Chapter 25 – Aurora #2
I cup my hands around the mug, leaving enough space so I’m not touching the ceramic. I close my eyes and focus on the words to a simple heating spell.
‘I call to the sun a simple feat. Bless me with the ability to manipulate heat.’
I repeat the words out loud three times.
Magic simmers through my veins, using my body as a conduit. A soft glow emits from my palms and seconds later, the coffee boils.
I remove my hands from around the mug and do a victory dance in my chair. When I glance up, Rorik leans a hip against the counter, arms crossed and smiling.
My heart flutters at how beautiful he is when he smiles. He doesn’t do it enough.
“I know it was another simple spell like masking, but I’m out of practice. I don’t want to overdo it and burn down your building.”
He pushes away from the counter, walks to me, and cups my chin. “Never be ashamed of little victories. They are victories nonetheless.”
He gives me a quick peck before returning to the stove where he’s cooking grilled cheese to go with the crispy chicken ranch salad I put together.
Despite just waking up, I wasn’t in a breakfast food mood. Except for coffee. I have to have my coffee.
Rorik claims he can make any meal I desire. Any Michelin star worthy dish. But I’m a simple woman and a grilled cheese sounded really fucking good.
He sets the plate in front of me, the sandwich cut in half on top. “Do you have pickles?”
He nods and gets the jar from the fridge, opening the lid before handing it to me.
I take a sip of the juice and hum. So good.
I slurp some more pickle juice—I’d probably drink some more of it if Rorik wasn’t looking at me funny—and set the jar down.
I fish out a handful of pickles, peel open the bread, and evenly spread out the pile.
I wonder if he has yogurt that I could dip these pickles in.
No, that’s weird. I’m not sure why I want that.
I take a bite and groan. “Damn, Rory. This is the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had. I feel like everything I’ve eaten while here has been fantastic.”
“Well, now that we’ve mated, our senses are on overdrive,” Rorik explains. “Your taste, smell, touch are all… sensitive right now. But we were experiencing the effects of a mating bond long before we completed it so maybe I just make everything better.”
“You’re so full of yourself,” I chuckle.
“You can be full of me as well…”
He wiggles his brows at me, and I can’t help but be charmed. I’ve never seen him so playful and… happy! It warms my heart.
If I weren’t starving, I’d take him up on his offer, but he hears my stomach growl and points to my food.
A silent command.
We eat without speaking, enjoying the peace and quiet. Rorik’s meal is devoured long before I’ve finished one half of my sandwich. This is the most food I’ve ever seen him eat. I wonder if it’s because we completed the mating bond. Is he turning full human now?
He takes his plate to the sink and rinses it off before placing it in the dishwasher.
Once he’s done, he walks to the kitchen peninsula and stands across from where I’m sitting.
“I need to make a few calls while you finish.” He smiles, but it’s an annoyed smile. I can always tell because his jaw ticks slightly. “Vara wants me to do some live television interviews either tonight or tomorrow. Damage control following the incident with your mother.”
“I should join you,” I offer.
His no is immediate. I set down my grilled cheese and sit back in the chair, arms crossed.
“I’m sorry, my love. I just mean I’d rather you not be a public figure. Especially with your mom still out there. She found you too easily yesterday.”
“How? You said you had protection in place here. What if she followed us because I left a trail of magic after transporting us? Or what if she sensed my magic releasing after we bonded? What if she shows up here?”
Rorik steps close enough to take my hand, comforting me. “If she knew about this apartment, she’d have tried to get in by now. She knows we have her belongings. I think she was watching your apartment and waiting for us to show up. She knew we’d end up there after finding your purse and wallet.”
“Ok, well, she already knows I’m somewhere in the city. Aren’t you worried about leaving me by myself? Bring me. I want to do the interviews with you. Just hire extra bodyguards to keep us safe.”
“Aurora, please. I don’t want you on TV. Do you know how many sick fucks are out there? I’m a jealous man, and I can’t bear anyone looking at you other than me.”
“That’s absurd, Rory, and you know it.”
He places a palm over his heart. “You use that name like a weapon.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one to tell my story about what happened? About the horrible things my mother has done? Besides, the public already knows me from the viral video of you ‘kidnapping’ me.”
He frowns but doesn’t argue.
Because he knows I’m right.
After at least a minute, he sighs. “It’s not up to me. I’ll mention it to Vara.”
I know he’s telling the truth because I’m friends with Vara. I’m in a group chat with her, Millie, Layla, Evangeline, and Farrah. We have plans to meet up this weekend for drinks and gossiping. I will call her if I sense any deception from him.
He reaches across the counter to brush a piece of my hair off my face. It’s another endearment he favors.
“I just worry that now you’re bonded to me, you’ll be even more desirable to supes.
Remember I told you this might be possible?
How there’s something about a vampire mate’s blood that makes them nearly irresistible to other monsters?
Do you know how many times a shifter or other vampire tried to attack Teddy because they wanted to bite and drink from him? ”
I shake my head.
“At least five times since he bonded with Millie. It’s why she’s amped up his security.”
“But what about Thorne and Vara? They’re mated to Layla.”
“It only applies to human blood mates.”
“I’m not human. I’m a witch and part fae.”
He drops his hand and sighs. “I know, but fae blood is also highly coveted. I also worry about you being the mate of the first vampire and the daughter of the witch who’s made a lot of enemies over the years.
Someone could take you away from me to try and lure her out of hiding.
Or you’ll be killed as punishment to her. ”
“But my mother doesn’t care about me.”
“They don’t know that.”
“Which is why I should go on television and explain that.”
Rorik opens his mouth, preparing a retort, but he snaps it shut.
Again, he knows I’m right.
His phone rings. He takes it out of his pocket and glances at the screen.
“This is Vara. I’ll meet you in the office, okay?”
I nod. He gives me a kiss before walking out of the room.
When I finish eating, I rinse the plate and salad bowl and set the dishes in the dishwasher, then I refill my coffee and bring it with me to Rorik’s office.
The room is dark, so I pull open the curtains, letting in some light. The sun will be setting in a couple hours.
Rorik walks in after thirty minutes. I’ve made it through a stack of papers when he joins me at the desk. I hand him what I just finished reading.
“It’s a lot of rambling. A lot of her thought process. Some spells mixed in and some talks of destiny and prophecies.”
“Anything useful to kill her?”
I point at the middle paragraph on the paper Rorik’s still holding.
“That. It’s about me… and you. I think this is how we kill her. And how to break your curse.”