ETERNAL MOONLIGHT

moonlit clearing, but the adrenaline rushing through my body only strengthened Ralph and my throbbing bond. I looked at him, observing how the moonligh

ine concern in my voice, I b

nodded slowly. "I am right now. Florence, y

o lighten the atmosphere by joking, "You surprised yourself

you. But I will not repeat that error. The playful light in his eyes changed

s pressing down on me. "When he said the cur

nge in the supernatural balance, which requires more research. If that rogue was working fo

xt step is to identify the culprit. We mu

s soon as our eyes locked. "Florence, you're more

aw me was like the first light of dawn after a long, dark

f beneath the centuries of hurt and betrayal as his expres

"You're not alone." "I'm present

nt when Gabriel's voice cut through the silence. "We must reorganize. We must not

Ralph. "All right. It's time to return to

ltered our relationship as we started our journey back. Every glance we

trolled, and the comfort of his familiar company began to take hold. "Florence," he said, pausing as though he was consid

felt constrained by their customs. However, after everything, I've come to

ound-a glimmer of hope-when his eyes met mine

the wave of feelings that threatened to surface. "I will no longer allow fear to control

mportant. Florence, you underestimate your strength. Though your path may

sed an inexplicable bond binding us to

e said in a low

le to see the way home because the lanterns were flickering against the approaching darkness

ong shadow in the dim light. With a hint of concern in his stee

ile my heart raced. The rogue has a connection to somet

ded his arms. What about the vampire? What

ing the rogue, not each other. Gabriel, you must realize t

hint of bitterness beginning to creep in. This mak

temper erupting. We all belong to the same wo

ause he failed to see how our differences could bring us together. "

tion seething beneath the surface, "He's Ralph." And he's corr

us, his expression filled with incredulity. "

disrupt your life or take a thing. I'm here to defend the equilibrium tha

spond. "Listen, Gabriel. We cannot afford to allow our biases to impair ou

n Gabriel's protective instincts and my growing realiz

rength. "All right. However, if we proceed, it will be on my

remained palpable. The gap of mistrust between them was visible to me, and it

he responded with a small, reassuring smile that made my heart flutter. Even though there wa

n't the only conflicting forces in my heart. There was a deeper co

se of the curse, and maybe-just maybe-find a way to reinterpret w