“Perfect.” She offers me a demure smile before addressing Blaise. “You boy, let’s go.” My second-in-command takes the lead, leaving the room with Aurora, muttering something about pains in the ass under his breath.
I turn to take Aimee into my arms, but she beats me to it, clinging to my arms shakily, eyes teary. “Killian, please hear me out. This is not good. My sister, she’s trouble. I have to tell you…”
“Not now, my love.” I give her a quick peck on her beautiful lips. “I have to go alert Marhus and my other warriors. We need to prepare for battle. As soon as your sister agrees to fulfill the prophecy, we can march to Burneside Keep and end Morweena once and for all. I’ll see you later at dinner.” With that, I disintegrate in a puff of crimson, swirling down the corridors towards my general’s private chamber.
Aimee
I’ve been pacing all afternoon around my room, losing my wits over the current situation. As much as I’ve mulled over every word, every reaction Aurora had in the ballroom, I can’t, for the love of Gods, figure out what her angle is. She is scheming for sure, pretending to be the doting sister for some ulterior motives I can’t comprehend.
What’s worse is that she seems genuinely interested in Killian. It didn’t go unnoticed how she batted her eyelashes at him, how she played the demure damsel role, how she fucking called him “Killian, darling” and, most importantly, howhe did not correct her. I’m fuming right now, my mind a volcano raging on the brink of eruption. Is she planning to seducemy Killian? My partner? My lover?
The irony of my possessiveness towards him doesn’t escape me, as I spent months denying that he could be anything of mine, only to end up feral for him. I’d scratch a bitch’s eyes out for ogling him the way Aurora did today, if said bitch would be anyone else. But when it comes to my twin, all my fight leaves me, conditioned by years upon years of trauma at her hands.
As dinnertime approaches, I work on my breathing exercises, while Nella helps me get ready. Apparently, Killian handpicked my attire for the night, which arrived during the afternoon, brought in by several maids. The sublime tulle gown hugs my curves like a dream. Layers upon layers of translucent obsidian fabric cover my breasts in a deep V neckline that reaches above my belly button, before flowing seamlessly to the floor. Woven in the delicate dark fabric are thousands of tiny diamonds and star-shaped pearls, creating a cosmic wearable piece of pure art. I look like a true-born Goddess of the Night.
I toy with my diamond and pearl choker as Nella brushes my curls softly, taming them into loose, shiny waves. She’s dusted my eyelids in sparkling silver glitter and painted my lips with just a touch of bleeding red. When she takes out a diamond-encrusted diadem from a black velvet box, I frown and shake my head. “I’m not wearing that, Nella. It’s too much.”
“But, Aimee, the King instructed you should wear it all. Besides, it goes so well with the rest of the ensemble.”
I don’t hide the sigh that escapes me.
It really goes well with the dress. Altogether, they make me look likehis Vampire Queen. And therein lies the problem. I cannot make such a statement in front of my sister.
“I don’t care what he instructed Nella. I am good without the headpiece. It’s my head it would rest on, and I say no.”
“As you wish, my lady,” Nella says before returning the stunning, yet highly offensive, piece of head jewelry to its box.
I stand to leave and wave a hand to Nella as she tries to follow me. “I know my way around the castle very well by now, Nella. You don’t need to escort me.”
She nods, and I exit the bedroom, trying to keep the lid tightly shut on my nerves. I direct myself on wobbly legs towards the chambers that were assigned to Aurora, on the second floor. Thank Gods, she is not staying on the same floor as meand Killian, as my fraying mind wouldn’t have survived that. Although all I want is to run and hide from my vengeful sister, I have to face my fears and try to talk her out of whatever cruel game she is playing. I’ll let her rip into me as usual, if that is the price I have to pay to keep Killian and Wrahta safe.
They call anxiety a silent swindler. Most often, it takes you by surprise, tightening your muscles in a death grip and knotting your stomach painfully without apparent reason. I’ve had so many panic attacks in my lifetime that I know to spot the exact second when my thoughts start racing without explanation, or the dreadful flutter in my ribcage emerges.
My chest constricts painfully, and the stone walls seem to close in on me as I descend the steps to the floor below and stumble towards her room.
The threat looming vaguely out of sight has never been faceless for me. My face has always stared back at me, sinister and distorted to cruel proportions. Aurora’s face.
I press my numb fingers against my throat, willing my lungs to work properly and take gulps of air.
I’ve reached her door.
It’s now or never.
My mind screams in protest as I watch my own knuckles knock on the wooden frame twice. It’s like I’m both trapped in my betraying body and floating somewhere in the distance, watching it all unfold below me.
Silence.
I hear no movement on the other side of the door. I knock another time and nothing happens. Holding my breath, I open the door and I’m greeted by an empty chamber. I exhale loudly, gazing around. Where the hell is she?
“Maybe she already went to the dining hall”, I say to myself and go back to the stairwell to go downstairs. As I reach theground floor, I bump into Blaise, and his presence somewhat fortifies me.
“Kitty cat,” he rasps, “you’re a midnight vision.”
My smile is genuine as I offer to take his hand. “Ready for this shitshow to be over?” I ask in earnest.
“Your sister isdefinitely notthe apple of my eye, but I wouldn’t call her a shitshow either,” he chuckles. “You know she tried to pry out of me what my intentions towards you are. She seems convinced we’re an item,” he laughs, and I freeze.
“You didn’t tell her…” I trail off, afraid to speak the words out loud.
