“No place feels like home at first,” she replied softly. “But it could. It will be, eventually.”
I didn’t reply, simply allowed Selene to hold me near crushingly tight. Allowed her warmth to soak into me and the steady, slow rhythm of her heart to lull me into a state of calmness—but sleep did not return to me.
21. Uninvited Guests.
Selene Borealis
“You look terrible,” Adamantia greeted me when she entered the office I had chosen as my point of operation.
The space was sparse, containing only a desk and old chair. I would make the space my own. The main feature which attracted me to the previously disused room was the window nook overlooking the east lawns and apple orchard. I could envision the space filled with summer light, the nook reupholstered with comfortable cushions, bookcases and potted flowers dotted around the room.
Percy would fit wonderfully within the space, there to provide distraction and beauty from the tedious work of Ardens when necessary.
“Thank you,” I replied and lifted my gaze from Ardens’ financial reports. I had not slept. Even when Percy had managed to initially succumb to slumber, she tossed so often that I could not relax enough to join her, and then she awoke, full of sorrow for a coven—or perhaps a life—she was denied.
“While I do not require much sleep, I have been lacking,” I told my aunt.
Adamantia hummed. “Your pet keeping you awake all night?” she asked teasingly.
“Something like that,” I answered.
“Oh, relationship trouble, even after our talk?” she asked. There was something off with her countenance. Subtle, but off.
“No,” I responded, hoping that I did not reveal how defensive I abruptly felt. I was confident that once everything had settled, my pet and I would find a balance that suited both our naturesand needs. She was a good girl, simply head strong, slightly rebellious, and a touch naive.
“Truly, Selene, there is no shame in such difficulties. I know you value the girl greatly, yet sometimes a source can be more trouble than they are worth,” she said casually as she leaned against my desk.
I leaned back in my chair and looked my aunt over carefully.
“Your opinion of my pet has changed since we last spoke?” I asked.
It was only a couple of days previous that she was providing relationship advice for the success of a long-term coupling, and now she approached me as if Percy was nothing more than a source, like one of her blood whores.
“My opinion of the girl has not changed. I find her adorable. Sasha is taken with her,” Adamantia replied.
“Then why speak of her like a common whore?” I asked as her scent took a rancid undertone.
Anxiety among other pureblood vampires was always such a displeasing scent to me.
“You’re anxious,” I stated, curious as to whether she would reveal the reason for her change in regards to Percy.
“Perhaps I have reason to be concerned. The north has been upheaved, you arrive without warning having dismissed yourself and both your Houses from Sanguis Academy, for what reason you have yet to discuss, and you are obsessed with a half-witch nobody. So much chaos for a mere girl. Is she worth it?”
“Do not play games with me, Adamantia,” I warned.
She pushed herself from the desk, turned from me and straightened her shoulders.
“I received word that Lydia and Elliot are to arrive,” she said, changing the subject.
I was surprised. Lydia was a cousin of my mother and Adamantia. She had married a low-level noble of House Vouna and had expressed her desire for her herself and husband to be made some sort of wardens of what was Vouna. She was most displeased to remain nothing more than a lady in title with only a small land holding.
“When?” I asked. She turned to me.
“Today. They will arrive any moment,” Adamantia replied. This news explained her odd demeanour. Adamantia was known to lash out when upset.
“When did you learn of their planned arrival?” I questioned, wary if she had held this information from me.
“Today. The little wasp called,” she answered. “She had already been on the road for two days.”
