Aurora #3
“I have no clue how those words just came out of your mouth,” Cassandra says, shaking her head. “But do go on.”
Daphne laughs. “I get it. He’s intimidating as hell and yeah, maybe he’s playing me for an absolute human fool, but he’s never made me feel uncomfortable.
I know I’m young, especially since he’s like a billion years old.
But he doesn’t feel predatory to me.” Something serious flashes over her features.
“I lived with monsters my entire life. Human monsters who took advantage of me, sold me off at sixteen to the highest bidder. They did…unspeakable things to me while I was imprisoned.” She looks to Valor across the gardens.
“If she hadn’t come for me. Hadn’t risked her life to save me from that horrific future, I don’t know where I’d be.
” She goes distant for a moment, and we all remain silent.
I completely understand the need to go inward when past traumas overtake the mind.
“So,” she says a bit later. “No. It doesn’t bother me.
The gifts. The check-ins. It feels genuine, as wild as that may sound. ”
“Good,” I say. “That’s all that matters then.”
Annika and I share a look, one Cassandra mimics.
Daphne is a full-grown adult woman who can make her own choices about how she feels about anyone, including the demon king.
I just wanted to make sure she didn’t feel obligated since she’s a human living in a supernatural world.
I’m happy to know she’s content here. That she’s a natural part of this new family of mine.
Nights like this, free and fun, it’s easy to forget what’s waiting beyond the wards.
Threats that jeopardize having more nights like this. Something I want to help stop. And I know how.
I know exactly what I need to do.
My eyes find Saint across the way. He’ll never let me go through with it.
“What the hell is that?” Daphne asks, drawing me to the present.
A black Lamborghini’s engine revs on the winding paved road just outside the gardens, and we all hurry to follow her as she stops at the road’s edge.
The car has a black bow on the hood, and after parking and killing the ignition, the driver gets out and holds a white envelope out to Daphne.
“How did you get beyond the gates?” Alek stops the driver before Daphne can take the card.
“The king—”
“Xavier,” Daphne says his name on a chiding whisper.
Alek growls. “The demon king opened my wards for you?”
“I’m instructed to leave immediately upon handing the card to Miss Daphne.”
Daphne moves around Alek, quickly taking the card from the driver, who immediately pops out of sight the second she does.
“Demons,” she says in an almost lovable way. A way that makes me think she’s far more familiar with them than we’re even aware.
Alek and Lyric seem to be thinking the same thing, from the way they’re looking at her.
“What?” Daphne asks. “I read.” She shrugs and takes the card back to our table, leaving the rest of us to continue the party. None of us move to sit with her, wanting to give her privacy.
“Little over the top for a birthday present,” Saint says as he slides his arm around me where I still stand near the lavish car.
“Maybe it suits her.”
Saint looks on to where Daphne is reading the card. “Maybe,” he says. “I suppose I don’t know much about the human. But any gift from the demon king screams a poorly balanced bargain to me.”
“Hasn’t he always been helpful?” I argue. “The stories I’ve heard, he’s come to assist in several instances. Including the mission that saved Daphne’s life?”
“He helps when it suits him.”
“I’ve seen worse.” The comment rolls off my tongue before I can stop it, and I cringe.
Saint flinches like I’ve physically hit him.
I lock my memories, stopping the train of thought before it can make it back to him. I’ve gotten better at controlling what thoughts blend into Saint’s mind, but sometimes I slip.
“I’m sorry,” I admit.
“Don’t ever be sorry for telling the truth, Aurora,” Saint says, eyes going distant for a moment. I study him, loving the darkness in his eyes just as much as I adore the thin red ring around them. “Enjoying the party?” he asks after he’s come back to himself.
“It’s nice being sort of out.”
“I shouldn’t have been so possessive,” he says. “When you asked to go feed with me.” His eyes are apologetic. “We can venture out,” he continues. “Can we take Ajax with us though? As a precaution? He can stop time should any attack happen.”
I smile up at him, my heart absolutely melting.
“Saint, your possessiveness is one of the things I love about you.” I laugh, not entirely sure what that means about me, but also not really caring.
I sigh. “But I understand your reasoning for not wanting us to venture past the wards. Honestly, I do. It’s smarter to not risk it. ”
I rest my head on his chest, knowing it’s true. True for all of us.
We’re all being held captive by Samuel. We’re all moving in the way we are because of him, and I’m tired of it.
Tired of waiting to die.
Tired of waiting to live.
It’s time to take action, and I’m starting to understand exactly how to do it.