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Silly?

The temperature dropped slightly, the air briny. I finally lifted my head to see where we were headed.

Hawthorn Isle, the place with the hawthorn tree and the house. A place I wouldn’t mind hanging about in for a while, if it wasn’t for Aidan shitting on everything.

A house where Silvanus and I shared some steamy moments.

I want more…

The angry waves of East Ocean swelled below us, dark and foreboding. I returned my face to the vampire’s neck, not ready to face anything yet unless it was soft and warm and cozy as fuck.

Man, time really chewed itself up when you wanted it to slow down. Within what felt like seconds, we landed on the garden path, the tree and the flora of the island offering its hello, beyond happy to have two elves here, flora energy a boost for my kind.

Elio stayed silent, and I left him alone. What could I say to him? If it wasn’t enough to see Aidan murder his ex, he also had to deal with finding out he wasn’t an only child.

Why did I have to know about my parents now? Things were better when they were a mystery, a heartbreak to never be unearthed, buried in the deepest corners of the past.

And without Pearl here, it didn’t feel right to have this crop up now.

“We won’t stay here long,” Silvanus said, cutting through my internal noise.

I nodded, mouth dry.

He put his arm around me. “Let’s get you something to drink.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You too, Elio.”

He’s too close.

Not close enough.

I let him keep his arm around me while he led me into the slate house covered in ivy.

“Have a seat,” he said.

“Don’t need to tell me twice.” I slumped onto the large brown corner sofa, taking the left side.

Elio took the right, Silvanus crouching before him.

“I’m so sorry for your loss.” He spoke gently. “No matter what has transpired, you are still my thrall, and I still care for you.”

The elf stared into space, silent.

“I’m sorry too,” I offered, my throat closing around the words.

Nothing. Only a blink, his eyes on the unlit fireplace.

Silvanus filled some glasses with water from the open-plan kitchen, handing one to me, placing the other on the floor beside Elio. Then he went to make a call on a mobile phone he pulled out of a kitchen drawer.

“Thank Selene it has charge,” he muttered.

I sipped my water, my mouth and throat grateful for the lubrication.

Now for a cig.

“Vaughn?” Silvanus spoke into the device. “Yes. I’m fine. Are you? Good. Is Medusa with you? Good. We are at Hawthorn Isle. Please come immediately.” He hung up.

Moments later, the air shimmered with the outline of a doorway just before Medusa and Vaughn stepped through it.

I sagged with relief upon seeing their faces, going too jelly-like for my own good on the sofa and slumped, spilling water over myself.