7. Aries
Aries
O utside the window, night has fallen. On the small dining table before me, candlelight flickers, sending shadows dancing against the wall of Paige’s apartment.
I frown at the way the dark shapes bend and move.
Something about the lighting feels more ominous than romantic.
Though, my unease could have something to do with Constantine’s shadow creature that stalked her mere weeks ago.
I shake it off, determined to make Paige’s evening one to remember.
After spending all day with that asshole, Oliver, she’ll need a chance to relax and forget all about the trouble we currently face.
Straightening my shirt, I glance at the clock then at the door. She promised to be home for dinner, but I’m starting to wonder if Oliver is keeping her on purpose. He’s nice enough on the surface. But it borders on too nice.
Too helpful.
And far too friendly with my mate.
Guilt tugs on me as I remember I have yet to tell Paige that’s what she is for me.
Waiting for the right time , I remind myself. Even still, I’m keeping a life-altering secret from her, and that knowledge twists in my gut like a knife. I always imagined finding my mate would be a happy time. That we would both rejoice in knowing we were made for each other.
That we would get married, rule Astronia, and have lots of children.
That life would be simple.
But every moment since I met Paige has been one fight after the other. There’s not a single battle I would not wage for my beloved, but I cannot help but feel discouraged at how difficult our time together has been.
Even though I know that, no matter how many battles we face together, I will shower her with joy and love for the rest of my days.
Glancing at the table already set for two, I imagine her sitting there, shadows dancing across her face. Tonight.
I’ll tell her tonight. Over a quiet dinner and romantic candlelight. Perfect.
Finally, the door opens, and I straighten, standing tall in a button-down shirt and black slacks that Mag brought me for this occasion. I saw a man wearing something just like it on a daytime TV show and hope it’s appropriate.
He seemed ecstatic about the idea of putting me in something more—“classy”—and I am more than grateful for the help.
The door opens and Paige steps inside. My dragon reacts to her instantly, lust hammering through my veins at just the mere sight of her.
But then I note the fear in her gorgeous eyes.
The heavy tangling of her hair.
The lust dissipates, replaced with a furious bloodlust aimed at whoever put their hands on my mate. “What happened?” I demand as I cross toward her. I reach forward and cup her face, tilting it up and checking her for visible injury.
“I’m fine,” she insists, but neither my dragon nor I are fooled by the shaky tone of her voice.
“Tell me,” I insist.
Her shoulders slump in defeat. “Can we sit first? And have wine? Please, I need wine.”
“Of course.” I guide her toward the chair then take her bag as she sits down. I return to the kitchen for the bottle of wine I already opened and pour her a large glass.
“Thank you,” she says as I offer it to her, pulling my chair around closer to hers. I face her, studying the lines of exhaustion on her beautiful face.
“What happened?” I ask, softer this time. If Oliver hurt her…
“There was an incident earlier,” she begins.
“What kind of incident?”
“I was giving Oliver a tour of the library. A shelf fell over, and a book opened. A werewolf escaped and tried to attack us.”
“Are you hurt?” I demand, protectiveness rushing through me. I’ll kill him. Slaughter them all where they stand.
“No.” She reaches for my hand and squeezes it reassuringly. The touch soothes me, but my dragon is not in the least bit calmer for it. “Everyone’s fine. Blossom got to us quickly and took care of it. But Tawny showed up and demanded answers and...”
“What?”
“That shelf couldn’t have simply fallen over,” she says, and I realize exactly why she looks so afraid.
Fury rises inside me, coating me with worry on behalf of the woman I love. “You think Constantine was here.”
“Who else could it be?” she whispers. “Unless...” She trails off, her fear turning to anguish.
“Unless what?”
“What if it was me?” Her voice is so low, just above a whisper.
“No,” I say firmly.
“It’s possible. I was startled, and maybe my magic slipped out and affected that book.”
“And what about the shelf?” I ask. “Was that your magic too?”
“Maybe I freed the werewolf first and he knocked over the shelf? I don’t know. I keep asking myself who’s responsible, me or Constantine, and honestly, either option terrifies me.”
My chest tightens because all I want to do is tell her everything will be all right.
No, more than that. What I want to do is kill everything hurting her and make it okay again.
Anything to put a smile back on her beautiful face.
But Constantine eludes me still, and as for Paige’s magic.
.. that’s not a battle I can fight for her.
Nor is it something we’ve talked about since Hoc disappeared.
