They have no idea what’s coming.
They think this is a negotiation.
They think they can take her from me.
They don’t understand our history.
They don’t understand how much she used to trust me.
Chapter 34
Aurelia
FLASHBACK
Six years ago
Shadow boy’s bike roars into the same alley outside of Confine, still wrapped in darkness. For a second, I just sit there, my arms still wrapped tight around his waist, pretending the night isn’t about to end. Pretending I’m not going back to a life where freedom is only ever borrowed.
He pulls my helmet off, fingers brushing against my skin. My hair’s a tangled mess, and I push it out of my face, muttering, “Great. Now I look like I just got finished having sex.”
He smirks, actually enjoying it.
His hand settles at the back of my neck, warmth spreading through my skin, and my stupid sixteen-year-old heart does a flip it has no business doing.
“The boy from the club is nothing, Aurelia,” he says, eyes cutting into mine.
“He’s actually kind of important.” I laugh, not realizing how that sounds.
His jaw ticks. “He didn’t seem important when my tongue was in your mouth.”
A smile curves at my lips. “That’s not how I meant it. It’s just that, if nothing else, I think he’ll always have a place in my heart. Always be my friend.”
He’s looking at me now like I’m one of those people he wants to kill. But I find it oddly endearing that he’s acting jealous after one kiss.
“You have a place in my heart too, you know.” I reach for his hand, feeling his fingers slowly relax beneath mine. “You’re my first kiss, and… I don’t want this to be the last time we’re together,” I whisper.
For a moment, something sparks behind his eyes—like my touch reignites something in him—and then he leans in, pressing his lips to mine.
“You are… exceptional,” he murmurs against my mouth. “And I promise you, we’ll find our way back to each other.”
Exceptional.
No one has ever called me that. Princess, sure. Hidden, locked away, protected, beautiful—yeah, those are my labels. But exceptional? That one feels special. I could almost believe it if I’m not careful.
I open my mouth, about to tell him this is the first time I’ve felt even remotely alive, when the universe decides to ruin my life.
“What in the actual fuck, Ace?”
Elijah’s voice.
I spin so fast my boots scrape concrete, guilt crawling up my throat. It feels like getting caught cheating, which is ridiculous because Elijah isn’t my boyfriend… but he’s also kind of my everything. And suddenly I feel back to myself, not exceptional at all—just small, stupid, and found out.
The boy doesn’t move. Doesn’t even blink. Of course he doesn’t, he’s unshakable. Meanwhile, I’m a mess of nerves and hormones, wishing I could vanish into the night air.
I slip out of his hold, stumbling a little on the uneven pavement as I rush toward Elijah. He reaches out instantly, catching me by the arm before I can trip on my own feet.
“You okay?” he asks.
