NovelOnlineElla
The diamond necklace was admittedly beautiful. It hung delicately from Alexander's hands, tiny stones catching
the light and throwing rainbows across the vault walls.
But it could never replace Lilith’s locket. Nothing could.
Still, the gesture itself was touching. Alexander was trying to givehis great- grandmother's necklace in an
attempt to make up for what had happened to Lilith’s locket.
“You don’t have to,” | said quietly. “It's a family heirloom
“I want to.” Alexander stepped closer and twirled one finger. “Turn around.”
I did as he asked, lifting my hair out of the way. His fingers were warm against the back of my neck as he clasped
the necklace, and | shivered at the contact. The diamonds settled against my collarbone, heavier than Lilith’s
delicate silver chain had been but just as warm.
“There.” Alexander's hands rested on my shoulders for a moment, warm and broad, before he took a step back.
“Perfect.”
| turned back to face him, one hand automatically going to the necklace. “It’s gorgeous. But Alexander, | can’t
help but wonder... are there strings attached?”
He frowned. “What do you
mean?”
“I mean, are you expectingto wear this to the banquet? To show it off like skind of token of your...” | bit
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtmy lower lip as | struggled to find the right words. “Your fake affection?”
“Ella, no.” Alexander stepped closer, close enough that | had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. “I'm not
giving this to you for political reasons. I’m giving it to you
because you lost something important today, and | wanted to give you something beautiful to take its place.”
The sincerity in his green eyes made my breath lodge in my throat. “You mean that?”
“I do.”
One thrum down the bond was all it took. One single pulse of promise, like a soft whisper caressing my mind,
and | knew he was telling the truth.
My shoulders deflated with a soft sigh, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. I couldn't seem to find the right
words, not when we were surrounded by all of these artifacts and he was looking atlike | was the most
valuable thing in the room.
“I'm sorry about the locket,” he said. “I know how much it meant to you.”
“It’s not your fault. Gabriel was the one who-"
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“I should have told you what | was planning. If you'd known | wanted to surprise you with it, none of this would
have happened.”
Before | could answer, Alexander's hand cup to frmy face, and suddenly we were standing so close |
could feel the warmth from his body envelopinglike a cocoon. His eyes dropped to my lips, and mine
dropped to his. The bond pulsed again, or perhaps that was my traitorous heart playing tricks on me.
Suddenly, another sharp cramp shot through my lower abdomen. | gasped and doubled over, both hands flying
to my stomach.
“Ella!” Alexander's arms were aroundinstantly, although he hardly touched me, as if he were afraid | might
shatter. “What’s wrong?”
“Just a cramp,” | managed through gritted teeth. “I think the stress from earlier is catching up with me.
Alexander's face went pale. “We need to get you upstairs. You need to rest.”
He helpedout of the vault and up the stairs, one arm wrapped securely around my waist. By the twe
reached our bedroom, the cramping had mostly subsided, but Alexander insisted on helpinginto bed anyway.
“Should | call Dr. Evelyn?” he asked as | leaned back on the pillows.
| shook my head. “I'm fine now. | think it was just the panic from being trapped in there.” | touched the diamond
necklace again. “The baby is okay.”
Alexander didn’t look convinced, but didn’t argue. Before | knew it, | found myself drifting off to sleep. And
Alexander stayed with me, his hand rubbing soothing circles across my belly until | nodded off.
When | woke up a few hours later, Alexander was gone, but there was a glass of water and scrackers on the
nightstand beside me. I sat up slowly, relieved when no more cramping followed, and reached for the water.
My fingers found the diamond necklace again as | drank. It really was beautiful. Delicate but substantial, clearly
worth a fortune. And Alexander had just... given it towith no strings attached.
That was what confusedmost about all of this.
Alexander could be so sweet and tender at times, treatinglike | was his true love. The way he'd looked at me
in the vault, the way his hands had lingered on my skin when he’d put the necklace on me... it had felt real.
Genuine.
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