21. Severn
SEVERN
Mitz arrived with our groceries and began carrying them into the kitchen. Aiden and I got up and helped to bring them in from the storeroom.
“So,” Mitz spoke first as we began unpacking the food he brought in.
“How’s everything going?” He didn’t look at Aiden or me when he asked.
He just kept talking. “I can’t imagine it’s very comfortable just staying in here, not being able to go outside or anything.
Plus, you two barely know each other. Have you gotten along, okay?
When Vea told me she wanted to keep someone here with you, Severn, I didn't think she’d throw her best enforcer here with you.
” Mitz leaned back on the counter, looking Aiden and me up and down.
“But Vea always knows what she’s doing.” He shrugged and folded his arms across his chest.
“What the fuck are you talking about, Mitz?” Aiden asked, annoyance dripping from each word.
“Nothing.” Mitz shook his head, grabbing a drink from the fridge and walking over to the living room. I looked over to Aiden with a questioning look on my face, but he just shrugged, putting away the rest of what he had and joining Mitz in the other room.
“What’s going on out there, Mitz?” Aiden asked, sitting back down on the couch where he was sitting earlier. When I joined the two vampires in the living room, I sat next to Aiden, putting a bit more distance between us than we had before.
“There’s a lot of activity, Aiden. I’m not going to bullshit you.” Mitz set his drink down on the table in front of the couch.
“I’m going to need you to be more specific than that, Mitz.”
Mitz leaned forward and lifted the hood off his head.
He wore a black beanie that he adjusted before he looked over at us.
“Ceril has everyone out looking for you, Severn. He has groups of angels out, and he’s hired at least two packs as well.
The posts I found online for packs for hire got hits, and I saw two packs bragging in another thread that they were hired.
There could be more too, some that he got straight through Myq.
But these are the ones we know about at least. We’ve run into the angel groups because they don’t know what they’re doing.
They have our buildings scouted…as if we would keep you there.
” He rolled his eyes, leaning back on the couch.
“Does it seem like they may find us?” I shifted uncomfortably where I sat, not liking the thought that so many beings were out looking for me. The thought was unsettling. Aiden reached over and set his hand on mine on the couch, and I relaxed almost immediately.
Mitz shrugged as he stood up. “It’s hard to say. We are keeping a close eye on everything.” He walked back toward the small door to the storeroom. “Oh, Aiden, I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Vea wants you to go to the office for a couple of hours; I’ll stay here with Severn.”
My eyebrows pulled together in confusion. Aiden stood and followed behind Mitz. “Oh, uhh, okay? Did she say what for?” He asked.
Mitz shook his head and turned to Aiden as he reached the door. “She said she would call you later and let you know.” Mitz waved at me. “See you two tomorrow morning.” The vampire pulled his hood back on before stepping out into the storeroom.
As soon as Aiden began walking toward me, I spoke up. “What do we need to do?”
When Aiden sat down, he faced me and placed his hand on my thigh. “Exactly what we’ve been doing. Just stay here out of sight. We will find out what Vea needs later today and just go from there.”
Nodding, I looked forward, trying to process everything that was happening. Everything started running through my brain like a montage. Being at the auction, driving through the night with Aiden and Milo, now being here with Aiden…everything seemed so surreal.
But it also felt…right.
“Oh,” Aiden said softly as he stood and walked back over to the kitchen. When he walked back toward the couch, he held a small brown paper bag and handed it to me. “This is for you.”
“What’s this?” I questioned, and Aiden just smiled.
Reaching in the bag, I pulled out a small sketchbook and a set of drawing pencils. When I set them on the table, I looked at Aiden, confused.
“I asked Mitz to bring these. I hope that’s okay.
” I didn’t respond. I wasn’t sure how to.
Creating art was the one thing I’ve ever enjoyed.
Seeing how Ceril used it for his own gain and never being recognized for it was so frustrating.
But now, it seemed like I had a chance to make art for myself, the way that I wanted to.
Aiden reached for the book, but I stopped him. “Please. Don’t.”
“You’re uncomfortable. I’m sorry, I should have thought more about it. I didn’t think at all.”
“Aiden.” I cut him off so he wouldn’t talk himself into a circle.
“I appreciate this more than you can imagine. If you’re reading this as uncomfortable.
” I leaned forward slightly, wrapping my hand around the side of his neck.
“It’s just because I don’t know how to thank you for something like this.
It means a lot.” Kissing him softly, I felt Aiden lean into me and deepen the kiss.
“How the fuck did this happen?” His forehead fell against mine as he broke the kiss. We both let out a light chuckle.