She recoiled, but as she tried to back away, she collided with a wall of inky darkness. Shaking her head vigorously, she managed to inhale enough air to speak. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Sadness filled his eyes, and his shoulders drooped as a sigh slipped through his lips. “You can’t hurt me, Auraelia. Not any more than you already have. I just want to help you.Please, let me help.”
Daemon slid closer, and as he reached out again, she felt her magic stretch toward him in return. Her lightning again twined with his shadows until they were wrapped in a sphere of burning light and velvety darkness.
The feeling of his hand on her cheek made her heart skip and grounded her long enough to suck air into her lungs.
Even after everything she’d said and done to push him away, he’d come back.
I’ll always come back for you.His words from earlier echoed through her mind as tears streamed down her face once more.
“I’m so sorry, Daemon.” Auraelia’s words came out in hiccupped sobs as guilt crashed into her.
His hands were warm as he cupped her face and rested his brow on hers. “I know.”
Those two words had the rest of her walls crumbling down.
She let him pull her into his lap. Let the beat of his heart and the rhythm of his breathing settle the storm in her soul. It was selfish to lean into his touch and seek solace in his embrace; she knew that but couldn’t help it.
She craved being near him, held by him…even if it was for a short time.
Daemon stroked her hair as he spoke in hushed whispers, “We’ll figure this out, my star. I promise.”
She pulled away enough to glance up at him. “How?”
Reverently, he wiped away her tears and caressed her cheek as he gazed down at her like he was committing every fleck of color in her eyes to memory. “I don’t know, but we will do ittogether.”
When he pressed his lips to hers, it was like coming home.
As if everything they had been through and had yet to endure was nothing. Forgotten as their lips melded together and their souls healed.
It was a promise to be there with her through whatever and wherever this war with her cousin took them.
To be hers and for her to be his.
It took everything she had not to entirely fall apart in his arms.
With her emotions settling, Auraelia was able to wrangle in her magic. Calming the wind that still howled through the room. Easing the storm that raged outside. And finally, pulling her lightning from where it mixed with Daemon’s shadows.
As their magic separated, the room around them came back into view. Piper’s mouth dropped open as her eyes flicked between Auraelia and Daemon. “Rae, is everything okay?”
Sliding from his lap, Auraelia nodded to her friend, then dropped her gaze. Letting it land where her fingers were intertwined with Daemon’s in her lap. “You should go.”
“Auraelia—” Her name was a growl on his lips, and she winced.
“Daemon, please.” She took a steadying breath before lifting her gaze to his. “Nothing has changed—”
“Everything has changed! Auraelia,please. Don’t do this, not again.” Anguish swirled in his eyes, and the chasm in her heart widened.
“Please try to understand. Youcan’tstay here; it’s not safe, not for you or for either of our people. If we have any chance at defeating Davina, we have to be smart about this. Which means youneedto leave.”
“She’s right.” Aiden’s tenor cut through the room, causing Piper to jump.
“Goddess, dammit, Aiden. Could younotsneak up on people, please?” Piper growled out through clenched teeth.
Auraelia rolled her eyes before turning a pleading gaze back to Daemon.
He sighed, defeat settling in his eyes. “I know you’re right. I do. But I feel like I just got youback.”
