Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 452

Chapter 452 Peace and Peril

+5 Pearls

The two groups were now moving past their differences, throwing arms over shoulders and laughing together. In a sudden burst of high spirits, a few of them even started dancing right there in the clearing.

Tammy was the least shy of them all; she set her beer down and jumped into the center. Her dance was sultry and bold, shamelessly showing off her flawless, athletic physique. The men’s eyes were glued to her, whistles and cheers erupting as she moved.

Norman took a long swig of beer, his gaze never wavering from her for a second. So hot, so fierce. He swallowed hard.

Tatiana leaned against a tree, swaying her beer bottle slightly. She was feeling a pleasant buzz, her eyes following Tammy’s silhouette with pure, sisterly admiration. The girl she had brought back from the island was becoming more captivating and radiant by the day.

The sound of footsteps approached, and someone sat down beside her. She caught a glimpse in her peripheral vision but didn’t look away from the dance.

Jasper didn’t speak after sitting down. He simply stayed close to her, enjoying the cool night breeze. It felt as though just sitting together in silence was a form of luxury they both cherished.

Halfway through her beer, Tatiana suddenly turned her head. “Is she beautiful?”

Jasper, who had been looking up at the sky, turned toward her. “Hmm?”

“Is Tammy’s dancing beautiful?”

He hadn’t actually been watching Tammy at all; his mind and heart were entirely focused on Tatiana. What anyone else was doing didn’t matter to him. He gave a non–committal hum. “It’s alright.”

Since Tammy was her friend, he figured a compliment was the safe bet.

Instead, Tatiana’s expression shifted instantly. She narrowed her eyes. “You like watching her?”

He snapped to attention immediately, shaking his head. “I don’t.”

Tatiana let out a dry laugh, set her beer down, and walked toward Tammy in the middle of the campfire circle.

“Tati?”

“Let’s try the ritual dance.”

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Tammy beamed. “Yes!”

She took Tatiana’s hand, and the two of them began the ritual movements. They danced with completely different styles of charm. If Tammy was a wild, earthy beauty, then Tatiana was something sacred and ethereal—almost divine. The two women, lit by the flickering orange flames, looked as though they were bathed in a holy light. They were breathtaking.

This time, Jasper was completely entranced. His dark, obsidian eyes held only her reflection; even Tammy, standing right beside her, seemed to fade into grayscale. In that moment, his entire world was reduced to her.

Tatiana danced with a sense of pure joy. The alcohol seemed to numb her lingering headaches, allowing her to surrender to a rare moment of relaxation.

When they finished, the clearing erupted in cheers and applause. A thin veil of sweat covered Tatiana’s forehead, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes sparkled with life. Tammy tried to pull her back in for another round, but she waved her off. “No more. I need to rest.”

Tammy didn’t push and continued to lead the festivities.

Tatiana returned to her spot and reached for her beer. Before she could take a sip, a hand stopped her.

“Don’t drink too much. You’ll have a headache tomorrow.”

“Since when do you get to tell me what to do?”

Jasper tightened his lips, eventually pulling his hand back. He knew he had no right to interfere. He had promised not to force her into anything ever again. He held his tongue.

Tatiana arched an eyebrow and took a long, defiant swallow of the beer. She leaned back against the tree, idly swaying the bottle.

“Was it beautiful?”

This time, Jasper reacted instantly. He nodded. “Beautiful. You were incredible.” He paused, then added softly, “I never knew you enjoyed dancing.”

“I learned it on the island. It’s a ritual dance to ask the Sea God for good weather and smooth sailing. The locals believe in the Sea God; they said that when they found me, it was because the Sea God showed me mercy.”

She rarely spoke of her past, but tonight she was opening up. She spoke of the funny things that happened on the island, the dangers she faced, and how she met Tammy. Her stories were fragmented, but he listened with rapt attention. He wanted to fill in every gap of the years he had missed.

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Eventually, she grew tired. The beer bottle slipped from her hand, thudding onto the grass. Her head lilted to the side as she fell into a deep sleep.

Jasper moved with agonizing care, leaning in to gently rest her head on his shoulder. Her breath brushed against his neck, sending a tingle through his body. He only had to look down to see her features in perfect detail. This moment of closeness was something he had dreamt of for weeks.

He didn’t dare move, afraid of breaking her peaceful slumber. The noise of the campfire seemed to bypass their little corner of the world. The others were celebrating, but for them, there was only silence. As Jasper looked up at the night sky, the void in his heart finally felt whole.

In the middle of the night, everyone had found a spot to sleep, save for the sentries. Jasper was resting with his eyes closed, keeping his position steady for Tatiana.

Suddenly, a faint, rhythmic rustling sound broke the silence of the night.

Tammy, whose senses were the sharpest, was the first to wake. She looked toward a specific point in the dense brush, her hand moving to the hilt of her dagger. She stood up silently, creeping toward the sound like a hunting cat.

Moments later, she ran back with a look of high alert, waking everyone up.

“People are tracking us. We have to go!”

Tatiana woke up instantly, her eyes sharp and clear, devoid of any trace of sleep or alcohol.

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