"It's too deep!" I screeched.

Arian shook his head at my childish behaviour and looked at me in annoyance. "You'll get the practice you need!" He groaned.

"Fine! But if I die, it's on you," I grumbled.

I only agreed to learning how to swim to make him happy.

I hate being nice.

"I won't let you die, you pest. Come on now, get rid of that t-shirt," he said with a small laugh. Arian stood in front of me wearing only a pair of black swimming trunks that clung to his waist and revealed his v-line. I blushed at the thought of what was below it.

"If you wanna see what's below, I'd love to show you." Arian grinned. I glared at him and removed my shirt.

I sucked in a breath to make my stomach appear flatter as I threw the t-shirt aside.

I was in a one piece swimsuit but I still felt naked. I was naked beneath it. It felt tight against my chest and butt.

We'd immediately come back to the palace after Adrian had told us about the wandering spirits. I wasn't the holiest person you'd find which made me a good target. Adrian and Avian would be returning back to the castle today around noon.

Arian thought teaching me how to swim would be a good distraction but the lord knows how distracted I'll be with his hands on my waist or anywhere else he pleases.

Focus, Ally.

Arian stared at me. His eyes went over my feet, then my thighs, my stomach and stopped at my chest. I took a deep breath and bit my lip nervously. He stood still, saying nothing at all for a few moments before clearing his throat and turning away.

"I'm the teacher today," he said loudly, breaking me out of my trance, "Now, get into the pool!" I glared at him for yelling at me and slowly sat down to slide into the pool.

He snapped his fingers and told me to look at him. He stood at the edge of the pool and jumped in. "Do it," he ordered. He's such a jerk as a teacher. I made a sour face at him and held my breath before jumping into the pool.

The icy cold water bit into my skin going deep into my bones and awakening me completely. My head rose above the surface of the water and I laughed. Arian grinned at me as I splashed the water around excitedly. It was so refreshing.

"Alright, let's start, shall we?"

"Yes, sir," I grinned.

He rolled his eyes at me and smiled. "First, let's get you used to floating. hold on to the side of the pool and let your legs float out behind you - they should lift easily if you let them."

I stared at him but did what he said nonetheless. I caught onto the edge of the pool and tried raising myself. Oh my god, how do I even do it?

I shouldn't have eaten all those donuts.

Or chocolates.

Or pizza.

But pizzaaa-

"If you keep listing food items, we'll never be done. Here, I'll help you out," Arian murmured softly. I heard the water splash around as he made his way towards me and out his arms on my knees, lifting me up.

I was now in a plank-like position. I smiled victoriously as I floated a while after trying to hold my position. I turned my head and watched Arian as he ran his fingers through his wet hair.

The water droplets slowly slid down his face onto his toned body and met the surface of the water and became one with them again. My hands slipped from the ledge and I fell head-first into the water.

I stopped breathing and tried to push myself up but in less than a second Arian's arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me up. I gasped for air as my legs latched onto him waist and I put my arms around his neck.

"I could have drowned!" I gasped.

He rolled his eyes and smiled cheekily. "Were you trying to distract me on purpose?" I accused him. He shrugged. "You're not supposed to check out your trainer. You're supposed to be focused and dedicated to learning," he murmured.

I slapped his chest. "You know what I did learn?" I asked.

"What, sweetheart?"

"I learned that I could drown even when you're with me! There's no point in learning," I rambled on and on, "next time why don't you flex a little bit and then maybe I'll drown and die and then you won't have anyone that has the guts to argue with you! Shame on you, you p-"

His hand pulled me closer by my neck and he placed his lips on mine.

Just for a second.

And the world fell away.

I blinked in surprise.

You would think that after all the hours I'd spent with Arian - watching him talk, laugh and frown - that I would know all there was to know about his lips. But I hadn't imagined how warm they would feel pressed up against my own.

And then I kissed him back.

His lips brush mine. Not innocently, like a tease as he did before but hot, fiery, passionate and demanding. I want to pull away before I lose myself but I can't seem to...In this minty moment, my senses have been seduced and I can no longer think straight.

"Alaska" he whispers slowly, prolonging each letter as if to savor them. I smile, my heart fluttering at his voice as I clasp my hands on either side of his face. Never before has my name ever felt so wonderful.

I slowly pulled away as I ran out of breath.

I could feel the beating of his heart against my chest. I lean in, so our foreheads rests against each other. We close our eyes. Both our breaths are shaky yet excited.

"I thought we were supposed to be just friends," I said softly, looking into the deep blue ocean in his eyes. He smirked. "Friends can kiss," he replied smugly. I raised my eyebrow and threw him an unamused look.

