Twenty Three

CHAPTER 23

AMELIA

I walked briskly through the garden, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. It was a close call, I almost lost everything in a blink of an eye. I was about to give up, on my dreams, on Alaric but no, that couldn't happen, he was too much a part of me for me to just let go of.

Spotting Alaric, my breath caught in my throat. As our eyes locked, he pulled me into a bare hug, his arms enveloping me, and a surge of warmth spread through my veins. I knew why he did this, he felt the close call lost, as much as I did. While he was standing there, looking so confused as everyone expected him to disqualify me, I could see the torment he was going through. I wouldn't have even blamed him, if he had done that. He had little to no choice at that point and I knew it.

Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, he leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss. The kiss was soft and tender at first.

The kiss was a combination of emotions, everything