Chapter 209: Should I Be Bad?
[Music recommendation: Hania Rani - Sentimental Value]
.
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As soon as their eyes met, it felt as though time itself was holding its breath, with countless unspoken words swirling in each other’s eyes.
It was perhaps the first time they had shared proper eye contact since she had cried herself to sleep.
After that, she had simply avoided looking at him.
Even so... the electric charge between them was still very much there, just like always.
Her beguiling grey eyes were so beautiful that he felt that familiar, invisible pull toward her, tempting him to draw her into his arms once again.
As the seconds stretched into minutes, Gavriel noticed her lips part ever so slightly, as though she were about to speak.
But before a single word could escape her lips, the air hostess approached them and asked in her sultry voice, "Sir, would you like something to drink?"
That single interruption was all it took for the spell to break, and Aliana looked away, pressing her lips tightly together.
Disappointment settled heavily in Gavriel’s heart at first as the small window of opportunity closed before it had even been given a chance to open.
His jaw clenched tightly, and then rage surged through him.
When he finally turned his gaze toward the flight attendant, his icy blue eyes were murderous. The sheer intensity of his stare caused the woman’s blood to freeze instantly.
In a dangerously low voice, he commanded, "Disappear."
The dark aura radiating from Gavriel was so overwhelming that the air hostess immediately stumbled backwards before hurriedly straightening herself.
"F-f-forgive m-m-"
"Now," Gavriel almost snarled.
The woman, who had merely been trying her luck with him, turned and fled with her tail between her legs.
When his gaze drifted back to Aliana, he found her watching him in sheer surprise at the hostile exchange, and the murderous edge in his eyes vanished almost instantly.
Aliana released a soft sigh before speaking in a small voice. "You didn’t have to speak to her like that."
Gavriel simply gazed at her before replying, "What else can I do... when you refuse to speak to me?"
His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it was enough to make Aliana’s heart jolt.
Just then, the aircraft lurched violently, rattling their seats, and the seatbelt sign illuminated.
The captain informed them of the severe weather over the speaker. Prompting Aliana to look out the window to see dark storm clouds enveloping the aircraft.
She was not typically a nervous flier, but she had read far too much to ignore the dangers of navigating a severe storm mid-flight.
Unwittingly, her fingers curled tightly around the edge of her seat as she watched jagged streaks of lightning strike the clouds dangerously close to the plane.
The turbulence only grew worse with each passing second as they endured it, and Gavriel could feel the nervousness steadily building within her.
When he could no longer bear to watch her suffer in silence, he finally called her name. "Aliana."
The sound of her name slipping past his lips had always possessed a soothing effect on her. She turned to face him, only for him to extend his open hand toward her.
"Come here," he commanded softly.
Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at his outstretched hand before replying, "T-the seatbelt sign-"
"Ana," his voice came out gentler than before. He tilted his head ever so slightly, pinning her with a look that silently asked her to trust him.
And of course, if there was anyone she trusted above all others, it was him. She had always carried the deep-seated notion that no matter what happened, this man would protect her, regardless of how dangerous he seemed to everyone else.
On top of that, with her nerves growing increasingly jittery, there was no way she was going to risk another episode in the middle of the flight.
With a soft click, her seatbelt came off.
The moment she reached out to place her hand in his, Gavriel smoothly pulled her onto his lap. His warm, strong hands instinctively wrapped around her protectively, and even as the plane juddered, Aliana found herself sinking further into his embrace.
His unique scent filled her senses, prompting her to close her eyes as she rested her head against his shoulder. She took a deep breath and felt an immediate wave of calm wash over her.
With her legs draped across his lap, her fingers curled around his black coat, and she felt his rigid frame gradually relax under her touch.
On the other hand, a profound sense of relief swept through Gavriel.
They didn’t exchange a single word, yet to him... this alone was enough.
It meant she hadn’t pushed him away.
She could have rejected him, but she hadn’t. And that alone eased the restless ache that had settled inside his chest ever since she had cried herself to sleep.
He was learning, and he understood that this quiet surrender was far better than nothing.
Leaning down, he buried his face in the soft strands of her hair, inhaling deeply while holding her perfectly still against the violent pitching of the plane. One arm secured her shoulders, while the other held her legs bound to his lap, trapping her in a cocoon of absolute safety.
Beneath his fingers, the subtle rhythm of her breathing finally synchronised with his own.
"Better?" he asked after a long silence, the rumble of his chest vibrating against her cheek.
Without lifting her head from his warmth, she gave a small nod, and the faint ghost of a smile touched his lips.
He looked out the window at the churning grey clouds that continued to buffet the aircraft, but Gavriel felt no trace of concern.
In the event of a true emergency, he could easily teleport both of them safely to the ground.
For now, he was simply grateful for the foul weather, only because it had driven her back into his arms.
’Is a storm the only thing that will drive you to me?’ The question weighed heavily on his mind.
His gaze drifted down to the side of her face buried deep against his shoulder, prompting another, darker thought. ’If so... should I be bad and plunge the world into chaos?’
The moment that dangerous thought crossed his mind, he caught the faint sound of her whisper against his chest.
"Sorry..."
His blue eyes fixed on her profile.
Aliana’s eyes were open, but she kept her gaze pinned to his chest as she whispered, "I didn’t mean to... avoid speaking to you."
Taking another breath, she turned to bury her face fully against him as she whispered, "I just... have a lot to think about. I’m sorry.... Gav."
Her grip tightened on his coat, and he could feel the intense internal battle she was waging within herself.
Not knowing what words would offer comfort, Gavriel simply leaned down and pressed his lips against her hair.
And he felt the tension in her fingers ease, if only by the smallest amount.
Resting his head back against the seat, Gavriel continued to hold her securely in his arms as they weathered the storm together.
Yet the violent storm battering the aircraft was insignificant compared to the ones still raging within their hearts.