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 found nothing.

fear, the helplessness, crawled through my

My voice

me.

me, pulling

Caden. His presence grounded me, his warmth slowly calming

going on? Are you okay?” His voice was soft, filled with concern.

him, still shaken. My breath coming in quick, uneven gasps. “I’m so

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08:35 Mon, 17

130 Still Alive

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Finished

turbulence,” Caden said, his voice calm, a

settled, and the soft hum of the engines returned, along with the flickering of the overhead

My face burned with embarrassment, and I hastily pulled away. “I’m sorry,” I

softened with concern, his eyes lingering on me as he

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

scared,” Caden teased, a small smile tugging at the corners

forced a breath deep into my lungs, steadying myself. “Well, you don’t know everything. My biggest fears? The dark and heights. Combine them… and you get

were full of understanding, yet there was a quiet strength there too. “You don’t have

spread through me, soothing the lingering panic. For a moment, I let myself simply be

He wasn’t just

found myself wishing he were the one destined

couldn’t help but wonder if the magic that once led me to my fated mate had vanished. Sometimes, it felt like it had faded into

kept me from feeling anything

time, I dared to hope that maybe, just

one.

weren’t

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

flicker of disappointment crossed Caden’s eyes, but he didn’t hide

“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

remained, confident and unshaken. “Trouble? This?

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