The tension between you and Jon is palpable, more so than it has ever been. Every glance you steal when you’re both in the same room feels charged, heavy with the weight of something neither of you is willing to name. You’ve been talking to the lord you’re betrothed to, making polite conversation about future plans, but in the back of your mind, your thoughts are consumed by Jon. The secrecy of your relationship, the stolen moments you’ve shared, it all lingers in your chest like a secret only the two of you know.

The air between you both feels thick when you’re alone again, the quiet of the room almost suffocating. His usual guarded expression is replaced with something softer—vulnerable. His eyes are fixed on yours, and for a moment, it feels like nothing else matters.

“I don’t want to watch you marry him,” Jon’s voice is barely above a whisper, but it sends a chill down your spine. You turn towards him, your heart racing.

The question hangs there, unspoken but clear in his eyes. Are you mine?

Your breath catches in your throat, the words trapped inside you. You want to say yes, but the reality of your betrothal and the duty that binds you to your family weighs heavily. Still, Jon’s gaze lingers on you, a silent plea for something more. You take a step closer, the distance between you both closing, as you search for the courage to say what neither of you has admitted before.

His voice cracks as he repeats the question, raw with emotion. “Are you mine?”

You can feel the heaviness of the moment. The undeniable truth of your feelings, your heart pulled between loyalty and desire.