crack a smile. “Don’t apologize, sweetheart. You’re totally worth it.”
She gets up, stepping away from me. “I was about to make a batch of the potion against a siren’s thrall when Calvin interrupted. If you promise to keep your hands to yourself, you can wait here for it.”
It hurts to get back on my feet. All my muscles protest, but it doesn’t compare to the pain of not being able to touch my mate.
“I promise to behave.” I move to the counter, pulling a barstool to sit down.
Aurora gets into the zone, alternating her attention between her grimoire and the ingredients she has spread in front of her. I could stare at her all night. I’ve always been drawn to her, since the first time we met. Being turned down by her only made me want her more. I couldn’t have predicted that my little obsession would turn into this enormous complication.
“Fuck,” she says suddenly, staring at her notes.
“What?”
“I don’t have all the ingredients for the potion.”
“What are you missing?”
“The rarest of them all. Siren’s tears.”
“Real tears?”
“Yes, of course real tears,” she replies, exasperated.
I scratch the back of my neck, probably looking as dumb as I feel. “Where can we get that?”
“I can ask Solomon. If he doesn’t have it, I’ll have to pay a visit to the Nightshade Market.”
“What’s that? Never heard of it.”
“You wouldn’t have. It predominantly caters to witches and mages. Sometimes you’ll find a lost druid there, but no one likes them.”
“Why doesn’t anyone like druids?”
Aurora freezes, and her eyes shine with a new glint. “Holy shit. I can’t believe I didn’t even consider them.”
“Consider them for what?”
“The bracelet Rikkon procured with the memory spell had druid runes carved in it. Witches and mages don’t like them because we don’t know where druid magic comes from.”
“But if they’re powerful enough to wipe out the memory of a Nightingale…”
“They might be powerful enough to break our bond.”
This revelation should be good news, but I’m not motivated at all. I try to keep my feelings on the matter concealed, though. Aurora is dead set on breaking our bond thanks to the crazy vow she made. I’m more interested in breaking that vow than our bond.
“What are we waiting for? Let’s go find some druids.”
She gives me a droll stare. “I wish it were that simple. Druids tend to disguise themselves, especially when they’re around witches and mages.”
“But you said sometimes they’ll venture into the Nightshade Market.”
“Right. Well, let’s see if Solomon has our ingredient first. If not, we’ll head to the market tonight. Maybe we’ll get lucky and kill two birds with one stone.”
I’m totally on board with her plan, but if we find a druid, I’m not asking them to help destroy my bond to Aurora. They’re freeing her from the blood vow and this ridiculous engagement, even if I have to resort to the vilest tricks I know. I’m not giving her up. Not now, not ever.
19
Saxon
It’s just our luck that when we’re on our way to see Solomon we catch the break between classes. The hallways are filled with students, Bluebloods, regulars, and even familiars, either in groups gossiping or heading somewhere.
As Aurora and I walk side by side, we attract curious glances, and even some frowns. I wonder if they’re picking up the mating bond too. To me, my bond to Aurora is obvious, but is it the same for others, or can only Solomon sense it because he’s a familiar on steroids?
I spot three Blueblood females who look familiar ahead. I’ve come across many people throughout my long life, and very few—if any—made a big enough impression on me for their faces to be imprinted in my memory, especially the ones I fucked. It sounds bad, but it’s not a one-sided situation. I bet the majority of the Blueblood females I slept with don’t remember me either. It’s just the way vampires are, with a few exceptions. But when we fall, we fall hard.
However, the females in question are watching me with wide smiles and hungry eyes, and when I get near them, the tallest of the group steps in my way.
“Hi, Saxon. Remember me?”
“Uh, should I?”
She giggles and starts playing with her jet-black hair. “Well, it’s been what? Fifty-one years?”
It’s been exactly fifty-one years since I went into hibernation, so when could I have possibly met this creature? I pick up on Aurora’s irritation immediately. I want to reassure her there’s nothing to worry about, but now I’m curious. I walk down