Every time I try to bring it up, she changes the subject.
“If it’s Constantine, I’ll find him,” I tell her fiercely. “I swear it, Paige. I will destroy him for what he’s done to you. But if your magic is endangering you—”
“I know, I know, I have to find a way to shut it out better.”
“No, you have to find a way to harness it.”
She visibly pales. “How? Hoc was the only one with answers.”
I shake my head. “You’re the smartest, most capable woman I’ve ever met. And the magic you have never should have been kept from you. That was his mistake, but it doesn’t mean we can’t find a way to control it.”
“That day in his office, Hoc admitted he knew and never told me about it,” she says quietly.
“I’m sorry he kept it from you.”
“He said it was for my own good.” Pain flashes in her eyes. “But what does that mean?”
“He didn’t give you any answers then?” I ask grimly.
She shakes her head. “There wasn’t time. And I was so angry at him. I didn’t even have a chance to make up before he was gone.”
“He knew you loved him, Paige.”
“I hope so. It’s my biggest regret.” She meets my gaze. “Not telling him how I truly felt before he disappeared.”
Silence envelopes us, and with it, a fresh wave of guilt settles over me. Isn’t that what I’m doing now? Keeping how I truly feel from her?
“I’m so sorry, Aries.” She gestures to the table. “Did you really do all this for me?”
“Don’t apologize, my love.”
She looks up at me with watery eyes. “Did you cook for me?”
I smile, brushing her hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear. “I did my best.”
She offers a half-smile. “Show me.”
I uncover the dish in the center of the table to reveal the main course.
“Spaghetti and meatballs?” Her eyes light up. “You clearly know the way to my heart.”
“I remember you telling me it was one of your favorites.”
“And you’re a good listener.” She presses a quick kiss to my lips. “How did I get so lucky?”
“No, darling,” I tell her, catching her chin with my hand so she can’t escape just yet. “I’m the lucky one.”
I kiss her again, just deeply enough for her to know she’s dessert when we’re finished here.
* * *
I lie awake in the darkness of our bedroom, listening as Paige’s breath slows to a steady rhythm.
Checking to see if she’s truly asleep, I glance over at her, and for a moment, I’m completely caught up in her angelic beauty.
Her dark hair is splayed across her pillow, nearly glowing in the moonlight coming in through the window.
She looks more peaceful now than she has been in weeks, which only makes me more determined in my mission.
Climbing out of bed, I pad silently across the room, grabbing the pair of pants and the shirt from the floor where I tossed them earlier. I dress in the living room, not bothering with lights as I shove my feet into my boots and lace them up.
When I’m done, I let myself out of the apartment and take the elevator down to the library’s main floor.
According to the posted schedule in Paige’s office, Blossom is on duty tonight, which means somewhere in these stacks is a unicorn with the answers I need to protect Paige from whatever threatened her earlier.
Winding my way through the stacks, I strain to hear some sound that will help me find the unicorn shifter. The library is massive, and with only one keeper to watch over it at night, she could be anywhere.
After several rows of shelves yielding no sign of her, I catch the sound of low voices coming from the far end near the folklore section. One is female and sharp—clearly Blossom, but the other is a male, his voice low enough that I can’t quite identify him.
My senses go on alert immediately, and I hurry forward, trying not to imagine Constantine doing to Blossom what he did to Hoc. But when I get closer, I realize it’s Mag, the gargoyle, speaking with the unicorn, and neither one sounds particularly happy right now.
“...not what you think,” Mag says. “I told you, they enthralled me.”
“I bet they did,” Blossom says. “You’re so fucking predictable, you know that?”
“And you’re paranoid.”
“What did you call me?” Blossom demands.
I wince because their arguments are nothing new, but this one seems particularly charged.
“Have you not been paying attention at all?” Mag retorts, and I decide to cut him off before he can say something that will result in Blossom removing his tongue from his mouth.
“Good evening,” I say as I step around the corner and into view.
Blossom whirls, eyes blazing, which isn’t unusual when she’s interacting with Mag, but just in case, I keep my distance. “What the hell are you doing here?” she demands.
“I came to speak to you,” I say, “unless now’s a bad time.”
Blossom frowns but shakes her head. “Not at all. What can I do for you?”
“Wait,” Mag says, stepping forward. “First, tell her I wasn’t flirting with those sirens, man. You saw it. They used their powers on us.”