12. Severn
SEVERN
Afemale named Des had explained that we were to take Milo to where she was and get Aiden’s car.
Then Aiden and I would be going to the Pulse Den.
Whatever the hell that was. I knew the Mortis family ran the drug market in Noirhaven and Pulse was the most popular drug in the city.
But judging by the reaction of the two vampires I was with, the Pulse Den had a reputation.
Pulling into a dark garage, Aiden turned around and placed a cool hand on the seat in front of me.
Instinctively, I pulled back a little, unsure if I could bear his touch again.
Each time they were so caring and genuine, like nothing I had ever experienced before.
My breath hitched when I saw his eyes open wider at my movement.
“I’m sorry.” Aiden pulled his hand back and set it on the center console.
“You can sit up. We are going to switch cars here.” He held out his hand in a polite gesture as I sat upright in the backseat.
We maintained eye contact until I was sitting more comfortably.
“I’m Aiden, by the way. Through all of that, I realized we never introduced ourselves.
His name is Milo.” Milo held two fingers up as he maneuvered through the parking garage, going up a few more levels.
“Thank you for coming with us. We are complete strangers, but we do want to help. Vea wants to help you.” He said those last words with sincerity, and I could tell he meant them.
My initial thought was nothing could be worse than what my father did to me.
If my mother also hates me, then at least I know I was never wanted by anyone.
But the way these two vampires were treating me and how Aiden just spoke to me sent a wave of hope through me.
That this may actually be the end of my torture.
“Thank you for helping me. My name is Severn.”
We pulled up next to another black SUV, similar to the one we were in, but it was smaller and sportier.
“Go ahead and get in the passenger seat, Severn.” Aiden smiled as I climbed out of one car and into the other.
Buckling my seatbelt, I waited for Aiden to join me.
He and Milo spoke for a few minutes, then went their separate ways.
When Aiden got in the car, he opened the center console.
“It’s very likely that Ceril knows you’re gone by now.
Do you have a cell phone or anything else he uses to track your location? ”
I shook my head. I had no technology on me. “I’ve never used anything. Like I know of it and how it works, but I’ve never had one.” Aiden gave me a questioning look. “I never left Ceril’s side. I’m shocked he shut me in that closet tonight.”
“Oh wow, okay,” Aiden replied. He pulled out a cell phone from the console and handed it to me. “There should be a charger in the glove box.” He pointed to the storage at my knees.
Aiden turned the car on and began driving out of the parking garage.
“Here’s the deal,” he began. “It’s not surprising that the Shiroganes are going to be looking for you almost immediately.
As I said, Ceril probably knows you’re already gone if you stay by his side 24/7.
” I nodded, agreeing with everything he was saying.
“The Pulse Den is a safe house, and only a select few know where it is.” Aiden continued explaining that I would stay at the safe house as long as necessary.
If there was any helpful information about Ceril I could share, then great, but if not, that was fine.
“Severn,” Aiden said, shifting his gaze to me as we sat at a red light.
“Vea wants you to know that the most important thing to her right now is your safety.” I felt a tear well in my eye, but I fought it back.
Not letting it win this time. Aiden smiled softly before turning left when the light turned green.
Aiden’s phone rang over the speakers, and Vea’s name flashed on the screen. My breathing became shallow suddenly.
“Yeah?” Aiden sounded so comfortable speaking to her.
“Shift in the plan, Aiden.” There was a pause on the other end of the line.
Aiden sat waiting for an answer, staring at the small screen as if he might manifest Vea to speak suddenly. “What’s the plan now, Vea?”
“Sorry, Aiden, but I’m reassigning you. There’s no one that I trust more right now for this. I need you to stay with him.”
Aiden glanced over at me, then back to the road. “You want me to stay with Severn? At the safe house?”
Vea replied immediately. “Yes. I don’t trust Ceril. There are already angels scouting. I need someone with him at all times.” At those words, I shrank in the seat. Someone would be with me at all times.
I could feel Aiden’s eyes on me. “Yeah, okay, Vea. Someone just needs to get my car.”
“Mitz is already there and will drive it home. I trust you, Aiden.” Vea hung up the phone on those last words.
I had no idea who to trust. Trusting myself was all I could do at this point.