Chapter 9 Forbidden Kiss

Lyra's lips tingled as she pulled back from Kael, her heart racing with excitement. What had she just done? Kael's eyes burned with intensity, his gaze locked onto hers. "Lyra," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. Lyra's cheeks flushed with heat as she realized the enormity of what she'd done. She'd kissed Kael - a virtual stranger, and a mysterious one at that. But as she looked into his eyes, Lyra felt a spark of connection that went far beyond a simple kiss. It was as if their lips had touched, and their souls had ignited.

Suddenly, Kael's expression darkened, and he pulled away from her. "I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice rough. "I shouldn't have let that happen." Lyra's heart sank, feeling a pang of rejection. "Why not?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Kael's eyes flashed with a hint of danger. "Because I'm not what you think I am," he said, his voice low and rough. "And once you know the truth, you'll wish you'd never met me." Lyra's mind reeled with questions, but before she could ask any of them, Kael turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving her alone beside the waterfall. As she stood there, feeling the cool mist on her skin, Lyra realized that she'd never felt more alone in her life. But she also knew that she couldn't give up - not now, when she'd finally found something worth fighting for.