Chapter 25 – Aurora
Idream about my life before Rorik.
How empty I felt.
Because a part of my soul was missing.
Any relationship I was in ended because I could never love them the way they loved me. I had two that lasted three years each, and after that, I quit trying.
I knew it would never work out no matter who I found a connection with.
The need to pee wakes me from the best sleep I’ve ever had. After using the restroom, I return to bed where Rorik is still asleep.
He’s so peaceful like this. So young looking in his eternal twenties.
This intense, beautiful man.
Vampire.
My mate.
Rorik’s mouth is slightly parted. His eyes are fluttering. Is he dreaming? About me? About life before we met?
He’s lived through so much tragedy. So much heartbreak. He says he doesn’t deserve me, but part of me feels I don’t deserve him.
How can I compare to his other loves?
He had a wife and children. He was mated to two others before me.
I’m just one woman.
A single witch.
And not a very good one at that.
We just met, but I’m now bound to him. He’s lived over 3,000 years, and I want to know about every moment of every year.
I lay my head on Rorik’s chest, listening to him breathing, something he didn’t do before me.
His heart thuds slowly.
Something else that belongs to me. He said not even his other two mates restarted the organ.
Just me.
I’m not sure how long I lie cuddled up to Rorik’s side. It isn’t until the man stretches and pleasantly groans that I know he’s awake.
I lean up on my elbow and rub my palm over his pecs.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.”
Rorik peels open one eye, then both, and smiles as wide as his lovely face will allow.
“My mate.”
He cups the back of my head to pull me in for a kiss. Good thing I brushed my teeth after using the bathroom. Apparently vampires don’t have morning breath because all I taste is minty goodness.
When he releases me, he tugs my head down to rest over his heart.
“You have your magic back?” he asks, though it was more of a statement.
I hum.
We both felt the surge of ethereal energy the moment our souls merged. We both knew the moment the black magic spell my mother put on me lifted.
“You were right.”
I don’t have to clarify because he responds nearly immediately.
“I had hoped. Your mother suppressed your powers, and she created me. So I figured uniting our souls would… I don’t know… override her spell? But mates are also stronger together so by bonding, that ethereal power might have targeted any negative magic preventing us from being together.”
Fated mates aren’t really a thing amongst witches.
At least, not between witches themselves.
Witches can be destined to other supernatural beings, but not to each other.
We believe that was intentional because uniting the souls of two witches could create a super force of power of sorts.
So I never learned much about fated mates. Or blood mates for vampires.
“Tell me more about our souls being united. What does that mean exactly?”
He inhales a deep breath before letting it out slowly.
“Well, as you can tell, I’m breathing like a fucking human now. My heart is beating. These are things that happened because you’re my mate. I’ll be able to tell where you are at all times. Mates are typically able to communicate through thoughts, but I still can’t hear yours. Do you hear mine?”
“No.”
“Then it’s possible we’ll continue to share dreams.”
“Will they always be sexual?”
“Not always.”
“Is there a way to… prevent the shared dreams?” He scoffs, and I giggle. “I just mean that we’re always together, and I’d rather keep my dreams to myself. At least, most of the time.”
He hums, thinking about this while rubbing his palm up and down my bare arm.
“I believe you will have the power to manipulate our dreams. You already have the ability, so you decide when to allow me inside your head.”
“I wish I knew how to do that. I have my magic back, but to be honest, accessing it will be a struggle. My mother never let me practice growing up.”
Rorik clutches my chin to look me in the eyes. “Sounds like us mating cleared that fuzziness around your memories.”
He smiles and winks, and I can’t help laughing because he’s implying his penis is magical.
“Yes, more memories were clarified in my post-mating dreams.” When he releases my chin, I lay my head back down and sigh.
“I remember trying to use my magic in secret, but she’d always find out.
When I turned eighteen, I decided to leave.
I knew she’d try to follow so I went to New Orleans because a lot of powerful witches lived there.
I went to the local coven for help. I explained my mother’s abuse.
They were able to cast a spell to hide my presence from my mother, but they warned me that I wouldn’t be able to use my magic because it could act as a beacon.
She’d be able to find me. I mean, small spells were fine, but anything bigger, like healing someone or using elemental magic, would be too risky. ”
“I’m sorry,” Rorik says and kisses the top of my head.
