still, the feeling nagged at him.

Why did it bother him so much?

He sighed, running a hand through his silver-white hair. The lack of sleep was getting to him, causing his mind to race. He couldn’t shake the feeling, so he decided to clear his head with a walk. Grabbing his coat, he stepped out of his mansion and into the cold night air.

The silence of the evening greeted him, the chill biting against his skin, but it was soothing in a way. As he walked down the path, his eyes caught sight of a small figure standing under the streetlight. Squinting in curiosity, Caelan slowed his pace and approached. The figure seemed familiar, and as he got closer, the person turned around in a sudden movement, startled.

Alina gasped, her mismatched eyes wide with fear before softening with recognition. Caelan froze in place, the cold air no longer the source of the sudden chill that ran through him. Her blue and green eyes shimmered in the night, reminding him of something distant, something from a time long forgotten. No matter how much he tried to deny it, deep down, he knew—she was his centuries-old lover, the one he had lost.

But how could that be?

"What are you doing here?" Alina asked, breaking his thoughts and bringing him back to the present. Her voice was soft, concerned.

Caelan cleared his throat, trying to shake off the feeling. "I couldn’t sleep," he answered, his voice low. "And you? What’s brought you out here?"

Alina’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink under the cold sky, and she looked down, fidgeting with her fingers. "I’m... I’m scared of the dark," she admitted quietly. "The light in my condo isn’t working, and I asked the janitor to fix it, but it’s taking a while."

They stood there for a moment, the silence between them filled with the sound of the soft breeze and the distant hum of the night. Caelan could feel the tension in the air, but it wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, it felt... familiar.

After a moment, he spoke again. "Mind a walk?" His voice was gentle, though he wasn’t sure what he expected her to say.

Alina looked up at him, her expression softening. "Sure," she whispered, giving a small nod.

They began walking side by side, the world around them quiet and still. Caelan didn’t speak, and neither did Alina. But the silence wasn’t awkward; it was comfortable, almost peaceful. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, watching the way her hair moved in the wind, the way she bit her lip as if lost in thought.

"Are you okay?" he asked after a while, breaking the silence.

Alina glanced up at him, startled by the question. "Yeah," she answered quickly, though her voice lacked conviction. "I’m fine. Just... a lot on my mind lately."

Caelan nodded, understanding the feeling all too well. "The event at your college," he began, his words careful, "are you excited about it?"

Alina smiled slightly, her expression softening. "I am. It’s a big opportunity for me... but also a bit overwhelming."

He could hear the uncertainty in her voice, the way she hesitated. "You’ll do great," Caelan said, his voice firm. "You’re more capable than you think."

Alina blinked in surprise, looking at him with wide eyes. "You really think so?"

Caelan turned his gaze back to the path ahead, his heart beating a little faster than before. "Yes, I do."

For a moment, they continued walking in silence. But something had shifted between them. The air felt lighter, the tension easing with each step they took.

"I’ve noticed you’ve been distant lately," Caelan said, his tone casual, but the question hung heavy between them. "Is everything okay?"

Alina glanced down at the ground, her steps slowing. "I guess... I’ve just been dealing with a lot," she admitted softly. "Things at home, the event, and... other stuff."

He didn’t push her for more. It wasn’t his place, not yet. But there was something about her that made him want to protect her, to shield her from whatever was weighing her down. Even though he barely knew her, he couldn’t shake the feeling that their fates were somehow intertwined.

"I’m here if you need to talk," he offered quietly.

Alina looked up at him, her eyes shining with a mix of gratitude and something else, something he couldn’t quite place. "Thank you, Caelan," she whispered. "That means a lot."

They walked for a little while longer, the cold night wrapping around them like a blanket. Eventually, they returned to the street where Alina’s condo stood. The light was still out, and she hesitated by the door, glancing up at him.

"Do you want me to wait with you until the light is fixed?" Caelan asked, surprising even himself with the offer.

Alina shook her head with a small smile. "No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine."

Caelan nodded, though a part of him didn’t want to leave. "Goodnight, then."

"Goodnight," Alina replied softly, turning toward the door. But before she went inside, she glanced back at him one last time, her mismatched eyes catching the moonlight once more. "Thank you for the walk."

Caelan gave her a small nod, watching as she disappeared into the darkness. As he turned to head back to his mansion, he couldn’t help but glance up at the sky again. The stars twinkled overhead, and for the first time in a long while, something inside him felt... lighter.

But deep down, he knew—this was just the beginning. The connection he felt with Alina, the bond that had been rekindled after centuries, was far from over. And though he didn’t fully understand it yet, he knew one thing for certain.

She was the one.