Once Betrayed Never Forgotten

Chapter 109: A Stolen Moment

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Kieran says eagerly, his hazel eyes gleaming, “Let’s go to Paris. We can visit the Hotel Royal Fromentin after we’re done with our questing, and enjoy a glass of absinthe. It’s the best in the world.”

Aleksandr’s expression hardens, his jaw clenching. “There is no we, Kieran… you’re not invited,” he says, his nice cold, his gaze cutting into Kieran

Kieran’s smile twists into a sneer, his eyes gleaming with a hint of defiance. “This is my realm, Vasiliev, The Earth Angel, the Earth realm–it’s tied to my clan, to me. No one will stop me from coming along,” he declares, his voice ringing with conviction. “We can be in Paris in less than a minute if we go by portal, and there’s no time to waste.”

Aleksandr and I share a brief look, a silent understanding passing between us. I feel a twinge of longing, a desire to spend the night alone with him. I’ve dreamed for weeks about what I’d do when I see him again, and now that I’m a Blood Wraith, with no limits on what we can do…

Aleksandr is clearly thinking the same way that I am. His gaze flickers back to Kieran, his face Lightening. “It’s night now. Let’s wait until morning,” he says, his voice firm.

Kieran’s laughter echoes through the hall, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “T can’t believe what I’m hearing,” he exclaims, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “Aleksandr Vasiliev, creature of the night, wants to wait until morning? What’s gotten into you?”

He glances between Aleksandr and me, his smile widening. “Oh, of course,” he says, smacking his head. “You two have a lot of catching up to do. Well leave in the morning. You may have the full use of my guest suites for your… catching up.”

I feel a rush of embarrassment, my cheeks heating, but I slump back in my chair with relief, the prospect of time alone with Aleksandr casing the tension in my chest

“Would it not be better to make haste?” Bloodbane’s voice cuts through the silence, his crimson eyes narrowing. He’s clearly oblivious to the

of the conversation

“We should strike while the iron is hot,” he continues. “Why delay? We should leave, immediately.”

“No!

*Aleksandr and 1 bark the word in unison, causing Kieran to burst into laughter, his eyes gleaming,

Bloodbane’s brows furrow, confusion creasing his features.

undertones

“But… why not?” Pyra asks, her gokken eyes widening. “Is it not better to do this under the cover of night? A graveyard is a sacred burial ground for humans, is it not? Better not to draw attention. Under the cover of night, we can be more covert. I sense urgency in this matter – Fontaine wouldn’t have given the vision at this time, if it wasn’t so.”

I feel a pang of agreement, the urgency of the vision pressing down on me. “She’s right,” I say, sighing in defeat. “We need to go now.”

Kieran stands, taking a swig of his wine, his hazel eyes gleaming. “Well, that settles it,” he declares, his voice tinged with excitement. “Aleksandr, will you do the honors, or should 17

Bonus

Aleksandr’s face darkens, his gaze shifting to Kieran, his expression tight. He makes a gesture, his hand waving dismissively. “I don’t care,” he mutte 09

Kieran strides to the far side of the grand dining hall, his hand sweeping through the air. The fabric of reality tears open, a swirling portal taking shape, its hazy vortex revealing the shimmering lights of Paris, the Eiffel Tower’s silhouette piercing the night sky.

07:26

“Ready?” Bloodhane asks Pyra, his crimson eyes gleaming. She nods, and they walk together through the portal, disappearing into the swirling void.

Kieran turns to us, his gaze lingering, a smirk curling across his lips. “Shall we?’

I begin to step forward, the thought of delaying my time alone with Aleksandr gnawing at my gut, but his hand grips my wrist, pulling me back.

“Kieran, wait for us on that side,” Aleksandr says, his voice linged with authority. “We’ll be right behind you, through my own portal. I need a moment

alone with Arianna”

Kierans grin widens, a wink flashing in his eye. “Don’t keep us waiting too long, you dirty dog,” he says, before stepping through the portal, the swirling void closing behind him.

