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.

my hands grasping for something–anything–but

through my veins, spreading

My voice faltered, my face pale as the

me.

me, pulling me tightly

presence grounded me, his warmth slowly calming the

you okay?” His voice was soft, filled with

coming in quick, uneven gasps. “I’m so

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08:35 Mon, 17

130 Still Alive

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Finished

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

soft hum of the engines returned, along with

wrapped around him. My face burned with embarrassment, and I hastily pulled away. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, looking anywhere but

with concern, his eyes lingering on me as he nodded. “It was just a little bump. Nothing to worry about.”

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

someone who gets scared,” Caden teased, a

you don’t know everything. My biggest fears? The dark and heights. Combine them… and you get

hand found mine, his grip warm and firm, grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected. His eyes were full of understanding,

his hand spread through me, soothing the lingering panic. For a moment,

something else. He wasn’t just

moment, I found myself wishing he were the one

and Freya’s strange behavior–I couldn’t help but wonder if the magic that once led me to my fated mate had vanished. Sometimes, it felt

me from feeling anything for anyone

I couldn’t deny that for the first time, I dared to hope that maybe,

one.

Tessa weren’t in the picture.

pulling my hand away, keeping my face carefully neutral. “Thanks,” I said, my voice a little quieter than

disappointment crossed Caden’s eyes, but

slightly, his voice low and serious. “Rosaline, are you sure you don’t want to give this a chance? Us, I mean.”

for a moment, scrambling to find the right words. “Caden,” I 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

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

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