Counterback of the Despised Luna by Diana West

Chapter 130 Still Alive

Caden’s POV:

Finished

At 100,000 feet, Rosaline sat beside me, her eyes tracing the endless layers of clouds outside the window. Her gaze was distant, thoughtful.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked quietly, glancing at her from the corner of my eye.

“Nothing,” Rosaline answered, turning toward me. She gave me a small smile before clearing her throat. “I was just wondering who would want to bring Eclipse Group down.”

“You’ll find out when we get to Fostrau,” I said with a slight grin. “Don’t worry too much about it. Want something to drink? What do you feel like having?”

She thought for a moment. “Orange juice, I think.”

I pressed the call button, summoning the flight attendant. “One orange juice, please.”

“Certainly, sir. Please hold on a moment,” the attendant replied with a polite smile before walking away.

Five minutes later, she returned, holding the drink. “Ms. Sinclair, here’s your orange juice.”

“Thank you,” Rosaline said, taking the juice. Just as she was about to take a sip, the plane lurched, descending rapidly.

“Ah!!” Rosaline’s voice trembled as she gasped, startled.

The lights above flickered and went out, leaving the cabin in complete darkness.

Rosaline’s POV:

The sudden loss of weight made my whole body shudder, and the darkness felt like it was closing in on me. It was suffocating, a fear so deep it gripped me tight.

Fragments of something flashed through my mind, hazy memories that didn’t make sense.

It was like falling into an abyss, falling endlessly into the unknown. The darkness swallowed me whole.

The sensation was so vivid, so real, it felt like I had experienced it before.

instinctively, my hands

helplessness, crawled through my veins, spreading

me … ” I gasped, panic rising in my chest. My voice faltered, my face

me.

strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me

was Caden. His presence grounded me, his warmth slowly

Are you okay?” His

him, still shaken. My breath coming in

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08:35 Mon, 17

Still Alive

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Finished

just a little turbulence,” Caden said, his voice calm, a steady anchor

plane soon settled, and the soft hum of the engines

I realized–my arms were still tightly wrapped around him. My face burned with embarrassment, and I hastily pulled away. “I’m

me as he nodded. “It was just a little bump. Nothing to

hand over my chest. I could still feel the tremors of panic running through me.

scared,” Caden teased, a

my lungs, steadying myself. “Well, you don’t know everything. My biggest fears? The dark

his grip warm and firm, grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected. His eyes were full of understanding, yet there was a quiet strength there too. “You don’t have to be scared

lingering panic. For a

something else. He wasn’t just

moment, I found myself wishing he

wonder if the magic that once led me to my fated

had kept me from feeling anything for

time, I dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, he was the

one.

weren’t in

my face carefully neutral. “Thanks,” I said, my voice a little quieter than usual.

disappointment crossed Caden’s eyes,

“Rosaline, are you sure you don’t want to give this a chance? Us,

said, my tone firm but soft. “Now isn’t the time for that. Don’t you remember why we’re going to Fostrau? Eclipse Group is in trouble. Do you really have time

remained, confident and unshaken. “Trouble? This? It’s nothing.”

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