Chapter 15
Aurora
There was too much madness constantly and some new female relatives—by birth or marriage—that seemed to be coming out of the woodwork. Then the onslaught of maids and servants and their bastards that came and… Madness. Absolute madness.
Luckily, a few of my older cousins immediately took control of the situation.
They handled the servants and made it clear that for the moment, they were working for room and board and understood this was an extreme situation.
Especially that we now had way more people than the massive, resort-like house could fit.
Which was why some were demanding we go take over the castle now that Theresa owned it, but most didn’t want to go back to that evil place.
I agreed. I was one of them. It was cursed and would take years for people to recover enough to not be retraumatized from it. It was mostly the ones who were a bit pompous and wanted to be saved but keep their standing, not liking the idea of becoming working women and “commoners.”
So yes, I was glad my cousins were laying down the law and handling several situations.
One of which was teaching those women how to survive. The servants were going to be in charge of that, most of us repeatedly beating it into others that they needed to learn these skills. It wasn’t an option.
And then of course I had to help teach the servants how to use current machines because my parents had lived so far in the past it was a miracle that the castle even had electricity. Only anything that improved Father’s life was allowed or a consideration. Washing machines to help the servants?
Oh, that was nonsense and a waste.
Uh-huh, sure it was.
He probably spent more having inefficient servants dragging water around and clothes not being as clean as they could be in modern washers than if he just got updated machines and piping.
He certainly looked outdated and silly to others.
I saw it all of the time even with as much as I was locked up.
A few of my other cousins were married into families who fell onto hard times and they basically became the servants of their in-laws. Their daughters too.
Lovely.
But it meant they knew how to cook and more. They jumped on the idea of a meal planning business and took charge of that area. I had wanted to remind them that I had money, they were going to sue for money, so there was no reason to push all of this.
Alexis reminded me how much I’d looked for projects and jumped into moving forward. Everyone needed different things, and when people had never had anything of their own, some immediately grabbed onto the chance to fight for more.
It made complete sense and it would keep people focused. I just didn’t want people to think I would be cheap and selfish with them. It was also nice to have all the help because it left me to breathe a bit when I had so much else going on.
Like my first real date.
Ever.
Yes, I’d had dates with Creed, but lunch dates at the hospital or even dinner at my condo weren’t the same. It seemed silly when he was now living with me, but… It wasn’t.
It was monumental for me.
I picked out the nicest clothes I had that didn’t make me look like I stepped out of the past or Old World and let one of my younger cousins do my makeup. Nothing drastic and I thought it was very flattering.
Anything I might have said died on my lips when I saw him. He was wearing a fitted gray sweater and dark slacks that probably seemed ordinary on anyone else, but on Creed… He looked like he stepped out of a magazine.
“Well done, Cousin,” my cousin chuckled under her breath. “Close your mouth before you drool.”
She wasn’t wrong and I quickly cleared my throat.
“You look breathtaking, Aurora,” Creed said, his voice deeper than normal. He was eyeing me over like his next meal when I looked up at him. He cleared his throat and ran his hand over his hair. “Sorry, that was rude. It’s just a really good look on you. I mean, they all are, but—”
“You look very handsome too,” I said, deciding to save him. I found it endearing that he was nervous and he saved me often enough too, so it was only fair.
“Right, thanks.” He cleared his throat yet again and offered me his arm. “Shall we? I want to be early for our reservation just in case.”
“Oh my, who knew shifters could be such gentlemen,” another cousin whispered from somewhere in the large house.
“Ignore them,” I muttered as my face flushed.
He simply chuckled and kissed my hand as he took it. He led me out to the car that Ellie had gotten me, now using it when he needed it too. It made sense since we were living together and going to be mated.
I gave a quick wave to all the women half pouring out of the entrance of the house not even pretending to be discreet anymore.
“You okay?” he asked when he was in the driver’s seat and we were on our way.
“Yes.” I shook off my mood and nodded. “I was excited for my first real date but…”
“But? Did I do something wrong?” he worried.
“No!” I said quickly and a bit too loudly.
“No. It’s not you.” I let out a heavy breath.