Aleksandr’s hand slips from my wrist, his blue eyes burning into mine. The dining hall’s dark silence presses in around us, the weight of the nights events hanging in the air.

Chapter 109 A Stolen Moment

“W… what are you doing?” I ask, but he remains silent, his gaze intent as he looks me up and down

with a ravenous hunger.

Aleksandr’s icy grip on my wrist sends a chill up my spine, his cold fingers pressing into my flesh. My breath catches as I turn to face him, my pulse quickening, the warmth of my blood pounding in my ears. His blue eyes, cold and intense, bore into mine, an unreadable storm brewing within their depths.

“Ananna,” he murmurs, his voice low and gravelly, a hint of emotion threading through it.

I swallow, my gaze flickering to his stern face, the harsh lines softened by the flickering glow of the torches. The tension hangs between us, thick and suffocating, my heart hammering against my ribcage.

He steps closer, the cold seeping from his body, mingling with the warmth radiating from mine, creating a tantalizing contrast that makes my skin prickle. His breath brushes against my cheek, his eyes searching mine, as if looking for answers buried deep within me. “You have no idea how much i missed you. What it did to me.”

“Me too,” I breathe, my heart hammering in my chest. “But I’m here, Aleksandr. I’m here, now. For as long as you’ll have me

His icy blue eyes darken, his fingers tightening around my wrist. Forever, he says, his voice a low growl, filled with fierce determination. “Ill have you forever.”

The words send a thrill through me, my body trembling, a mixture of relief and fear washing over me. “Forever,” I whisper back, my breath hitching.

In that moment, Aleksandr’s cold hand slides to the back of my neck, pulling me towards him, his lips crashing against mine. His kiss is fierce, icy, his lips pressing hard against my own, stealing the breath from my lungs. The cold of his mouth mingles with the warmth of mine, creating a searing contrast that makes my skin tingle, my body ablaze with sensation.

I melt into him, my arms wrapping around his neck, my fingers tangling in his dark hair, the heat of my body pressing into his cold, muscular frame. Our mouths move together, a dance of ice and fire, his cold breath mingling with my hot exhalation, a heady mixture that makes my head spin-

His lips part from mine, his breath brushing against my cheek, his forehead resting against mine. “Arianna,” he whispers, his voice tinged with a raw vulnerability that sends a shiver down my spine. “I thought I’d lost you”

Tears prick my eyes, my chest tightening, my fingers clutching at his shoulders. Tm here,” I say, my voice choked, the words heavy with emotion. “Im here, Aleksandr.”

His arms tighten around me, pulling me into his cold embrace, his lips pressing against my forehead, lingering there, the chill of his breath brushing against my skin. “Never leave me again,” he says, his voice a desperate plea.

I nod, my heart swelling, the tears spilling down my cheeks. I won’t,” I vow, my arms tightening around him, the warmth of my body pressing into his “I won’t ever leave you again.”

Aleksandr’s lips find mine once more, and his hands begin to rove down my body, moving between my legs, sending a shiver of delicious anticipation

through me.

“I want this more than anything in the whole world,” I manage to get the words out between panting gasps. “But Kieran ”

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“But Kieran will come back for us if we take too long, I know,” Aleksandr finishes my sentence off. “But I couldn’t wait. I had to taste you again. Argonus besides, when I make love to you, I want to take my time. I plan to make you scream with pleasure until your throat is raw.”

07:24

Fuck

I clench my legs together, unable to control the sudden surge of wetness and delicious warmth that drenches my underwear.

“Let’s go, before that idiot comes back for us,” Aleksandr says with a wry smile as he begins to open up a portal behind us.

I guess we have no choice,” 1 sigh, and Aleksandr nods in agreement.

He asks playfully, taking my hand tenderly in his.

rt you to Paree, the city of love, my dear mademoiselle?” He

“Well, may I escurl you to

“Oui,” I reply with a giggle as we walk into the portal hand in hand.