The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silver glow over the courtyard as Lucas leaned against the cold stone wall, lost in thought. Memories flooded back to him-memories of laughter, stolen moments, and the warmth of Xenia’s smile. It felt like a lifetime ago, before the shadow of Zod had crept into their lives, before the kingdom had been torn apart by uncertainty.
In his mind’s eye, he could see her as she had been-dancing in the moonlight during one of their training sessions, her hair swirling like liquid gold around her shoulders. They had been sparring, but it had turned into something far more playful. “You’re too serious, Lucas!” she had laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she sidestepped his feigned attack. “You need to loosen up!”
The warmth of that memory was quickly eclipsed by the present reality. Lucas clenched his fists, feeling the bitter pang of loss. Xenia’s laughter was now intertwined with the coldness he felt whenever she stood beside Zod. The way her eyes dulled whenever the prince spoke, how she flinched when he touched her-it tore at him more than he could bear.
“Lucas,” a voice pulled him from his thoughts. It was Phoebe, her expression a mixture of concern and empathy. “Are you okay?”
He forced a nod, but it felt hollow. “Just… thinking about Xenia.”
Phoebe stepped closer, her presence a soothing balm against the tempest inside him. “She’s still in there, Lucas. You can’t lose hope.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I don’t know if hope is enough anymore. Zod has her now, and it feels like she’s slipping away, even if she’s right in front of me.”
“What if you spoke to her? What if you told her how you feel?” Phoebe suggested, her voice soft yet resolute.
Lucas shook his head, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. “I can’t just walk up to her and declare my love while Zod stands there, mocking us both. It would only make things worse. She’s bound to him now.”
“But she might not want to be,” Phoebe urged. “Sometimes people need a reminder of what they’ve lost to realize what they truly want.”
As if summoned by their conversation, Xenia appeared at the far end of the courtyard, her silhouette framed by the flickering torchlight. Lucas’s heart raced at the sight of her, but it was quickly tempered by the sight of Zod at her side, his arm possessively draped around her shoulders.
“Xenia,” Lucas breathed, a mix of longing and sorrow filling his chest.
She looked up, her eyes meeting his. For a brief moment, the world around them faded-the bustling noise of the courtyard, the whispering wind, and even Zod’s taunting laughter disappeared. In that moment, all that existed was Lucas and Xenia, suspended in a fragile silence.
But then Zod’s laughter broke the spell. “What’s this? Are we having a heartfelt reunion? How quaint.” He turned to Xenia, his smirk wide. “Why don’t you tell your little warrior here how happy you are?”
Xenia’s expression faltered, a flicker of pain crossing her features before she masked it with indifference. “I’m fine, Lucas. Zod is right; we’re to be wed. There’s nothing to discuss.”
Lucas’s heart shattered at her words. “Xenia, please-”
“Lucas,” Zod interrupted, his voice cold and commanding. “Let her be. Xenia has made her choice. You’re only dragging her back into the past.”
“But it’s not the past!” Lucas shouted, anger rising within him. “It’s the truth. You may wear a crown, but it doesn’t change what’s in her heart.”
Zod’s expression darkened, and he stepped forward, asserting his dominance. “Careful, warrior. You tread dangerously close to disrespecting a royal.”
Phoebe stepped forward, placing a hand on Lucas’s arm. “We don’t want to escalate this, Lucas,” she said quietly, her eyes urging him to be calm.
But Lucas couldn’t ignore the ache inside him. He took a step closer to Xenia, ignoring Zod’s menacing presence. “Xenia, I know you’re in there. I can see it in your eyes. This isn’t who you are. You deserve more than being a pawn in his game.”
For a heartbeat, Xenia hesitated, her gaze flickering between Lucas and Zod, as if weighing her words. “I… I don’t know what to do,” she whispered, the tremor in her voice betraying her uncertainty.
Zod’s grip on her tightened, his expression hardening. “You have made your choice, Xenia. Don’t let these desperate pleas sway you.” He stepped closer, forcing her to face him, blocking Lucas from her view.
Lucas felt rage boil within him, but he forced himself to stay calm. “Xenia,” he said gently, his voice low and earnest. “Whatever happens, I’ll always be here for you. You’re not alone in this.”
With a final, lingering gaze, Xenia looked back at Lucas, her eyes shimmering with unspoken words and emotions. Then she turned away, Zod leading her back toward the palace, leaving Lucas standing in the shadows of despair.
Phoebe placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You did what you could, Lucas. Now, we just need to figure out how to bring her back.”
Lucas nodded, the fire in his heart refusing to extinguish. “I won’t give up on her. Not now, not ever. There has to be a way to break Zod’s hold over her.”
As they walked back inside, Lucas’s resolve solidified. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, but he would find a way to reach Xenia, to show her that true love could conquer even the darkest of curses.