Word Count: 1546

~Kezziah

I'm not sure why I'm so nervous to see Alden.

Maybe I'm nervous for his reaction. I can't imagine he will be very happy to see me. And all my privileges with a good room and being able to walk around will be taken from me. However, Fate is right. I need to go back and face this issue. With this ring on my finger, I'm almost certain to be hidden from Time. That is, if Fate is telling the truth.

He took me from the strange realm between the mortal and immortal land to the top of a very large building. We teetered on the edge, the lights of the Wisdom Pack city so bright it's disorienting. Fate holds my arm while I regain my balance.

"Welcome back," Fate says smoothly, scuffing his feet along the ground. "Alden's beneath us. Use the stairs to get down."

Fate didn't stick around for much of a goodbye. In less than a few seconds, he disappeared, leaving me stunned and unsure of what to do. I took a few moments, staring out into the glinting lights of the distance while I consider my next move. Fate could have at least taken me in.

I should be grateful, though.

Swallowing the lump in my throat from the unnerving height beneath my feet, I turn away and head to the stairs. I'm so worried about Alden's reaction it takes me a few attempts to convince myself to just walk straight down there and face him. All I have to lose is him locking me away forever...Or maybe even refusing to help me ever again.

Okay, maybe this wasn't the best idea. But with one foot in front of the other, I walk proudly down the steps formulating my plan in my head.

I'm just going to go in there, knock on the door and face him. It's late, so I can't be sure he will even be awake, but it's worth a try. I would rather face him than Sermon and that's saying something. At least I can hear it from him if he is going to refuse to help me.

Finally I reach it to an elevator. I know exactly what floor I'm looking for. I have to wonder, as I step in and press the button, whether Alden cared much about me leaving. He didn't chase after me, nor did he send guards out. Maybe he just didn't care at all. Maybe he is glad I'm gone so he doesn't have to bother me anymore.

Suddenly the elevator pulls to a stop on its ascent. I believe this is a floor I've never been on before. We must be picking someone up, which only bothers me slightly. I need to get to the next floor.

Turns out, it's Alden waiting there at the foot of the elevator.

We both startle at the sight of each other. I take a few steps back into the elevator until my back is pressed up against the wall, as if I'm afraid he's going to jump in and attack me. There is a moment where we just stare before the doors begin to close and Alden shoves his hand out to stop it.

"Am I hallucinating, or are you truly standing with me right now?" Alden asks, his tone slightly delirious.

I'm unsure if he is being serious or not. "I'm here."

Alden looks as though he has seen better days. Shadows beneath his eyes are haunting, presenting how little sleep he has had to anyone who gets close of him. His skin is drained of colour and looks sickly. It seems as if I've only been gone for a short amount of time. What happened to him?

We stand next to each other as the elevator glides up to the top story. I'm too scared to move, to even breathe for a moment. I'm waiting for him to make the first move. To determine how this conversation is going to go.

"Are you okay?" Alden asks gently, sounding genuinely concerned.

I loosen a breath, feeling the relief after holding it for a few moments. "I'm okay. Are you okay? You don't look so good."

"I've been out looking for you," Alden says firmly. He's clearly reprimanding me, but not in a confronting manner. I was to shrink into the corner and disappear. "I've been worried. No amount of technology has been able to detect where you have been."

Swallowing uncomfortably, I rub my sweating palms against my pants. I feel guilty, but I needed to leave. I needed to collect my thoughts without him influencing me. Although, I have a feeling that won't go down well. He hasn't grabbed my bare skin to find out whether we are mates or not. At least he's being polite.

"It's a long story," I say slowly, unsure of where to start.

Alden didn't have time to question me, as we made it to the floor and I followed him out. Wordlessly, we have both agreed to sit down in his apartment suite to talk. It might not be the best idea, but hopefully I can get through this.

We sit down on the couch, sitting on opposites sides from each other so we can see each other and talk without being close.

When I look at Alden, something pulls at my heart. I feel bad for what I've done to him. He looks like a disaster ready to happen, as if any other ounce of stress is going to send him over the edge. Mussed hair, sallow skin and tired eyes. Part of me wants to wrap my arms around him and tell him everything is okay. I doubt he would let me if I could.

"I got this," I tell him, holding my hand out.

His eyes, which seem to have lost the bright navy colour to them, now just a dark blue, blandly look down at the ring on my finger and the ruby that adorns it. He blinks a few times, unimpressed. He has no idea what it is.

"So what, you found your true mate and went through a mating ceremony all in the span of two days?" Alden questions, looking at me, emotionless and impassive. "Have you come back to push this in my face?"

I frown, retracting my hand back against my chest. "No. I stole it. From Time."

This gets his attention. I tug it off my finger, handing is to him to inspect. He looks curious, as if he doesn't believe me for a moment. It would be a big feat to imagine anyone stealing something from Time undetected.

"How?" he questions. "What does it do?"

"A lot, according to Fate. All of which he didn't tell me, however, what it does do, is keep Time from being able to detect me through the mate bond and brand," I explain, taking the ring back on my finger in case there was any chance it would let Time detect me. It sends a shiver through me when I slide it back on.

"But that ring isn't why you left," Alden says firmly, clearly more interested in why I left rather than how I managed to get the ring.

I glance down at my fingers. "I needed air. Time to think."

A muscle in his jaw ticks, however, he doesn't look angry. In fact, he looks betrayed, knowing that isn't the full case. It makes me want to look away, but his gaze is so intense I feel trapped within it.

"You ran from me," Alden says softly. "I've never been so worried in my life. Not since my parents got sick."

That hits me right in the chest, but I don't react to it. I don't want to make him any more upset than he is. I'm still yet to find out more about what happened to his parents, but I refuse to dig until I get closer with his trust. After this, I doubt that will happen for quite awhile.

"I'm sorry. I didn't expect to feel like that. It's been such a hard couple weeks," I tell him honestly, wanting to bury my head in my hands. "I just want this mark off me."

Finally, it seems as though he believes me.

"I am sorry, Alden," I tell him honestly. "For all I've put you through, and all I'm going to put you through in the future. Because I know what's going to happen next won't be easy at all. And I think you know that too."

Alden breathes in deeply. He looks troubled, stressed beyond belief. I can tell he is fighting the instinct to reach out and touch me, and honestly, I feel the same. I'm sitting here looking at him, wondering whether all of this is worth it. All of this waiting...

And suddenly an overwhelming feeling consumes me. So I decide to just reach out and kiss him.

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If you guys want more of Alden, the rest of available now on Radish (:

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Sinful's own story is up now on Radish! I wanted to make it apart of the Seven Sins series (which will have stories involving Cian and other characters you've seen before)

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Instagram: Sophie_Midika

~Midika 💜🐼