“All of those women living there and rescued and not one had experienced it either. We were just all sold or—none of their husbands treated them with enough respect to even do something so—I don’t think basic is the right word? ”
“No, it is. A dinner date is considered basic for a relationship. Where we’re going isn’t and maybe a date this fancy, but I understand what you’re saying.” He reached over and took my hand in his. “Anything fun they said?”
“I don’t know if it’s fun or not, but they kept throwing red flags at me,” I admitted. “If you order for me and especially a salad.” I frowned. “I’m not sure why ordering a salad course is wrong.”
He tried to smother a laugh but a bit escaped, kissing my hand again. He explained it to me and how some insecure men tried to put women in their place through food and public image.
“Oh, yes, Kenneth used to do that to me all of the time,” I accepted. “Not with food since I was always too thin according to the elders and they thought that was why I couldn’t conceive again. But other ways.”
He cleared his throat and seemed extra intent on the road.
“I want to say something, but I don’t know if it’s right, but we both agree to be honest, so I’m going to and please forgive me if it’s crass.
” He frowned. “Or actually, tell me if there’s a better way to say things like this so it doesn’t hurt. ”
“Of course,” I accepted but wanted my hand back, hating the tension.
“Can we leave Kenneth out of tonight? Or out of our time? As much as possible? I mean, yeah, this one comment was fine, but this is our night.” He sighed and pulled his hand away, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m saying this wrong.”
“No, I understand,” I whispered, my hand feeling cold now when he pulled away when I’d just wanted my freedom. “I wouldn’t like it if you told me the restaurant was like one you took your lover to. Bringing the past up when we’re trying to establish our future is crass.”
He let out a growl and suddenly changed lanes, ignoring my yelp.
“Creed!” I yelled as I covered my face.
“What? What’s wrong?” he demanded as he grabbed my wrists. “Why are you shaking? I’m not going to hit you or yell!”
I pulled against his hands and he let me go. I took in several slow breaths and let them out. “I’m not used to riding in vehicles. I don’t even know how to drive. You just cut over and people honked—do you know how terrifying it is to suddenly be in these steel death traps and…”
“Sorry,” he whispered when I hung my head. “Sorry, Aurora. Really. I forgot. I thought you were good now. You were going to the store with Xavier for months and—sorry.”
I didn’t want to pick on Creed or have more issues, but maybe he needed to know. “We went in times when traffic wasn’t bad and it wasn’t far. This is heavy traffic and—you have to be more gentle with me.” I swallowed loudly, knowing that was about more than riding in cars.
I was pretty sure he did too.
He leaned into me, his forehead against mine. “It’s not crass that you brought up your past, Aurora. Your example isn’t the same because—it’s not the same. Please, look at me.”
I let out a slow breath and did as he wanted.
“You were a captive and abused, beauty. I’m not jealous or—I want to kill him.
I’m so full of fucking rage every fucking time I hear his name that it’s hard to focus.
I want to—I dream of shredding him with my claws.
Just digging out his organs and leaving him ribbons of flesh.
And I really don’t want to spend our date thinking about killing your ex-husband. ”
“Thank you,” I whispered, reaching up and cupping his cheek.
“Wait—huh?” He blinked at me for several moments. “I was ready to get smacked. I’m lost.”
It was hard not to chuckle at his adorable confusion. “Let’s get to the restaurant safely and I’ll explain on the way.”
He let out a harsh breath. “You’re so the boss of me. My lion is like growling to get going and listen to our mate. He thinks you’re saying you’re hungry.”
“I adore your lion too,” I teased, glad when he took my hand again after he pulled back into traffic. I let out a slow breath and gathered my thoughts. “Thank you for caring for me that much that you’re so angry for what I suffered. It’s deep and visceral, not superficial or empathetic. Thank you.”
“Okay then,” he accepted, sounding a bit confused still. He’d probably spent so much time getting in trouble for being over the top or his temper, so this was a switch he wasn’t prepared for.
Such was life.
We arrived and everything was fine until the host saw the reservation and then focused back on Creed and made a comment about us being there on a coupon.