Chapter 234: Beneath The Open Arch
[Music recommendation: Federico Albanese - Gentle Flow]
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Aliana was rarely awed by grand spaces. Hailing from the prestigious Vanderbilt family, she had seen far more luxurious places in her short life than most could ever dream of.
But this... the sight before her was an unexpected marvel unlike anything she had encountered before.
The bathroom was enormous. High above, a massive glass dome opened to the midnight sky, bathing the chamber in soft moonlight. White marble pillars with fine gold details reached up to the ceiling, covered in green vines hanging down from every arch.
In the centre of the room was a huge pool of clear, deep emerald water. The water shimmered under the warm glow of dozens of candles resting on the marble steps. Gold taps, soft white towels, and glass bottles of sweet-smelling oils sat beside vases of fresh white lilies, filling the air with a gentle scent.
The most amazing part stood under a large open archway at the far end of the pool, revealing a real waterfall tumbling down dark, mossy rocks from the mountains outside.
Aliana’s gaze remained fixed on the mesmerising sight as the waterfall illuminated beneath the moonlight, its gentle stream sparkling like silver ribbons.
She could hardly believe there was no glass separating the luxurious sanctuary from the world outside.
Without thinking, she curiously took a step forward, then another, until she stood at the edge of the pool. As her gaze drifted toward the inviting water, an urge bubbled in her chest to take a dip.
She pursed her lips, contemplating whether she should simply go ahead, given that she had no idea how long Gavriel would take.
After a moment of thought, she reached a decision.
Slipping off her heels at the side of the pool, she stepped onto the top underwater ledge. Surprised to find that the water was comfortably warm rather than cold, a playful smile crept onto her face.
....
After hearing everything about the assassination attempt on Jade, carried out by a human, Gavriel’s mood had taken an even darker turn.
It was becoming increasingly clear that their enemies were willing to resort to any means necessary.
The subsequent investigation revealed that the assassin had taken a job with the catering company and entered the venue disguised as a member of the staff before slipping away while everyone else was occupied with the wedding.
Under interrogation, the man admitted that a substantial sum of money had been transferred into his account by an anonymous employer, along with detailed instructions about the wedding.
It was a stroke of fortune that Jade and Nigel had managed to subdue a trained killer without sustaining serious injuries.
Gavriel could only imagine how distraught Aliana would have been if anything terrible had happened to them.
To add to the growing tension, he had received a message from Ivan shortly after. The man had sent nothing more than coordinates to a location in Aria, accompanied by a brief text message:
’You might want to investigate it. We are returning to our world for a few days.’
That was it. Not another word.
Like, the man couldn’t even spare a proper explanation.
Since Gavriel could not leave the estate himself, he had asked Reve to inspect the site while assigning Cillian to remain in the adjacent wing to keep watch over everyone.
Things were becoming more complicated by the day, and what frustrated him most was that they still had nothing on Mord.
Bastard was doing an exceptionally good job of covering his tracks.
The only explanation Gavriel could think of was that Mord’s powerful backer was behind concealing his presence so flawlessly.
But he wasn’t called the Devil for nothing.
He knew that people made mistakes when they were pushed to the edge, and he intended to do exactly that. He would force the cockroach out into the open... and when he does, there would be nothing that would save him from him.
With those thoughts swirling in his mind, he quietly opened the door to their suite and slipped inside.
His eyes instinctively drifted toward the grand bed, fully expecting to find Aliana fast asleep after such an exhausting day. Especially since it was already past midnight and his discussion with Cillian had dragged on for more than half an hour.
But a faint crease formed between his brows when he found the space empty.
The plush sheets remained untouched. A glance toward the closed balcony doors confirmed she was not out enjoying the night air either.
Just as a flicker of concern began to take root in his chest, his sharp hearing caught the faint splash of rippling water coming from the adjacent room.
Following the sound, he approached the bathroom, where the tall door stood slightly ajar. He pushed it open and stepped inside, only to stop dead in his tracks.
The sight before him caught him completely off guard.
Beneath the warm glow of flickering candles and the cool, silver moonlight streaming through the open archway, a flash of gold shimmered just beneath the surface of the pool.
Moments later, Aliana emerged from the crystal water right near the edge. She swept her head back, sending a glistening arc of water droplets airborne before her long, golden locks settled over her bare shoulders.
Gavriel simply couldn’t tear his gaze away from the riveting sight of the woman he had married only hours ago.
He remained silent, watching as she let out a soft gasp for air before slowly gliding towards the edge of the pool. She moved directly beneath the open archway and rested her delicate hands against the smooth marble ledge.
Her jewel-like light grey eyes were shimmering as they admired the waterfall cascading down the mountainside with a serene expression on her face.
Unconsciously, Gavriel tilted his head, and his gaze drifted lower, only to notice that her ravishing ivory gown still remained on her.
The water had rendered the fabric clinging to every curve of her body like a second skin, igniting dark desires within him that only she was capable of provoking, without even lifting a finger.
Just what was it about this little wife of his that kept drawing out the unexpected from him? He had no answer... but what he knew without a doubt was that he found himself craving more of her with every passing second.
Without making a sound, Gavriel began stripping the clothes from his body one by one until he wore nothing at all.
A small, wicked smirk curled on his lips when he saw that she had still not noticed his presence. Then, with a silent dive, he slipped into the deep water, sending a sudden ripple across the surface that made Aliana turn around with a start.
Ripples and bubbles surfaced on one side of the dark pool, but she could not see anyone beneath.
"Who’s there?" she called, her fingers tightening around the marble edge.
Her heartbeat quickened as her wary eyes swept across the vast bathroom before settling on a pile of clothes discarded beside the pool.
Her gaze slowly returned to the water.
Unable to see through its dark depths, she parted her lips to call out, "Ga-"
She never got to finish when a strong hand clamped around her ankle, tugging her beneath the surface until she was submerged in the warm water once again.
The instant she opened her eyes beneath the surface, they met a pair of icy blue ones, and her heart thudded wildly in her chest.
With her white dress floating beautifully around her and her golden hair fanning out like a halo, the devil closed the remaining distance between them. Snaking his arms around her waist, he pulled her flush against him until her hands found his shoulders.
Then, in the quiet embrace of the deep water, he sealed her lips with his.