The stone corridors twisted and turned, each corner shrouded in deep shadows. The air was thick with dampness, the scent of rusted metal and old blood lingering. Kieran and Julian moved in silence, their footsteps barely audible as they crept through the dungeon’s maze-like depths.

Kieran’s pulse still pounded from their escape, but the adrenaline was fading, leaving behind raw tension. He felt Julian’s presence beside him—too close, too steady. Their bodies brushed as they maneuvered through the narrow path, every accidental touch sending a jolt through Kieran’s already frayed nerves.

“We need to get out before the guards realize we’re gone,” Kieran whispered, his voice tight.

Julian scoffed. “No kidding. Unless you want to wait around for them to drag you back in chains.”

Kieran shot him a glare. “I don’t need the sarcasm right now.”

Julian turned on him, stepping into his space. Even in the dim light, his eyes gleamed with something unreadable. “Then what do you need, Your Highness? A comforting hand to hold?”

Kieran’s jaw clenched. “I need you to focus.”

Julian huffed a bitter laugh, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “Oh, I’m plenty focused. I just think it’s funny—how you still act like you have everything under control.”

Kieran’s fingers curled into fists. The heat between them had nothing to do with the cold dungeon air. “I never said I did.”

Julian took another step closer, close enough that Kieran could feel his breath against his skin. “Then maybe you should stop pretending.”

For a moment, neither of them moved. The weight of unspoken words, unaddressed emotions, crackled like a live wire between them. Kieran hated the way Julian’s gaze unsettled him—how it stripped him bare, seeing beyond the carefully composed mask he wore.

A distant shout shattered the moment. The guards had noticed their escape.

Julian clicked his tongue. “Looks like we’re out of time.”

He turned on his heel, leading the way forward. But Kieran hesitated, his heart hammering in a way that had nothing to do with fear.

Then, without another word, he followed.

To be continued...