“I think that’s why I was always so exhausted. The magic was fighting to be set free. There was one night. I had too many drinks…” My voice cracks on the last word. “It’s my fault.”
“What is?”
“My mother finding me. Killing my best friend. I…” I inhale deeply, trying to steady my voice.
“I was struggling to hold back my magic every single day. I went out for a friend’s birthday…
all witches… Everyone was talking about spells and potions, and I just wanted to feel included.
I did a shifting spell. I’m not even sure how, I definitely don’t remember, but I shifted into a cat.
I had no idea I could do this. If you asked me to do it now, I couldn’t.
But it was a big enough spell for my mother to find me. Like a fucked-up GPS.
“So when I moved here to New York, I refused to use magic at all. I worked as a server at a bar down the block from my apartment. I was walking home one night and found someone injured and discarded near some trash bins. A woman. She’d been bitten and nearly drained by a vampire.
She was going to die, and even though I called the supernatural medic’s hotline, I knew she wouldn’t make it by the time they arrived.
So, I healed her. The best I could before I heard the sirens and had to leave.
I thought using my magic this one time was going to be okay since New York City is so big, but I think the magic left a trail, leading my mother directly to me. ”
Rorik sits up, taking me with him. He cups my face.
“I remember that woman you saved. She was attacked by Henrick, the vampire who sired Millie. He’d gone rogue.
I arrived at the scene at the same time as the supernatural medics.
I stayed back in the shadows and watched as they helped her.
They brought her back to life, but they said it was only possible because of you.
Because someone used healing magic on her before they arrived. ”
“How did they know magic was used?”
“Supes can tell. Magic is very potent to us. We can smell it. Feel it.”
“Oh, right. Well, I’m glad she lived.”
“I checked on the woman after she healed. She’s a mother and an elementary school teacher. She can continue to love her children and teach the future generations because of you.”
I didn’t know I started crying until Rorik pulls me to his chest, consoling me.
“That act of selflessness led you to me. I know it was a hell of a journey, but you’re here. You’re my mate. My beautiful little lamb. The light to my darkness.”
I sniffle and climb into Rorik’s lap. He takes my face in his hands and wipes away the tears that have fallen. Then he kisses each cheek.
“I should tell you,” he begins. “The other night in the park… I didn’t actually carry you home. You transported us.”
My brows pinch together. “What? How?”
He shrugs. “You’re very powerful. It’s one of your abilities. Not many witches can do that.”
My eyes widen. “Do you think my mom will be able to find us here because I did that? It seems like that’s strong enough magic for her to track it.”
He smiles and leans in to place a sweet kiss on my lips. “No, we’re safe. I have wards in place along several blocks surrounding this building.”
“How did you manage that? I thought witches hate you.”
“Hey! Evangeline says I’m no longer hated. Just strongly disliked.”
“You know what I mean.”
He chuckles.
“Shortly after I kidnapped you, I had Lloyd hire a witch to implement the wards. Since they’d want to know why such powerful protections were being put in place, he explained that a very famous human just bought the penthouse and would like to remain hidden from paparazzi and fans.”
I snort and roll my eyes. “You’re such a manipulative fucker, aren’t you?”
“Proudly,” he says with a wink. “But, hey, it worked. No one found us until you escaped.”
“And the wards also helped keep us hidden from my mother.”
“See. Sometimes I do bad things for good reasons.”
“God, you’re insufferable.”
He laughs and gives me one more peck on the lips.
“Come on. Let’s get out of bed. I’ll make you some breakfast. We’ll spend the day on the couch cuddling. Watch some rom-coms. Whatever you want to do. Maybe fuck some more?”
I snort and shake my head. He just couldn’t resist being vulgar.
“Actually, I want to go back to your office and go through the texts and books you found. I might be able to read them now that my magic is no longer being suppressed.”
“And you’ll let me fold you over the desk?”
I sigh, but it’s all for show. Because I’d love nothing more than to be folded over a desk while Rorik fucks me from behind.
He inhales deeply. “Ah, yes, you’d like that. Such a naughty little lamb. Come on. Let’s go eat.”
Rorik prepares our meals and brews a pot of coffee. Once it’s done, he fills a mug and places in front of me. My usual creamer and packets of sweetener are already mixed in.
“I want to try something.”