"And just how many friends do you go around kissing?"

"Well there's Daenerys, Sansa, Aria, Cersei-"

"Those are characters from game of thrones," I laughed.

"You weren't supposed to know that!" He groaned, a smile forming on his lips.

"I know everything unlike you," I grinned.

"Well, I know that this was your first kiss," he said softly, gently tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. I smiled but a part of me felt sad. I wasn't his first kiss. I bet I wouldn't be his first anything. It's alright, I guess.

"And you, Alaska Ivanov, are the first kiss that actually means the world to me," he whispered.

I shook my head and made my way out of the pool. I need space for now. I covered myself with the towel and made my way back into the castle, my mate hot on my trail.

We both didn't say anything. I didn't want to ruin the moment we just had by bringing up his upsetting past. It was a discussion for another time. One that I wasn't looking forward to.

"Look who's finally wet!"

I looked up and saw Avian and Adrian grinning at us a few feet ahead. A huge grin made its way to my face as I rushed towards them and was pulled into a hug by the two of them. Adrian kissed my forehead and Avian messed my hair up.

"Yeah I missed you too," Arian grumbled from behind us.

All three of looked at his annoyed face and laughed.

"How was everything?" Arian asked his cousins as he handed me a freshly brewed cup of coffee. I shivered as his hand brushed against mine and looked away. Avian looked at me suspiciously but kept quiet.

I finished my coffee while Adrian filled us in with the current affairs. Arian almost smacked his cousin when Adrian told him that he needed my help. "She's not helping you. It's dangerous. We'll find another way," he said, with a don't-mess-with-me look.

I frowned at him."But I-

"This isn't up for discussion, Alaska."

Saying that, he stormed away.

I sighed and shot Adrian an apologetic look. "We'll just have to do this behind his back then," I said with a shrug. Avian smirked while Adrian let out a sigh of relief and smiled at me. "Are you sure? Arian doesn't like people disobeying him."

"I don't take orders from anyone. I'm an independent woman," I said with a grin.

"Alright then," Adrian said, "Here's what we are going to do. Avian will pull up your medical records and other important papers that we'll require. You and I will go and see Cara's parents tomorrow."

"Are they witches too?" Avian asked.

"It's complicated. You'll see," Adrian sighed.

•

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•

•

•

•

The next morning, Avian and I went to The Velius Mansion which was Cara's family house. Adrian took Arian out for some official work so that he wouldn't be suspicious of me. I told him that Avian and I would probably go to the flea market and then go meet my parents which obviously he wouldn't want to do.

It was an old manor that was often shown in Scooby-Dooby do. The mouldy, rotting, brown house stood in front of us, only fear keeping my feet planted to the ground. Moaning and creaking noises were being projected from the house. The grass was damp from the evening fog and every time we took a step, the mud squelched.

The bottom step squeaked as Avian applied pressure with his foot, he let out a sigh of relief as the old structure hadn't swallowed him up. The door, slightly off colour from the rest of the house, loomed over him like a giant as he reached for the brass door handle.

"Are you sure that this is the place?" I whispered nervously.

The door burst open.

I jumped.

An old lady with waist long silvery white hair stared at Avian with an exasperated look. She wore an ankle length tattered gown that seemed to be ancient that enhanced the features on her dusty face. She was definitely a beauty in her days.

Her eyes traveled to meet mine.

She seemed so familiar.

They were the same brown as Cara's. I smiled awkwardly and extended my hand forward but took it back thinking of how dirty it would be. "I'm sorry to disturb you," I said, "My name is-"

"Alaska Ivanov," she whispered.

Avian came closer to me. "How do you know her?" He demanded an answer. The old lady looked at him and cackled. She reached out to pat his head like a dog. "You're one of them royal mutts, aren't you?" She asked. He glared at her but said nothing.

"Well, Dearie, I shall only talk if he leaves," she told me and smiled. I nodded at Avian. He seemed to want to protest but left when I gave him a pleading look. I watched as the door angrily slammed shut behind him.

I looked around the house. The house had that spooky charm, it was dull and quiet, cobwebs everywhere, chandeliers suspended from the ceiling and that odd knock no one could seem to explain. The lady's cold hands took mine as she led me to the kitchen.

"Dead."

I turned around and stared at her as she poured tea. "What did you say?" I asked warily. She smiled and took my hair and began braiding it patiently. I hated people touching my hair and this was downright creepy. My heart was beating erratically with every twist of my hair.

"She's not dead," she whispered in my ear.

"But she-"

"She's in this house," she giggled.

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