One month later.

Aselia had her luggage packed. Aldridge had permitted her to spend one week in Fritez City on the condition that she would set up a meeting between him, Xiran and Amonidus. She had agreed to his terms.

Yurian went with her to the airport in Tetrios City, she was flying commercially and was using the same forged papers she had done to previously enter Fritez City, but this time Xiran knew she was coming.

"I am feeling jealous, you are leaving again and I will be stuck here with Wasp, ugggh."

Yurian made a revolting face making Aselia giggle. "Sorry, I promise I will bring something back for you," but her mischievous smile told him she wasn’t sorry at all she was brimming with joy and this contented his heart.

"Looking forward to it then, go enjoy," he gave her a warm hug before letting her go.

"I will," she waved Yurian goodbye before wheeling away her suitcase and disappearing in the horde of the crowd heading for their planes in the lobby.

Soon, Aselia boarded the plane and was greeted by the air hostess who took her denim jacket and led her to her seat in the first-class section by the window. She adjusted her cap to keep her ears hidden and began to twirl the pendant he had given her between her thumb and index finger, a smile playing on her cherry coloured lips.

The plane took off and she relaxed in her seat, thinking about how he would receive her made her smile and enveloped her entire being like a warm blanket. Just the thought of him was enough to turn her mellow.

"Good morning, ma’am. Would you like to have something?" Air hostess clad in a white collared shirt with a red scarf tied around her neck and a plaited red trouser stood beside her with a smile.

"Yes, I will have whatever is available," Aselia replied with a smile and she could see the air hostess’s eyes linger on her hair for a second before she replied:

"Of course ma’am."

Aselia didn’t let anyone touch or talk about her hair. They were still haphazardly cut and she mostly kept them hidden in her beanie or hoodie. She hated her hair now and wanted to shave the rest of them off too but knew Xiran would flip and his wrath scared her for he would hurt others because of her. That was the worst kind of punishment.

Aselia stared outside the window and felt like gliding through pink cotton candy due to the reddish hue of the sunlight which mingled with white clouds to give them a pinkish tinge. It was still early in the morning and the view was stupendous.

One day when this world would be more accepting of their love, she would ask him to fly her above the clouds during the daytime, it would be a whole new set of emotions to experience.

She glanced at her cell phone to check the time. There was no cell service in the commercial planes or he would have been bombarding her with texts and phone calls. That’s why she had already forwarded him her flight details. He wanted to send his private jet but she refused and wanted to come on her own.

The rest of her journey passed in a tranquil state and soon the plane began to descend on the International Airport of Fritez City. The air hostess bid her farewell as she handed back her denim jacket. Aselia wore it and hugged it around her tapered body, as Fritez City was much colder than

Tetrios.

Exiting the plane her papers were checked at numerous checkpoints and was asked the purpose of her visit. She told them she was here to attend the Winter Gala. Collecting her luggage from the baggage carousel she made her way to the exit point.

Frila and Carios were waiting for her, Frila waved at her with the warmest smile and Aselia smiled back at her. Carios remained detached, he blamed himself for not thoroughly checking her papers. Although he had done a complete backup check, she was able to fool them all. Frila didn’t mind as long as Señor was happy.

"It’s so good to see you Aselia," Frila gave her a tight hug and kissed the air on both sides of her cheeks.

"Same, thank you for coming to get me," Aselia said as Carios took her luggage from her without saying a word and they began to walk outside toward their vehicle.

"No problem, Señor is waiting for you in the car. He avoids crowded spaces," Frila apologetically began to explain why he wasn’t there to receive her.

"I know Frila, don’t worry about it," this pained her how secretive he was about his identity, and she ruined it all for him by spilling his secrets. Yet here he was welcoming her back with open arms.

They reached a white limousine that seemed to stretch for a mile and Aselia had to shake her head and mumble, ’show-off’.

Carios began to place the luggage in the trunk while Frila opened the side door for Aselia so she could get in. Her heart hammered against her ribcage with the anticipation of seeing him again.

She lowered her head and slowly climbed inside the plush interior of the enormous luxury car which was very dimly lit. The door closed and she craned her neck to find him. The window glass was tinted which didn’t let much light in and nothing could be seen from the outside.

A sturdy pair of hands gently grabbed her waist and she was yanked forward in his warm lap. The hair on her skin stood up as she felt his breath on her neck. His hands caressed her tiny waist and he pulled her even closer to his heat and tilted her head so she could fall into those greyish pits and be lost forever. Her heart was running like a hunted dear, about to be devoured by his seduction.

His other hand moved and his fingers grazed her lips, as his plump ones parted and that velvety voice reached her ears:

"So tell me, Leia, did you miss me?"