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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 - 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲
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"Aleksander," Natasha murmured her voice barely a breath, as her fingers brushed along his face. 

He looked at her, his gaze softening as he whispered, "Natasha." 

She reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. "I missed you so much," she confessed, her voice thick with emotion. 

They both sat up on the bed, their fingers still intertwined. Aleksander pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her as he gently ran his fingers through her hair, breathing in the faint, familiar scent that he longed for in waking life. 

"I can't wait to be with you in real life," he murmured, his voice filled with a quiet intensity. Holding her close, he let himself imagine the day when this wouldn't just be a dream.

"Yeah?" Natasha asked, a hint of a teasing smile on her lips. "And when is that?"

Aleksander met her gaze, his eyes serious. "Soon," he promised, his voice low. "Very soon."

But Natasha's smile faded, and she looked down, her fingers tracing patterns on the sheets. "I don't think so," she said quietly. "This might be the last time we'll see each other."

Aleksander's brow furrowed, his grip on her hand tightening as worry flashed across his face.

 "Why?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, the urgency in his tone unmistakable.

"Tomorrow, the rest of the cartographers and map makers will be arriving," Natasha said, her voice steady but tinged with unease. 

"Our commander will be announcing the list of people who will be on the ride to the Fold." She paused, the weight of her words hanging in the air. 

Aleksander's expression shifted, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

"I'm not exactly sure, but I have a feeling I might be chosen," she continued, her voice softening as the reality of her words settled in. The thought of being selected sent a chill through her, and she could feel the tension in the space between them grow.

"You won't go into the Fold," Aleksander said firmly, a hint of anger darkening his voice as he thought of the commander who had put her name at risk. "I'll make sure of it."

Natasha placed a gentle hand on his cheek, her expression soft yet resolute. 

"I'm just saying... if I ever get listed, and if somehow I don't make it out alive—" She paused, the words heavy between them. 

Then, without another word, she leaned in and kissed him, her lips lingering, filled with everything she hadn't said. 

"I want you to know that I love you," she whispered, before kissing him again, as if trying to make that moment last forever.

Aleksander pulled her close, his arms tightening around her as if he could keep her safe from every danger in the world. 

He leaned in, his voice a low whisper against her ear. "Tomorrow, you'll wake up to a big surprise," he murmured, a hint of warmth and mystery in his tone. "And I know it will make you very happy."

Natasha looked up at him, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked, searching his gaze.

"You'll see," he replied softly, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. They settled back together, arms wrapped around one another, as the quiet minutes slipped by. 

They spoke in murmurs, sharing the small details of their day, lingering over each word. Aleksander, careful not to add to her worries, spoke only of the simplest things, never mentioning that he was the general, the feared Darkling himself. 

Instead, he kept his words light, letting her laughter and warmth soothe his own fears, holding her close as if he'd never let her go.

After a few blissful moments, a soft pull began to draw them both away, and the edges of the dream started to blur.

Natasha sighed, resting her forehead against Aleksander's. "I don't want to wake up from this dream," she whispered. "I want to stay here with you."

Aleksander smiled, his eyes warm as he looked at her. "Don't worry, my love. Soon, we'll meet, and I'll make sure that we'll be together for eternity." With those words, he pulled her close, and they shared one last, lingering kiss as if to hold onto every second. When they finally parted, he cupped her face gently and said, "I'll see you soon, my love."

In the next breath, they both began to slip away, the dream fading into reality. Aleksander woke in his tent, surrounded by the soft comfort of his bed, a small smile still lingering on his lips. But Natasha woke to the rough, worn bedding that everyone else shared, the cold reality of her world settling around her. 

And yet, as she lay there, she felt the warmth of his presence lingering, a quiet promise that even the Fold could not keep them apart.

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Another chapter is finally done! remember guys the first few chapters are set not a few months ago but now changed to a few days before Alina arrives and is discovered as the sun summoner. Another changed part of this book is when the age that Natasha was when she met Alina and mal. She met them when she was 17 and not 15. In the next chapter, both Alina and Mal will finally be reunited with Natasha!! Also, how do you feel about chapters 4 and 5? 
Again thank you all for the support that you guys have shown for this book! 
Expect more chapters to come!!! - Rhia