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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟓

 -ˋˏ 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴' 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 ˎˊ-

˚ 　 ✫ 　　　 ˚ . 　　　 ⋆

. · 　　 +

✧

╰┈˚ · ° .  AFTER MONTHS OF PREPARATION, The 150th Founders' Day Celebration finally arrived.

During the morning, the parade had been a success. Students from Mystic Falls high school dressed in period clothes stood at the top of the floats. Miss Mystic Falls— Caroline— and her court, were the showstoppers of the event. Others recreated the Battle of Willow Creek, the football player had their own float with the cheerleaders, others still in costume paraded all around them.

As the sun started lower in the sky, the celebration moved on to the town square. It was good to see everyone there having fun, the air was light and filled with excitement and happiness at the festivity, it came from all the citizens of Mystic Falls.

"I have never seen a town with such a display of patriotism." Raden commented, while looking around at all the decorations with a grimace as we strolled around the square.

Zyran had left with the promise to come back in time for the fireworks leaving just Raden and I alone.

"Mystic Falls thrive on these kinds of events." I chuckled at the expression on my Púca's face.

"It's a bit much." Raden shook off his clear disgust, returning his lips to his trademark smirk. "But I have to admit-" He licked lips, stopping before our walk. "I love all the dresses that you wear at these events."

I scoffed out loud amused by his continuous flirting. "You really can't stay for more than a minute without flirting, don't you?"

"Oh I can." He said, words whispered through an intimate low breath. "But not if it's you." His hands grabbing my waist bringing me closer enough that I could feel his chest against mine.

"Whatever you say, pretty boy." I said, a breathy chuckle leaving my lips. I took a step back, my cheeks rose from the heat that I was suddenly feeling at the closeness with my mate and the feeling of his body so close to mine.

He didn't let me go further than a step away. His eyes— scalding hot— had the gift of always stealing my breath away. Raden was intense. Everything about him was intense, maddening. From the way he spoke, to the way he acted. His insufferable smirk and incessant flirting.

I could hear his heartbeat fastening and his breathing accelerating. His eyes had darkened a shade and the smirk had fallen from his lips. "I want to kiss you." he breathed out suddenly serious, cupping both my cheeks with his hands until I could feel the brush of his lips against mine as he spoke. "I really want to kiss you, princess." It felt like a plea to my ears.

"Kiss me." I said through a gasp. I wanted— no, yearned for his lips to touch mine and for my soul to join his. "Please, kiss me."

It was as if my words had finally made him snap and he didn't wait another second to close the space between us. It wasn't a soft kiss, no, Raden kissed me like he had been starving for my lips for all his life. There were no gentle strokes of tongues or soft caresses but hunger and want.

It was only when my back touched the brick building I had the strengths to pull apart. And still, he followed my lips until they were attached again for another kiss.

"That is going to happen much more from now on." He suddenly commented.

I couldn't help but let out a breathy laugh, "Sure pretty boy."

"Did I tell you that I really like when you call me that? Because I really do." He asked, bringing my arms to wrap around his shoulders.

"Oh, I definitely know that you do." I chuckled, moving until I could kiss him once again. For this one, we took our time. Exploring each other's mouths, fingers tangled in the hair. Our lips were swollen once again when we broke apart. I hated to move away but I had to when the phone in my pocket continued to vibrate with different messages. "We have to go. Zyran is waiting for us somewhere there." I motioned to the sea of the townsfolk all surrounding the stage where the mayor was doing his speech.

"Do we have to?" Groaned Raden, eyes still locked on my lips.

"Yes." I replied, leaving the sadness of his arms. "Come on."

"Enjoy the show!" We heard the mayor shout from the stage, but just as the first firework lit the sky, we knew that Gilbert's device had been just activated.

An intense, maddening ring blared through the space affecting more than one person. All of them were supernatural.

"Raden."

"I know, I know. C'mon, we need to get out of here." he said as he winched slightly, covering my ears with his hands over mine.

Vampires started to fall on their knees, screams leaving their lips. I knew that the device had worked differently on us, the pain was bearable but it was growing the more the time passed, the ringing increasing.

"Zyran." I whimpered the name of my mate, "He there, Raden."

"It's going to be okay." We were lucky enough that we were still close enough to the building that it was easy enough to hide, but that couldn't have been said for the dozens of vampires from the tomb being dragged away. "We need the device to stop before we can do anything." He said.

Blood started to drip from his ears making my eyes wide at the sight. My hands left my ears going instinctively over his.

"It's going to be fine." He whispered, connecting our foreheads together.

It felt like an eternity before the sound stopped, the pain gradually leaving.

We didn't even have a second to breathe, regain our strengths before a male, out of nowhere appeared just behind Raden, pushing him to the ground.

Red fiery hair that went in every direction. Ghostly pale skin, black irises and a sharp nose. But what was unsettling was the madness swirling in his eyes and the taunting grin that he smiled at us.

"Peekaboo!" The red-haired male exclaimed with uncommon excitement, "Find us next!" And in a span of the time that it took me to blink, the male had his grip on my left forearm and we were suddenly not in the town square anymore.

✎

˗ˏˋ 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 ˊˎ˗

Hello everyone!!

That was a strong end. Did our girl get kidnapped again? Who was that guy? Anyone?

Raden and Meda kissed, finally. Those two are like fireworks ready to blast at any second together.

Where is Zy? Is he hurt? worse?

Your thoughts?

Thanks to all of you that took the time to read this story, I appreciate you!!

But more so, thanks to all of you that commented and liked the chapters, I couldn't be more grateful.

I hope that you are liking this story so far so don't go away because season 2 will be posted soon!

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞!

– 𝐋𝐨𝐥𝐚 ☾