“Aether?” Raven’s voice carried a note of surprise as she spotted him standing outside her room. Glancing quickly left and right the corridor to ensure no one was watching, she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him inside.
The door shut with a quiet click.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her tone serious as her frown deepened.
Aether shrugged nonchalantly. “Just wanted to see you…”
“I have a different plan, Raven,” Aether interrupted, his face suddenly turning serious.
“Hmm?” She arched a brow.
Aether stepped closer, his eyes locked onto hers. “You said your sister couldn’t win the summit, right?”
Raven crossed her arms. “Yes, that’s true.”
“Then how do you plan to beat it this time?” Aether’s voice was calm, but his gaze was intense.
“I have the Activate System Code,” she replied, her voice a bit defensive. “It might help me succeed where she failed…”
“But you can’t be sure, can you?” Aether pressed.
Raven bit her lip, her confidence wavering. She didn’t have a solid answer for that.
Aether’s expression softened as he moved toward her. Raven, without thinking, took a step back, her hands moving instinctively to cover her mouth as if to shield herself from the unexpected closeness.
Aether smirked inwardly. ‘Looks like someone is feeling something…’ he mused. But he quickly refocused, “I think Princess Aqualina might be able to help you,” he suggested, his tone serious again.
Raven frowned, her brows knitting together, “Aqualina? Why in the world would she help us?”
“Because I’m her servant,” Aether replied with a small, almost smug smile. “And as much as I hate to admit it, she trusts me. More than most. Besides,” he added, his voice dropping to a more conspiratorial tone, “with her scheming mind, I believe she might uncover something crucial.”
Raven considered his words, her gaze narrowing as she tried to anticipate the possible outcomes, “What if she betrays us?” she asked, her voice laced with doubt.
Aether stepped even closer, the space between them shrinking. “I trust her,” he said firmly. “Just like I trust you, Raven… enough to put my life on the line for you…. just hear my plan….” as he told his plan.
Raven locked eyes with him, her resolve wavering under the intensity of his stare. After hearing his plan, she sighed, exhaling the tension that had built up in his plan, “Fine,” she muttered. “Let’s talk to her.”
Just as Raven turned to leave, Aether grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks. The unexpected contact made her flinch, and she instinctively tried to pull away. But Aether’s grip tightened, firm yet gentle, and before she could react further, he pulled her into his arms.
“…” Raven opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. Her heartbeat quickened, and she felt an unfamiliar heat rising to her cheeks as she saw him lean in.
Without a word, Aether pressed his lips to hers in a soft, lingering kiss.
Raven didn’t push him away. She didn’t return the kiss either, simply allowing the moment to pass, letting the warmth of his lips linger.
Aether pulled back slightly, a teasing smile playing on his lips, “If you don’t like it,” he whispered, “you can always stop me, you know?”
Raven said nothing. She gently pulled away from his embrace, her cheeks now tinged with a faint red hue. Without looking at him, she turned and started walking toward the door.
Aether blinked, then shook his head with an amused expression as he followed her. ‘She won’t admit it, but I know that got to her…’ he thought with a smirk.
Meanwhile, in her own chambers, Aqualina paced angrily back and forth, her teeth gritted in frustration. She couldn’t believe how Aether had seen through her plan to follow him to Kai’s date with Vesperine.
The audacity of him!
‘Damn it!’ she fumed, her fists clenching. ‘What are those two jerks doing with my beloved?!’ The thought of Aether being alone with them made her blood boil. ‘Maybe I should follow them anyway… See what they’re up to!’ But she hesitated. Aether had warned her not to interfere, and if she disobeyed, he would undoubtedly be disappointed in her.
With a frustrated sigh, Aqualina threw herself onto her bed, glaring at the ceiling. ‘Fine… I’ll stay here. But if they hurt him… I swear I’ll make them regret it.’
Knock, knock.
“Who is it now?” Aqualina mumbled, pushing herself up from the bed. As she swung the door open, her eyes widened. “Raven?” Her voice was laced with confusion, but her expression shifted into a deep frown when she spotted Aether standing beside her. “Aether? What are you doing here?”
Aether gave a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck. “I, uh… ditched them,” he admitted, though the truth was that it was one of his clones keeping Kai occupied.
Aqualina let out a deep sigh of relief, her posture relaxing. “Well, come in then…” she muttered, stepping aside to let them both enter.
Once they were all inside, the mood quickly shifted as the conversation turned to the serious matter at hand.
….
…
“So, let me get this straight…” Aqualina leaned forward, her eyes narrowing at Raven. “You want my help to find the heart? And you’re sharing clues about this system in the summit… even though we’re competitors?” Her tone was laced with disbelief, and her mind raced with thoughts, ‘Is she an idiot to share this with me?’
Raven sat across from her, stealing a glance at Aether, who remained standing by Aqualina’s side, silently observing.
Aether nodded subtly, and Raven exhaled, resigning herself. “Yes. Our original plan isn’t working as well as we hoped… So, yeah. I need your help.”
Aqualina’s lips twisted into a smirk. “And what exactly is in it for me if I decide to help you?” she asked, her voice sharp and probing.
“Princess,” Aether spoke up.
Aqualina’s eyes darted toward him. “Yes?” Her voice was still stern, but Raven couldn’t help but notice a slight, almost imperceptible softening when Aether addressed her.
Aether leaned in slightly, fixing her with a look that made her heart skip a beat, “Would you help her… for me?” His eyes turned pleading, almost puppy-like.
Aether looked at her with an innocent expression.
Aqualina’s eyes widened, her mouth hanging open for a moment before she exploded out loud, “Wait! What did you just say?!”
Aether remained silent, he knew what he was doing and… he clearly needed her to be aware of what he was doing!…. technically not fully but enough…
Aqualina gritted her teeth, glaring daggers at him. Her head snapped toward Raven, her expression colder than ice. “You need to leave. Now.”
“Oh, fuck it!” Aqualina threw her hands in the air. “I’ll help you get what you need. But you need to leave right now.”
Raven stood up, a small smile of victory playing on her lips as she turned to leave. However, she hesitated at the door and glanced back at Aqualina. “Actually, there’s one more thing I need…”
Aqualina’s eyes flashed with impatience, “What now?”
Raven hesitated for a second before pointing to Aether, “I’d like to… buy him.”
“Even if he has a Phoenix bloodline,” Raven said calmly.
