A peace like never before comes over me. Who knew the good girl of the North Shore would feel so content at the idea of murder.
"And now he’s dead," I conclude. "Thank you."
"I will hunt and kill every single one of your demons if I have to, Nyx."
I smile in his arms, closing my eyes for a few seconds. "How about you just stay by my side and forget about the rest of the world?"
His arms tighten around my back, and he presses a chaste kiss on the side of my neck. "Anything for you."
Chapter Twenty-Five
Achilles
ur special to me – Artemas
Ibarely wave our pilot goodbye as we walk down the steps to the tarmac. I'm too focused on running after Nyx, who's clearly never been so happy to touch the ground. She finished reading the concerto for the rest of the flight and hasn't uttered a word since.
I knew it.
I knew it was too much. It's too intimate. She'll feel stripped bare if I ever play this for an audience.
I'm too scared to ask her what she thinks, or for her approval. Because once she's made up her mind, I won't try to change it.
We get into the car waiting for us, greeted by a chauffeur I haven’t seen in a long time. It's been a while since I've come to New York. I used to go often. They were nice weekends away when I could forget about SFU and my family, but I’d just party in private clubs and fuck around. Since I met Nyx, I haven't set foot here, wanting to be with her all the time.
"Are we going straight to your meeting?" she asks in a quiet voice.
"Yes." I put a hand on her thigh, needing to feel her warmth against mine. "But you don't need to make any decision now."
"Don't I, though, if we're going to meet them now?" I can feel the anxiety in her tone, in the shake of her voice.
"You don't need to make any decision now," I repeat, squeezing her thigh for reassurance. Mine or hers, I'm not sure.
It takes us another hour and a half before we finally get to our destination on the Upper East Side. And the second we're outside, she freezes in front of the building.
"What is this?" Her tone is almost accusatory as she stares at the sign for the Ear Institute.
"Our appointment," I reply as I take her hand. Nothing to do with reassurance this time; I'm just pretty sure she's about to run away.
"No, no," she mutters. "Our appointment was with the New York Philharmonic. For your concerto."
"That's tomorrow. Our five p.m. appointment is at the Ear Institute, and we're ten minutes late. If you could hurry up?—"
"I can't— I just—What?"
Since we don't have time for her to get over the shock, I drag her inside with me.
"Appointment for Nyx Mayer," I announce to the receptionist.
He raises his head and looks at me with wide eyes.
"Hello, Mr. Duval." He's trying so hard to show respect that he stumbles out of his chair as he gets up to greet us. "Welcome to the Ear Institute. Dr. Decker is ready to see you."
We don't have to wait a single second as he walks us directly to her office. He offers us water and coffees, but Nyx simply shakes her head, still speechless.
"A fizzy water for her, please," I answer for Nyx since she loves disgusting things like water with bubbles.
The office looks exactly like I expected. It's modern, a sleek marble desk showing that our doctor earns a very decent amount of money. And I hope she deserves it, or she's going to get on my bad side.
