Is this destiny?

~ the main base of the Voronin family ~

6:38 AM

Sarah woke up and wondered, why is she up so early? Where is Aiden?

She saw Aiden sitting on the edge of the bed, fully clothed, with his back is facing her.

Sarah craned her neck and saw that Aiden is flipping and twirling in his right hand a tactical army knife with a black blade. Sarah exhaled, knowing that Aiden is thinking about Maksim.

After Hong left, they didn't talk about the threat called Maksim but that does not mean they are not worried. Maksim is not only a lecherous fly, but he is also the son of the Grand Master of the Voronin family.

Sarah didn't tell Aiden how she got that knife he is playing with, and she concealed many details about her interaction with Maksim that might upset Aiden, but she knows that he has a good idea of what happened. Actually, there is a chance that he used Eve to replay security footage from last night in order to see what was going on with Sarah while he was unconscious. Luckily, nothing major happened. If Maksim hurt her in any way, Aiden would be livid.

The fact that she moved and he didn't react, told Sarah that he is deep in thoughts.

Sarah placed her palm gently on Aiden's back. "Love?"

Aiden turned toward Sarah and his expression softened. "Did you sleep well?"

Sarah nodded in response and paused at the exhaustion that was visible on his face. She was not sure if it's due to lack of rest or mental fatigue. Maybe both.

"Did you sleep at all?"

Aiden exhaled and smiled helplessly before admitting: "I had trouble sleeping."

Sarah patted a spot next to her on the bed, inviting him to join her.

Aiden kept the knife on the side table and laid with his arm outstretched, ready for Sarah to snuggle.

"We are almost there.", Sarah said while leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah. And the closer we are, the more nervous I am. I have a feeling that something will go wrong."

Sarah smiled and Aiden didn't approve.

"Don't take this lightly.", he said with a warning in his voice.

Sarah's smile widened. "I am not taking it lightly. But no matter what happens, as long as we are together, I know that we will make it through."

Aiden was not sure how to respond to this.

Sarah hugged him tightly and he hugged her back and they held each other in silence.

After some time, Sarah spoke…

"You know I don't care about properties, or money, or luxuries. I only want to be with you and that is what I am doing right now, and I am happy."

Aiden felt warm and fuzzy in his chest. "Me too, my love."

Sarah looked up and met his endless dark eyes. "No one knows what will happen tomorrow. I hope that we can have long lives together until I have my fill of you, but the truth is that a thousand years would not be enough because no matter how much time passes, with you by my side, it feels like a flash. Don't worry about potential dangers to the point of spoiling our present. We don't know if this is our last morning together, so let's make the most of it. That is how I want to spend my time with you… cherishing every moment."

Aiden exhaled and pressed his lips on her forehead as guilt washed over him.

He was unable to sleep so he got Eve to check the servers in the Voronin family with a goal to learn about the latest developments with the tournament. He wanted to get the information related to the base he will be assigned to, only to find out that the Voronin family is organizing a two days long training for whoever made it through the last round, and every participant can bring one more person with him.

Aiden wanted to tell Sarah that he will stay here with Hong and that she should use this chance to leave. He wanted to remind her that nothing is more important than her safety, and the safety of their child. He wanted to tell her that he and Hong will be fine and that she can help them with Eve from the outside. He wanted her away from here because other than being in the enemy's base, surrounded by sketchy characters with no morals, there is also Maksim who has his eyes on Sarah. But… how can he say any of that after Sarah's little speech?

"Love?", Aiden called.

"Hmm?"

"Don't you think… that we should… prioritize your safety?", Aiden asked carefully in a half-whisper.

Sarah narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you plan to do something reckless that will put you in danger?"

"Of course, not, but…"

"No buts.", Sarah interrupted him. "Unless you are going for a suicide mission, you can't convince me that the danger by your side is more than the one further away. Or are you trying to say that I am safer on my own compared to you guarding me? Who can protect me better than you? Only you know how far you would go to ensure my safety, is there anyone who would give more?"

Aiden felt that he completely lost this argument before it even started. She is right. And he knows that even if he goes on a suicidal mission, she will never let him go without her.

Aiden inched closer and spoke softly so that they are not heard by the listening devices: "There will be a two days long training for me and everyone else who passed. One person can accompany me, and I assume that the person who accompanies me will be something like a second in command because she will attend the training as well. After the announcement is made, they will move us to the middle circle of the base."

Sarah smiled when she heard that Aiden addressed his +1 as a 'she', which means that he will not try to pull any stunts of leaving her behind.

"What about Hong?", Sarah asked.

"He can stay here and wait or leave. It will be more convincing if he leaves than to linger for two days, but we will ask him what he wants to do."

Sarah nodded in agreement. "We will talk over breakfast."

"I am concerned about Maksim.", Aiden shared his thoughts.

"Don't be. Treat him as any other fly and don't let him provoke you. I know that I can handle him."

"Are you sure?"

Sarah confirmed. "I took his knife once. I can do it again."

Aiden narrowed his eyes at Sarah. "How about you don't get into a knife-fight with him? You still didn't explain how you got your hands on that thing or how you earned those cuts on your palm. And don't tell me that he gifted that knife to you because it's custom made."

Sarah cleared her throat awkwardly. "Will you believe me if I say that it was an accident?"

Aiden was not sure if she is serious, but this was not a good time for jokes. How can she get this knife accidentally? Unless… "Did you steal it?"

Sarah could not believe that Aiden accused her of being a thief. Well, actually… she has a history of swiping things, but only from bad guys… and Maksim is a bad guy, so Sarah can't complain about Aiden assuming that she stole it.

"He didn't give it willingly, but he didn't stop me when I left with it."

Aiden frowned and he opened his mouth to say something, but Sarah was faster. "I don't know why, but I have a feeling Maksim will not hurt me."

Aiden's frown deepened as he tried to read Sarah's expression. "Is he in love with you?"

Sarah thought for a moment before answering. "I don't think so. He might see me as a challenge of some sort, but I know that until one of us wins, he will not hurt me. He looks like a bored child who found his next entertainment, a shiny toy."

Aiden didn't like that Sarah compared herself to Maksim's entertainment. Is she a toy for him? "I also know children who like to break their toys for no apparent reason."

"You are good with analogies."

"And you are not good with staying out of trouble."

Sarah puffed her cheeks. "Don't make it sound like it's my fault."

"I know it's not. You are dazzling and it's normal that you attract attention. I would expect nothing less from my wife."

Sarah opened her mouth and closed it, slightly confused. "I'm not sure if we are arguing or are you complimenting me."

"Why would one exclude the other?", Aiden asked with a straight face.

Sarah was speechless.

Aiden kissed her on the lips, and she moved her head away when he tried to deepen the kiss.

"I didn't brush my teeth…", Sarah explained to frowning Aiden why she avoided his advance.

Aiden grumbled something and kissed her again.

"I love you… Regardless if you brushed…", he whispered against her lips, and then his tongue forced its way into her mouth, and Sarah was unable to stop him with her weak resistance.

"Wait… wait…", Sarah protested when his hands moved under her top.

"There is no waiting, love. You said to cherish every moment.", Aiden reminded Sarah and pulled the cover higher over them.

Sarah thought that they should do more planning and preparation for the day, but this is fine also. More than fine.

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